Characters: who a story is about — Literature, 7–10 years
Learn to notice what characters want, feel and do, and how their choices move a story. Literature, 7–10 years.
A character is more than a name
A character is a person, animal or imagined being that takes part in a story. To understand one, notice what it says, does, wants and feels. A character can change when events teach it something.
Why stories need characters
A list of events is hard to care about if nobody wants anything. Storytellers began putting people and creatures at the centre so readers could follow choices, problems and feelings. Characters give events a human shape.
Reading one character closely
In a tale, Lina finds a lost puppy. First, she hears it cry; this shows she notices others. Next, she gives up her bus money to buy food; this shows kindness and sacrifice. Finally, she asks a neighbour for help, showing that being brave can mean asking.
A trait is not a label
It is tempting to call a quiet character shy, or a loud one mean, after one moment. That is reasonable because stories give us small clues. Check several actions and words first: a quiet person may be thinking, and a loud person may be protecting someone.
Characters help us read people
When you read a story, you can practise asking why someone acted in a certain way. This can help you notice that people may have reasons you cannot see at first. It does not mean guessing everyone’s thoughts correctly.
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