logo that says helpful professor with a mortarboard hat picture next to it

Writing a Character Analysis Essay | Step-by-Step Guide

I’m also going to give you a ton of examples.

This post is split into four parts for easy navigation:

  • What is a Character Analysis Essay?
  • What is the best Format to Use?
  • 11 Character Analysis Example Ideas
  • Template, Checklist and Outline for Your own Piece

character analysis essay example

In this post, I’m going to explain to you clearly and in a step-by-step way how to conduct a character analysis.

1. What is a Character Analysis Essay?

Let’s get you started with some really simple details about what a character analysis is:

  • A Quick Definition: A character analysis essay zooms-in on a character in a book, movie or even real life. It provides what we sometimes call a ‘sketch’ of a character.
  • The Purpose of a Character Analysis: The purpose of a character analysis is to reveal interesting details about the character that might contain a broader moral message about the human condition. For example, Atticus Finch is not just a lawyer in To Kill a Mockingbird. Rather, he provides us with a moral message about the importance of doing what you believe is right even though you know you will likely fail.

2. What is the best Character Analysis Essay Format?

Character analysis essays do not have just one format.

However, let me offer some advice that might act as a character analysis essay outline or ‘checklist’ of possible things you could discuss:

1. Start with the Simple Details.

You can start a character analysis by providing a simple, clear description of who your character is. Look at some basic identity traits such as:

  • Race (if relevant)
  • Social class (if relevant)
  • Protagonist or Antagonist? A protagonist is the character who is our central character in the plot; the antagonist is often the protagonist’s opponent or challenger.
  • Major or minor character?

2. What are the character’s distinctive personality features?

Your character might have some really clearly identifiable character traits. It’s best to highlight in your character analysis the exact traits that this character possesses. Some common character traits include:

I recommend you take a moment to write down what you think the top 3 to 5 words are that you’d use to explain your character’s personality traits. These will be important to discuss throughout your character analysis.

Sometimes a character may start out with some personality traits, but change over the course of the text. This is quite common; and one clear example of this is Lady Macbeth she deteriorates from a cutthroat power player to a guilt ridden shell of a person roaming the halls of the castle. This dramatic character change is something that makes her very interesting, and is worthy of discussion!

3. What are the character’s key relationships?

Does your character have a close relationship with a certain person in the storyline?

You might want to discuss the character’s relationships as a part of your character analysis. These relationships may reveal some key personality traits of your character.

For example, in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, Horatio is the loyal offsider to Hamlet. Through his actions in staying by Hamlet through thick and thin, we learn that he is a deeply loyal character.

Examining the character’s relationships with their friends and foes therefore is very useful for digging deeper into who this character actually is, and what personality traits they have when they are put to the test within the narrative.

4. What are the character’s motivations?

Another thing you might want to examine are the character’s motivations . What do they desire most in the world? Some common motivations for characters in stories are:

  • A simple life
  • To serve others

This list really could be endless, but I hope the above examples give you a bit of an idea of the sorts of traits to look out for. By mentioning and examining the motivations of the character, we will come closer and closer to learning exactly what moral message this character might be able to tell us.

5. What are the character’s key conflicts?

Stories tend to have a beginning, a complication, and a resolution.

The complication involves conflicts and challenges that need to be overcome. For Edmund in Narnia, it’s cowardice. For Romeo and Juliet, it’s the conflict between love and family loyalty. Here’s some other common conflicts for characters:

  • Whether to stay loyal to a friend;
  • To overcome obstacles to love;
  • To seek a way out of a challenging situation;
  • To escape war or poverty;
  • To persevere through imprisonment;
  • To overcome personal fear

Again, this list is endless.

Knowing the character’s core conflict gets us even closer to knowing the moral that the character is trying to teach us.

For example, in Romeo and Juliet, the challenge of Romeo and Juliet being together despite their families’ objections teaches us something. Personally, I believe it teaches us the importance of letting go of old grudges in order to let love bloom.

This moral lesson was taught to us through conflict: namely, the conflict that Romeo and Juliet were right in the center of.

6. What are the character’s epiphanies?

Sometimes a character has an epiphany. This often happens towards the end of the story and helps the character overcome the challenge or conflict that we discussed in the point above.

Here’s an example of an epiphany:

  • In the Lion King, Simba runs away from his tribe to live in exile. After a chance encounter with his childhood friend Nala, he has an epiphany that he has a duty to his tribe. This leads him back home to fight Scar and return freedom to Pride Rock.

Not all characters have an epiphany. But, if they do, I strongly encourage you to write about it in your character analysis.

