Guide to Analyzing a Literary Character

A character analysis involves delving into a character's traits, personality, and role within a narrative. It examines the conflicts the character encounters and provides insights into their the role in the story as well as decodes the idea of the author of the particular story. There are two main types of the characters – the protagonist and the antagonist. Both of them are the central heroes; however, the first type of hero is the most important. The other type refers to a hero who interacts with the central character and is in conflict with him.

Professional writers usually create multisided characters wearing many masks. Therefore, it may be a challenge to discover the nature and essence of the literary hero. The image of the literary character is usually complex. The character can be analyzed through his actions, words as well as thoughts expressed in the story and even appearance. To master the art of noticing the nuances showing how the author describes the character in a hidden way through different situations in the story, one has to know certain rules and strategies.

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While starting the process of analyzing, it is necessary to concentrate on a particular literary character. Sometimes supervisors offer students the ready tasks, where the subject of analysis is mentioned. In case, you do not have the hero mentioned; you face the task to choose it by yourself. Concentrate on the nature of each person in a story. It is obligatory to choose an only dynamic character if you want to conduct a detailed analysis.

These characters are complex enough to give you the area of imagination. Usually, the flat and one-dimensional heroes are too simple and primitive. In the process of analyzing, you will see the point. Your choice needs to fall on the character demonstrating the wide range of feelings and emotions. He or she should be involved in all the scenes taking place in the book. As soon as you have chosen the hero, read the story once again trying to bear him in mind. In every situation where the character interacts with other people or demonstrates his nature, try to be attentive and make notes. It may be handy in the future writing process.

Primarily concentrate on the author’s descriptions of the character. Then, try to discover in what relation is your main hero with the other characters. They can be reflections of his traits of character. Try to think about how these relations could influence the shaping of the main hero’s personality. Trace the positive or negative dynamism of the person throughout the whole story. If you have chosen the round character, there will not be any difficulties. Make sure, that you take notes during the reading process, as it can become a handy tool for you when you move to the very writing process. It will serve as a draft that will supply you with the necessary information. Try to sum up all the characteristics of the hero and create the main statement that will be related to the character; It will be a thesis for the future work as well as the spine for the writing.

As soon as you finish all the preparation, you can move to the practical part. The structure of the analysis paper is simple. Primarily, you write an intro, which has to include the main information about the character and create a background for the target reader. It should contain the thesis sentence that will catch the attention of the reader and guide you in future. Next part of the analysis has to include the citations and general information describing the psychological portrait and appearance of the hero analyzed. After that, you have to include an abstract telling about the fate of the character, probably, some personal details from his life, etc.  The history of his or her life usually influences the character's attitude to the life and general principles according to which he acts and lives. You can also discuss the manner of speaking of the hero. Next, you have to describe the relations of the protagonist with other people in the story and explain the impact of these relations on his life. In the concluding part try to show how you were supporting the thesis. You can also explain the dynamism of the personality of the main character as well as the process of his or her development throughout the whole story.