Developing character analysis writing skills requires careful reading of literary works, exceptional attention to what features the author reveals in the hero’s character through dialogues, descriptions, and plot. An author of the character analysis essay writes about each character’s role in the work under study. The main character is called the protagonist. The character who appears as the villain in the conflict with the main character is called the antagonist. Great writers create multi-faceted characters, so analysis should focus on these complexities. We have prepared the key points to keep in mind when you prepare and write your research. Should you be looking for step-by-step guidelines on how to write a character analysis essay, click here.
Key Points While Writing a Character Analysis Essay
1. Choose your character. To complete a character analysis assignment, you may be asked to describe a particular literary character. But if you can choose one yourself, make sure you look at characters who play dynamic roles in the story. Dull and boring characters (one-dimensional, someone only “good” or merely “bad” who do not consider any complex motivations) are not suitable choices for analysis.
2. Read the story, paying particular attention to your character. Even if you have read this work before, you need to reread it because you can mark new features now that you are faced with a specific task. Pay attention to any circumstances your character appears in, and consider the answers to the following questions:
– How does the author describe them?
– What kind of relationship exists between your and the other characters?
– How do your character’s actions move the novel’s plot forward?
– What problems does your hero face?
3. Take notes. As you read the work a second time, write down all the essential information that gives an idea of the main character as a person with a more profound nature. Take notes in the margins and underline important statements as you continue to read the book. You can also keep a notebook ready as you read. It will help you keep your thoughts on the character as you continue reading.
4. Grasp the main idea. Collect all your notes about the chosen character and formulate the main idea reflected in them. It will serve as a thesis statement for a character analysis essay, a crucial skill thesis for MBA students honing their analytical abilities. Consider all the actions, motivations, and outcomes of the main plotline. Perhaps your thesis idea will help reveal how the young person’s character reflects the tension of growing up and people’s inherent virtues. Maybe your hero’s character shows readers that even people who make horrific mistakes are capable of and deserve redemption. This analytical exercise not only enhances your understanding of character dynamics but also sharpens your critical thinking and strategic analysis, essential for success in business management.
5. Create a draft. Once you have settled with the main idea, draw up a short sketch of all your supporting materials. In the text, mark the places where your character exhibits the features you included in your thesis. Include additional complicating facts in your sketch to deepen your character’s inner feelings.
6. Write an introduction. Based on your idea of the thesis, prepare an introductory paragraph about the character you have chosen and the role he or she plays in the given literary work.
7. Describe your character’s look, how he or she looks like, and explain what features of appearance indicate his or her personality. Try to quote or paraphrase text taken directly from the book.
8. Discuss your character’s origins. Subject to availability, include personal background information for the hero (some of these details may be implied or assumed). People’s life history inevitably affects their personality and development, so it is imperative to discuss your character’s developmental history if possible. Where and when was the character born and raised? What education did your character receive? How does a character’s past experiences affect what they do and say?
9. Focus on the language specifics the character uses throughout the story. Does the character always use the same language? Does his or her language choice vary throughout the story from introduction to conclusion?
10. Describe the character’s personality. Is the character acting under the influence of emotion or reason? What values does he or she demonstrate in words and lifestyle? Does the character have goals or ambitions? Give a specific answer and quote or paraphrase the relevant text from the book.
11. Analyze the character’s relationship with other people. Think of how your character interacts with other people in this novel. Is the character a leader, or does he/she tend to follow others? Does the character under study have close friends and family? Always provide examples from the text as you go through your analysis.
12. Describe how the character grows or changes throughout the story. Most of the main characters will experience a conflict situation throughout the period described in the novel. Some conflicts are external (introduced by forces that cannot be controlled by anyone), while other disputes are internal (personal experiences of the character and their actions associated with them). Does the character get better or worse in the end? In great fiction, memorable characters tend to change or grow.
13. Collect supporting material or facts for analysis. Make sure to provide specific examples from the text that support your statements about the character. If applicable, include quotes that support your views. If the author portrays this character as being careless, you must describe the specific character trait to prove it.
14. Use evidence in your character analysis essay. Support your written statements with direct citations from the text of the work. For for information, how to insert the citations in an essay, see wr1ter.com.
15. Use the “PIE” method. Using the PIE method (Point, Illustrate, Explain, i.e., “statement, illustration, explanation”) means that you make it a rule to illustrate with a quote and explain how it supports your statement.
16. Support the quotation in your own words. A quote should never stand alone, as a separate sentence in your essay. Instead, you should “explain” it in your own words and even develop it.
17. Don’t over-quote. Your own words should make up about 90% of your character analysis essay, and direct quotes should make up 10%.
Helpful Tips
1. Always write a draft to gather all your thoughts on analysis before you polish your essay for submission.
2. Use different details from the text of the original to support each of your thesis.
3. Organize your analysis carefully. Write an introduction that piques the reader’s interest in your essay. Make sure to focus each paragraph on a specific topic. Link your work to a perfectly edited Conclusion.
4. The characters also have negative traits. Analyze their personality more deeply and thoroughly.