7. Examine the moral message the character teaches us.

Finally, conclude by examining the moral message behind the character. Nearly every character has something to teach the reader. Authors put a lot of thought into creating complex characters with whom we can relate. We relate to the character and say “wow, they taught me a lesson about something!”

The lesson might be something like:

  • Money doesn’t buy happiness;
  • Loyalty to family comes above all else;
  • Love gives life meaning;
  • Honesty is always the best policy

This is the core of your character analysis essay. If you can pick out exactly what moral message the character teaches you, you’ll be well on your way to writing a strong character analysis.

Below I’m going to give you some examples to help you out. I know it can be hard to really get your head around a character, so sometimes the best thing is to look at some samples!

3. Here’s 13 Example Character Analysis Essay Ideas.

Most times when we create a character analysis, we’re exploring the deeper moral stories / aspects of humanity. Here’s some example ideas. I’ve tried to outline in less than a paragraph exactly what your key point will be about each character:

  • Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird: A character who teaches us a lesson about standing up for what’s right, even if you know you’re likely to lose.
  • Huckleberry Finn from Huckleberry Finn: A character who reveals our inner desire for freedom from the elements of society that constrain us.
  • Dudley from Harry Potter: A character whose personality tells us a cautionary tale of the perils of middle-class narcissism, parents’ desire to wrap their children in cotton wool, and the lack of discipline we perceive in contemporary childhoods.
  • Jack from Lord of the Flies: A character who represents the innate desire for power that seems to lurk not too far from the surface of the human condition. When social structures are stripped away, he quickly reverts to violence and superstition to assert control over his peers.
  • Lady Macbeth from Macbeth: Lady Macbeth teaches us a valuable lesson about the perils of contravening our own morality. She starts out a cutthroat killer but is increasingly consumed by the guilt of her own actions. While we may be able to escape full punishment from outside forces, it is the inner guilt that might eat us away to our last.
  • The Boy who Cried Wolf: The boy who cried wolf is a character whose fatal flaw is his desire for attention and adulation. His repeated attempts at gaining the attention of others leads the townspeople to no longer take him seriously, which causes him harm when he actually needs the villagers to take him seriously to save his life. He teaches us the virtue of honest and humility.
  • Nick Carraway from the Great Gatsby: Nick shows us all the inner conflict between the trappings of wealth, glamor and spectacle; and the desire for simplicity, honesty and community. He is drawn by the dazzling world of East Egg, New York, but by the end of the novel sees live in East Egg as shallow and lacking the moral depth of his former life in small town Minnesota.
  • Alice from Alice in Wonderland: In many ways, Alice represents the child within all of us. She is a character of goodwill to all and who looks upon the world (or, rather, Wonderland) with awe. Travelling with a cadre of flawed characters, she learns with them the importance of seeking strength from within.
  • The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet: Like many Shakespearian characters, the nurse’s role is both as loyal confidante to a central character and comic relief. Shakespeare uses minor characters to regale his crowd and sustain viewer interest between scenes.
  • Lucy in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: Lucy represents a surprising character whose youthfulness and small stature make her an underrated character by all around her. Nonetheless, she possesses within the bravery and loyalty necessary to carry out the quest for Aslan. Lucy represents the goodness in children and, by extension, all of mankind.
  • Anne in Anne of Green Gables: Anne occupies the typical literary role of young girls in many classical novels: she represents innocence and wonder, and her contraventions of rules are seen through a prism of childhood innocence. This frames Anne not as a deviant but as a precious soul.
  • Simba from The Lion King: Simba’s story follows his struggle with growing up, embracing his destiny and duty to his family, or fleeing towards freedom and a ‘no worries’ lifestyle. Simba flees Pride Rock and goes through an existential crisis with his existentialist friends Timon and Pumba. When he runs into an old childhood friend, he realizes how shallow his new carefree life has become and reflects upon his obligation to his community back home.
  • Woody from Toy Story: Woody starts out Andy’s favorite toy, but when Andy gets a new flashier toy, Woody’s status amongst the toys falls apart. Woody’s key character challenge is to learn to be humble and inclusive living within the group. By the end of the movie, Woody realizes his duty to love and serve Andy is more important than his own status within the group.

4. Here’s an Example Template for your own Character Analysis Essay

Feel free to use this brainstorming template to get you started with your character analysis essay. I recommend filling out as many of these key points as you can, but remember sometimes you might have to skip some of these points if they’re not relevant to your character.

Once you’ve brainstormed the ideas in Table 1, follow the character analysis essay outline in Table 2 to stay on track for your character analysis essay. Do remember though that each assignment will be different and you should adjust it based on your teacher’s requirements.

