Name: ______Block: ______
Characterization in Animal Farm
In analyzing a character, consider who a character is and what are his or her most important traits and motivations. Also how the text shapes our opinion or view of the character. What function does the character serve in the story? What might the character represent?
Evidence to Consider in Analyzing Characters:
- The character’s name
- The character’s physical appearance
- Objects and places associated with the character
- The character’s actions
- The character’s thoughts and speech, including:
- The content (what he or she thinks or says)
- Timing (when he or she thinks or says it)
- Phrasing (how he or she thinks or says it)
- Other characters’ thoughts about the character
- Other characters’ comments to and about the character
- The narrator’s comments about the character
The Different Types of Characters:
Round Characters act from varied, sometimes conflicting motives, impulses, and desires; they have psychological complexity
List a round character from the book so far and explain how they are round:
______
______
Flat Characters are one-dimensional characters that behave and speak in predictable or repetitive ways.
List a flat character from the book so far and explain how they are flat:
______
______
Stock Characters are flat characters that represent familiar, frequently recurring stereotypes (mad scientist, gritty detective, ditzy blonde, etc.)
List a stock character from the book so far and explain what stereotype they represent:
______
______
Foil—a contrasting character that helps reveal the unique qualities of another main character.
List a foil from the book so far and explain what character they contrast and how:
______
______
Indirect Characterization: showing what a character is like through what he or she says, does, or thinks or what others say about the character
Quote an example from the book of indirect characterization:
______
______
Direction Characterization: telling what a character is like by the narrator explicitly describing the background, motivation, appearance, or temperament of a character
Quote an example from the book of direct characterization:
______
______
Dynamic characters change as a result of events in the story. Static characters do not change throughout the story. By the end of the book, you should be able to tell which characters are dynamic and which are static.
Characterization in Animal Farm
Orwell characterizes Napoleon, Snowball, and Squealer as three different types of leaders, each with positive and negative traits. Provide two outstanding positive traits and two negative ones that characterize each pig. Then, underneath the traits, cite an incident, action, or speech that illustrates each characteristic.
Napoleon
Positive Traits:
1.______
Evidence:
2. ______
Evidence:
Negative Traits:
1. ______
Evidence:
2. ______
Evidence:
Snowball:
Positive Traits:
1. ______
Evidence:
2. ______
Evidence:
Snowball continued
Negative Traits:
1. ______
Evidence:
2. ______
Evidence:
Squealer:
Positive Traits:
1. ______
Evidence:
2. ______
Evidence:
Negative Traits:
1. ______
Evidence:
2. ______
Evidence:
In your opinion, which of the three pigs does Orwell characterize as the strongest leader and why?