YOUR TASK: Focus primarily on at least TWO significant characters, but likely THREE, from across at least two texts in
your effort to explicate a narrow/focused theme of your choosing as it
relates to the broad concept of identity. For example, you might want
to focus on gender identity, racial identity, sexual identity,
authenticity, family identity, or something along those lines. In
addition to your three main characters, you may also use minor
characters, as well, but only as needed to complement your discussion of
your main characters. In short, using inductive reasoning, try to
teach your readers something specific about the concept of identity
through your chosen characters.
Questions for Character Analysis:
What are my characters’ motivations (grounds for action, inner drives, goals)? Is that motivation adequate?
What are the primary/secondary traits of your character?
Are the character’s behaviors consistent and coherent? Can we trust him or her?
What dialogue or exchange between your character of choice and
others within the text is particularly important? How does your
character’s use of language contribute to your understanding of that
individual?
What kinds of characters are in the texts (dynamic or static, round
or flat, realistic or nonrealistic, complex or simple)? What is your
character of choice? Does your character change over the course of the
text? If so, why? If not, why not? What was the playwright attempting
to do with or through that character?
Is the text constructed around a specific character’s point of view? Why?
Who is the protagonist, the antagonist in the text? How can you tell?
Are the other characters you’ve chosen major or minor? A foil for
others? A plot device? How do they serve the overall play and help you
discuss your theme of choice?
In Addition, Consider These Questions:
For your drama selections, how are the works structured (acts,
scenes, transitions within scenes, etc.) and how might that structure
help us understand your focus on some aspect of identity? Consider using
Freytag’s Pyramid to diagram the texts (but there’s no need to make
reference to Freytag in your essay) and the primary character’s arc.
What physical manifestations do the playwrights use for dramatic
effect (lighting, stage appearance, props, costumes and makeup, and the
like)? What importance, if any, do they have in the dramatization of
each play’s central theme or meaning?
How do the playwrights use stage directions (which may include
descriptions of costumes, facial expressions, character movement,
gestures and other body language, and so on) to suggest or support your
specific interpretation?
What genres do the plays fit into, if any?
Are there any recurring symbols which support your thematic analysis?
What are the texts’ setting, and how do they contribute to or affect your interpretation?
What are the timelines of the stories? How do those timelines affect your understanding of the work?
Other Points:
Construct an intelligent, analytical, and precise thesis statement which is centered on your three primary characters.
Provide specific, relevant evidence which reinforces what you are trying to teach your reader about identity.
Perhaps use your understanding of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to
move your character analysis from a cursory/superficial discussion to a
more nuanced, in-depth examination (though you do not need to use
Maslow’s terminology in your essay, per se).
Use a combination of paraphrase, direct quotations, and summary for [1]
Use at least one but no more than three block quotations, only as necessary for supporting your larger analysis.
Have a clear and consistent focus throughout, using keyword
repetition and effective commentary to indicate how each paragraph
functions in furtherance of your thesis.
Organize the essay intelligently for rhetorical effect; thematic
(highlighting specific aspects of your characters in each paragraph) or
progressive/emphatic (emphasizing your larger argument and organizing
your ideas so that they get stronger as you proceed through your work).
Write coherent and unified body paragraphs that begin and end with your ideas, not quotations.
Follow the MLA Manual of Style for your parenthetical citations and your Works Cited page.