Here’s Table 1, which is a brainstorming template for your character analysis essay:

And here’s Table 2, which is an example character analysis essay outline. This is for a 1500 word character analysis essay. Change the word count according to how long your essay should be:

Read Also: 39 Better Ways to Write ‘In Conclusion’ in an Essay

Character analyses can be really tough. You need to know your character really well. You might even need to re-read (or watch) your book or movie a few times over to get to know the character really well.

I recommend when you re-read or re-watch the text before you write your character analysis, have the checklist I provided above handy and take notes. Then, use the essay outline I provided above to put all of those notes together into a clear and thorough final character analysis essay.

Chris

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 50 Durable Goods Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 100 Consumer Goods Examples
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 30 Globalization Pros and Cons
  • Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 17 Adversity Examples (And How to Overcome Them)

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

character traits essay outline

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay and Get an A+

character traits essay outline

A character analysis essay is a challenging type of essay students usually write for literature or English courses. In this article, we will explain the definition of character analysis and how to approach it. We will also touch on how to analyze characters and guide you through writing character analysis essays.

Typically, this kind of writing requires students to describe the character in the story's context. This can be fulfilled by analyzing the relationship between the character in question and other personas. Although, sometimes, giving your personal opinion and analysis of a specific character is also appropriate.

Let's explain the specifics of how to do a character analysis by getting straight to defining what is a character analysis. Our term paper writers will have you covered with a thorough guide!

What Is a Character Analysis Essay?

The character analysis definition explains the in-depth personality traits and analyzes characteristics of a certain hero. Mostly, the characters are from literature, but sometimes other art forms, such as cinematography. In a character analysis essay, your main job is to tell the reader who the character is and what role they play in the story. Therefore, despite your personal opinion and preferences, it is really important to use your critical thinking skills and be objective toward the character you are analyzing. A character analysis essay usually involves the character's relationship with others, their behavior, manner of speaking, how they look, and many other characteristics.

Although it's not a section about your job experience or education on a resume, sometimes it is appropriate to give your personal opinion and analysis of a particular character.

What Is the Purpose of a Character Analysis Essay

More than fulfilling a requirement, this type of essay mainly helps the reader understand the character and their world. One of the essential purposes of a character analysis essay is to look at the anatomy of a character in the story and dissect who they are. We must be able to study how the character was shaped and then learn from their life. 

A good example of a character for a character analysis essay is Daisy Buchanan from 'The Great Gatsby.' The essay starts off by explaining who Daisy is and how she relates to the main character, Jay Gatsby. Depending on your audience, you need to decide how much of the plot should be included. If the entire class writes an essay on Daisy Buchanan, it is logical to assume everyone has read the book. Although, if you know for certain that your audience has little to no knowledge of who she is, it is crucial to include as much background information as possible. 

After that, you must explain the character through certain situations involving her and what she said or did. Make sure to explain to the reader why you included certain episodes and how they have showcased the character. Finally, summarize everything by clearly stating the character's purpose and role in the story. 

We also highly recommend reading how to write a hook for an essay .

Still Need Help with Your Character Analysis Essay?

Different types of characters.

To make it clear how a reader learns about a character in the story, you should note that several characters are based on their behaviors, traits, and roles within a story. We have gathered some of them, along with vivid examples from famous literature and cinema pieces:

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay

Types of Characters

  • Major : These are the main characters; they run the story. Regularly, there are only one or two major characters. Major characters are usually of two types: the protagonist – the good guy, and the antagonist: the bad guy or the villain. 
  • Protagonist (s) (heroes): The main character around whom most of the plot revolves. 

For example, Othello from Shakespeare's play, Frodo from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, and Elizabeth Bennet from 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen.

  • Antagonist (s): This is the person that is in opposition to the protagonist. This is usually the villain, but it could also be a natural power, set of circumstances, majestic being, etc. 

For example, Darth Vader from the Star Wars series by George Lucas, King Joffrey from Game of Thrones, or the Wicked Queen from 'Snow White and Seven Dwarfs.'

  • Minor : These characters help tell the major character's tale by letting them interact and reveal their personalities, situations, and/or stories. They are commonly static (unchanging). The minor characters in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien would be the whole Fellowship of the ring. In their own way, each member of the Fellowship helps Frodo get the ring to Mordor; without them, the protagonist would not be a protagonist and would not be able to succeed. In the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, minor characters are Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger. They consistently help Harry Potter on his quests against Voldemort, and, like Frodo, he wouldn't have succeeded without them.

