Transcript How Can You Understand a Character?

What Skills Can Help You Understand
Characters?
Feature Menu
Making Inferences About Characters
Making Inferences About Motivation
Comparing and Contrasting
Characters
Understanding Historical Context
Your Turn
Making Inferences About Characters
An inference is an intelligent guess.
Inferences are based on two things: current
evidence and prior knowledge.
current evidence:
information that’s in
front of you right now
+
prior knowledge:
things you already
know
inference
Making Inferences About Characters
Based on what you already know and the information
in front of you . . .
If your friend looks like this
when she sees this,
what might you infer about her feelings about roller
coasters?
Making Inferences About Characters
In a story, the author gives you current evidence— clues
about the characters.
As you read, pay attention to how characters
think
look
act
speak
respond to others
Making Inferences About Characters
Combine your observations of the characters in the
story with your prior knowledge—your own past
experiences and what you already know about
human nature.
That woman
reminds me of
my neighbor,
Mrs. Ames. I
bet she’s really
nice, even
though she
seems mean.
The woman scowled.
“Come here, young
lady,” she said. “I’ve
got something to say
to you.”
Rachel’s stomach
hurt as she trudged
up the porch steps.
Making Inferences About Characters
As you read the following passage, pay attention to
Tia’s speech,
speech, thoughts,
thoughts,and
andactions.
actions.
Tia
lacingup
upher
hercleats
cleats
when
Emily
entered
locker
room.
Tia was
was lacing
when
Emily
entered
thethe
locker
room.
“Some
“Some of
of us
us are
are going
going to
to the
the mall,”
mall,” Emily
Emily said.
said. “You
“You want
want to
to come?”
come?”
Tia
lookedat
ather
herfriend.
friend.
She
wanted
to hang
out Emily
with Emily
Tia looked
She
wanted
to hang
out with
and the
and
thebut
others,
but was
tomorrow
was an
important
game.
“I
others,
tomorrow
an important
game.
“I can’t,”
she said,
can’t,”
said, “I’ve got practice.”
“I’ve gotshe
practice.”
“So
what?” said
said Emily.
Emily. “You’re
“You’re the
the star
star of
of the
the team.
team. Coach
Coach will
will let
let
“So what?”
you
you play
play if
if you
you skip
skip a
a practice.
practice. You
You can
can say
say you
you were
were sick.”
sick.”
“It’s
tempting,”
thought.
would
be to
fun
the
“It’s tempting,”
TiaTia
thought.
“It“It
would
be fun
gototogo
thetomall.”
mall.”
Then
sheher
shook
her
head.
“The
team ison
counting
on
Then she
shook
head.
“The
team
is counting
me.”
me.”
How do these clues help you infer that Tia is
dedicated to her team?
Making Inferences About Characters
As you read the following passage, notice how other
characters respond to Matt.
Matt helped his parents carry their suitcases to the car.
“Thank you,” said his mother as Matt closed the trunk.
“You’ve got the hotel’s phone number, right?”
Matt nodded. For the first time, his parents were going
away for a weekend, leaving him alone at home.
His mother hugged him, then got in the car. His father put
his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “You know we trust you.” A
minute later, they were gone. Matt had the house all to
himself.
What can you infer about Matt by the way his
parents respond to him?
[End of Section]
Making Inferences About Motivation
Motivation is what makes characters do the things
they do. Motivation causes characters to speak or
act in certain ways.
For example, someone who performs in a band
might be motivated by
a love of
music,
a desire for
fame,
or both.
Making Inferences About Motivation
Writers rarely state a character’s motivation
directly. Instead, they plant clues about why
characters act as they do.
greed
heroism
love
jealousy
Making Inferences About Motivation
One way to infer why a character behaves in a
certain way is to work backward. Start with
something the character does.
Then, ask yourself, “What did the character want
(or want to avoid)?”
Motivation
Action
(Cause)
(Effect)
By looking at the character’s action and answering
that question, you can work backward to find the
character’s motivation.
Making Inferences About Motivation
Nick loved skiing. In fact, with better equipment,
he thought he could compete.
Lately, instead of hitting the slopes,
Nick has been working at a pizzeria.
What might his motivation be?
to buy better ski
equipment.
because he wants to
earn money . . .
Nick gets a job . . .
[End of Section]
Comparing and Contrasting Characters
When you read a story, you may notice that
some characters have similar traits, problems, or
motivations . . .
while others are
very different.
Comparing and Contrasting Characters
To find similarities and differences among characters,
create a chart to keep track of characters’ traits.
Characters and Their Traits
Character
Tia
Matt
Character Traits
dedicated to her team, honest
trustworthy, responsible
[End of Section]
Understanding Historical Context
Imagine that you lived in a time when there were no
cars, computers, or televisions.
The Granger Collection, New York
How might your life be different?
Understanding Historical Context
Historical context, made up of social, political, and
cultural forces, affects your life. In the same way,
historical factors affect the lives of characters in stories.
As you work to understand
characters’ motivations,
remember that historical
context affects their
actions.
Often, characters behave a
certain way because of
their situation in a specific
place and time.
[End of Section]
Apply Reading Skills
Quick Check
The little boy stood in the cereal aisle
of the grocery store. He raised a hand
to his red, tear-streaked face and put
his thumb in his mouth.
With wide eyes, he looked left, then
right, then behind him. Then he closed
his eyes and whimpered.
Which words
show you how
this character
looks?
Which words
show you how
this character
acts?
Apply Reading Skills
Quick Check
The little boy stood in the cereal aisle
of the grocery store. He raised a hand
to his red, tear-streaked face and put
his thumb in his mouth.
With wide eyes, he looked left, then
right, then behind him. Then he closed
his eyes and whimpered.
Based on current
evidence and your
own prior
knowledge, what
inferences can you
make about why
this character is
crying?
Apply Reading Skills
Your Turn
In the passage that follows, Paul, a young soldier, is
experiencing his first night in Vietnam.
The Vietnam War involved terrifying guerrilla combat,
and the jungle may be full of enemy fighters.
“You’re the new guy?”
“Yes.” He did not want to admit it, being new to the war.
The soldier grunted and handed him a stick of gum. “Chew it
quiet—OK? Don’t blow no bubbles or nothing.”
From “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (slightly adapted) from Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien. Copyright © 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 by
Tim O’Brien. Reproduced by permission Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. and electronic format by permission of the author.
Apply Reading Skills
Your Turn
1. Why might Paul not want to admit that he’s new?
2. Why does the other soldier not want Paul to blow
bubbles?
“You’re the new guy?”
“Yes.” He did not want to admit it, being new to the war.
The soldier grunted and handed him a stick of gum. “Chew it
quiet—OK? Don’t blow no bubbles or nothing.”
From “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (slightly adapted) from Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien. Copyright © 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 by
Tim O’Brien. Reproduced by permission Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. and electronic format by permission of the author.
The End