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Key Terms Character Study

Terms in this set (19)

Literal questions
Ask you about information directly contained in the text. You may remember the answer or you may have to go back and review the text to find the information
Inferential questions
Ask you to make inferences. An inference is an informed guess that you make after examining the evidence. It's a way of reading between the lines to find the meaning that lies just below the surface. When you make an inference, you think about what you have read and look for clues. You connect what you have read to what you know from life experience and other reading.
Generalization
A kind of inference about a broad group or a frequently occurring situation. When you make a generalization, you evaluate, or consider, a larger number of cases. You check them against one another, making sure that the traits you think they have in common are really there. Generalizations should be based on clues combined with knowledge.
Character
A person, animal, or thing in a work of literature
Analysis
Breaking down a piece of literature so that it can be understood.
Characterization
The process of creating a character, including: words, actions, thoughts, appearance, other peoples' thoughts and perceptions about the character.
Main character
The character that is represented most in the story. The plot usually revolves around this character.
Minor character
One of the characters represented in the story, but not the main character.
Static character
A character that changes very little from the beginning to the end.
Dynamic character
A character that goes through a significant amount of changes from the beginning to the end.
Conflict
A struggle between opposing forces: usually internal or external conflict
Internal conflict
A struggle within the character
External conflict
A struggle against another character, idea, organization, etc.
Complications
Things that the character must consider before solving or dealing with a conflict.
Climax
The high point of the story, such as where a character must make a big decision.
Motivation
Why do characters behave the way they do?
Strengths
The positive qualities and characteristics in a character.
Weaknesses
The negative qualities and characteristics in a character
Figurative language
Any use of metaphors and/or similes by the character.
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