On top of being categorized as a protagonist, antagonist, or minor character, a character can also be dynamic, static, or foil.

  • Dynamic (changing): Very often, the main character is dynamic.
An example would also be Harry Potter from the book series by J.K. Rowling. Throughout the series, we see Harry Potter noticing his likeness to Voldemort. Nevertheless, Harry resists these traits because, unlike Voldemort, he is a good person and resists any desire to become a dark wizard.
  • Static (unchanging): Someone who does not change throughout the story is static.
A good example of a static character is Atticus Finch from “How to Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. His character and views do not change throughout the book. He is firm and steady in his beliefs despite controversial circumstances. 
  • Foils : These characters' job is to draw attention to the main character(s) to enhance the protagonist's role.
‍ A great example of a foil charact e r is Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle.

How to Analyze a Character 

While preparing to analyze your character, make sure to read the story carefully.

  • Pay attention to the situations where the character is involved, their dialogues, and their role in the plot.
  • Make sure you include information about what your character achieves on a big scale and how they influence other characters.
  • Despite the categories above, try thinking outside the box and explore your character from around.
  • Avoid general statements and being too basic. Instead, focus on exploring the complexities and details of your character(s).

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay?

To learn how to write a character analysis essay and gather a more profound sense of truly understanding these characters, one must completely immerse themself in the story or literary piece.

  • Take note of the setting, climax, and other important academic parts.
  • You must be able to feel and see through the characters. Observe how analysis essay writer shaped these characters into life.
  • Notice how little or how vast the character identities were described.
  • Look at the characters' morals and behaviors and how they have affected situations and other characters throughout the story.
  • Finally, observe the characters whom you find interesting. 

Meanwhile, if you need help writing a paper, leave us a message ' write my paper .'

How Do You Start a Character Analysis Essay

When writing a character analysis essay, first, you have to choose a character you'd like to write about. Sometimes a character will be readily assigned to you. It's wise to consider characters who play a dynamic role in the story. This will captivate the reader as there will be much information about these personas.

Read the Story

You might think that if you already have read the book, there is no need to do so again; however, now that you know the character you would like to focus on, reading it again will have plenty of benefits. It will give you an opportunity to be more precise while reading the scenes that relate directly to your character and are important for his/her analysis. While reading the book, pay attention to every tiny detail to make sure you grasp the whole array of your character's traits. 

Consider the following things:

  • What specific descriptions does the author provide for each character?

For example, when J.K. Rowling describes Harry Potter for the first time, she describes his clothes as old and oversized, his hair untidy, and his glasses as broken. It might seem just like a simple description, but she expresses compassion and pity for an orphan neglected by his only relatives. 

  • What kinds of relationships does your character have with others?

Think about how Harry builds up his friendships with others. First, he and Ron do not like Hermione because she acts like a know-it-all, but when she gets stuck in the dungeons with a horrendous troll, he rushes to save her regardless. 

  • How do the actions of the character move the plot forward?

In 'The Philosopher's Stone,' Harry is very observant of any events taking place at school. He analyzes people's actions, which builds up the plot around the stone and its importance for the magical world.

Get help with your character analysis from our experts.

Choose a Dynamic Character

Choosing a dynamic character is a great idea. This does not necessarily have to be the protagonist, but a character that undergoes many changes has grown throughout the story and is not boring and/or static. This gives you a perfect advantage to fully show the character and make your paper entertaining and engaging for the reader. If you choose a character that is not very dynamic, your essay might seem monotonous because your character will not end up doing much and will not be very involved in the story.

While you are reading, it is useful to take notes or highlight/underline any of the critical elements of the story. This will add depth to your character description(s). By providing vivid and specific examples, you connect your reader to the character, and the character comes alive in their eyes. Review your notes and formulate the main idea about your character when you're finished reading with your character in mind.

Make an initial draft while taking note of the character analysis essay outline provided by your instructor. You may follow the recommended character analysis essay format if you have not been provided with a sample.

Choose a Main Idea

While reading the story, make sure you keep track of your notes. It is a good idea to look at them, choose the ones that are the most representative of your character and find patterns. This will be your thesis. Then, you must support this idea with examples and situations involving your character. 

If your character were Jem Finch from 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee, the main idea would be how his personal character is shaped through racial conflicts, social inequalities, and internal struggles between public opinion, his own views, and what is actually right. Essaypro offers you history essay help. Leave us a notice if you need to proofread, edit, or write your essay.

