Analyze Characters to Determine Theme

What character trait is revealed here?
After glancing around to make sure she wasn't being watched, Marissa slide the candy bar into her pocket.  She walked out of store casually, not stopping to pay.

• selfish

• sneaky

• thrifty

• rude

Dialogue can...

• reveal aspects of a character

• propel actions

• provoke decisions

• make an educated guess based on text evidence

Macey's mom noticed that she was squinting as she read her book, which was only a few inches away from her face. She scheduled a doctor's appointment for the next week, and when the doctor said Macey needed glasses, she tried on every single pair in the office. After spending an hour looking at glasses, mom suggested that perhaps she should sleep on it and come back and decide in the morning. Macey agreed, but she kept talking about the pros and cons of each pair all night long. 
What can you infer about Macey?

• Macey is mad at her mother.

• Macey does not want glasses.

• Macey is very excited about getting glasses.

• Macey has trouble making decisions.

Goldilocks, Tweety Bird, and Mickey Mouse would be examples of the ______ in a story.

• setting

• plot

• characters

• theme

What is character motivation?

• The physical appearance of a character

• Reasons behind a character's actions and decisions

• The genre of a book

• The setting of a story

Why is it important to analyze character motivations for their responses?

• To predict the stock market.

• To understand characters' thoughts, feelings, and intentions.

• To determine the characters' favorite color.

• To analyze the weather patterns in the story.

How can you analyze character motivations for their responses?

• Analyze their physical appearance and body language.

• Consult a psychic or fortune teller.

• Examine their actions, dialogue, and thoughts.

• Ask them directly about their motivations.

In a story, a character responds to a difficult situation by running away. What could be the possible motivation behind this response?

• Lack of empathy or concern for others

• Misunderstanding or miscommunication

• Fear or desire to avoid confrontation or danger

• Lack of physical fitness or stamina

In a story, a character responds to an insult by getting angry and shouting. What could be the possible motivation behind this response?

• Feeling embarrassed and wanting to save face

• Feeling hurt and wanting to seek revenge

• Feeling threatened and wanting to establish dominance

• Feeling insulted and wanting to defend their pride or honor

What is character response in a story?

• Character response in a story refers to the main theme or message of the story.

• Character response in a story refers to the setting or location of the story.

• Character response in a story refers to how a character reacts or behaves in a given situation or to certain events or conflicts in the story.

• Character response in a story refers to the physical appearance of a character.