Character Analysis Questions

Now that you have jotted down some main concepts about your character, here is a list of questions that can help you fill in the blanks you might still have:

character analysis quesions

  • Where do the events involving your character take place?
  • What are the relationships between your character and other significant characters?
  • What is the primary change your character has gone through throughout the story?
  • What is your character's background?
  • What is your character's occupation?
  • What kind of emotions does your character go through?
  • What are your character's values?
  • What is your character's value?
  • Does your character have friends?
  • Is there a lesson your character has learned by the end of the story?
  • Does the character achieve the goals he/she has set for himself/herself?

Make a Character Analysis Essay Outline

When you're unsure how to write a character synopsis, remember that creating a literary analysis outline is one of the most critical steps. A well-constructed character analysis outline will keep your thoughts and ideas organized.

Character Analysis Essay Introduction:

Make the introduction to your paper brief and meaningful. It should hold together your entire essay and spark your audience's interest. Write a short description of the character in question. Don't forget to include a character analysis thesis statement which should make a case for the character's relevance within the narrative context.

Character Analysis Essay Body:

Subdivide your body paragraphs into different ideas or areas regarding the character. Look at your professor's rubric and ensure you'll be able to tackle all the requirements. You should also be provided with questions to be answered to formulate your analysis better. The body should answer the following questions:

  • What is the character's physical appearance, personality, and background?
  • What are the conflicts the character experiences, and how did he/she overcome them?
  • What can we learn from this character?
  • What is the meaning behind the character's actions? What motivates him/her?
  • What does the character do? How does he/she treat others? Is he/she fair or unjust?
  • What does the character say? What is his/her choice of words? Does he/she have a rich vocabulary?
  • How does the character describe themself? How do others describe him/her?
  • What words do you associate with the character? Perhaps a word like 'hope,' 'bravery,' or maybe even 'freedom'?

Character Analysis Essay Conclusion:

It's time to master the secrets of how to write character analysis essay conclusions. Your ending should also hold your ideas together and shape a final analysis statement. Mention things about the character's conflicts that we could experience in real life. Additionally, you can write about how a character should've reacted to a certain situation.

Character Analysis Essay Example

Read our blogs ‘Character Analysis of Jem Finch', 'The Great Gatsby Book Through Daisy Buchanan Character,' 'Analysis of Characters in Beowulf,' or simply use these character analysis essay examples to reference your paper. You might also be interested in a synthesis essay example .

Now that you know what is character analysis, it might be time to choose a character to write about. If you find yourself in a situation where you need to type ' do my homework for me ,' you should contact our writers. You also get a free plagiarism report, formatting, and citing when  buying an essay from us!

STRUGGLE with Writing an Essay?

Address to our professional writers and get help asap!

Related Articles

Satire Essay

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

A character analysis is an examination of the personalities and actions of protagonists and antagonists that make up a story. It discusses their role in the story, evaluates their traits, and looks at their conflicts and experiences. You might need to write this assignment in school or college. Like any other essay, your character analysis should contain an introduction, a conclusion, and a thesis.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

Want to know how to write a character analysis essay? Not sure how to start? We understand. Whichever piece you choose – Lady Macbeth, A Rose for Emily, or something else, – analyzing a character for the first time might be challenging. No worries, we are here to help! In this guide by our custom writing experts, you will find a step-by-step guide, outlining and writing tips, as well as a number of character analysis examples.

  • 📔 Character Analysis Definition
  • 🧙 Types of Characters
  • 📝 Writing Guide
  • 🖥️ Formatting Tips

📑 Character Analysis Essay Examples

📔 what is a character analysis essay.

A character analysis essay is an assignment where you evaluate a character’s traits, behaviors, and motivations. It requires critical thinking and attention to detail. Unlike descriptions, analyses focus on a character’s personality and internal drives. It explains how those factors shape the narrated events.

The picture shows the definition of character analysis.

So, what you need to do is to see the characters as if they were real people who feel and act just as we do. Ensure there are no baseless assumptions and interpretations: the ideas you present should be supported by quotes from the text.

Character: Definition (Literature)

How do you define a character? It is a person, a creature, or an animal that makes up the story’s world. A character can be based on a real-life person, or it can be entirely fictional. It is someone who thinks, feels, and acts.

We use the word “character” in many different contexts. For instance, it can denote someone eccentric or worthy of our admiration. In both contexts, the term “character” means a distinctive personality. Similarly, in an analysis, your task is to show what makes a character stand out.

Just in 1 hour! We will write you a plagiarism-free paper in hardly more than 1 hour

Characterization: Literary Definition & Examples

Characterization is the process by which a character’s personality is revealed. It presents characters’ traits, feelings, and motives to the reader. For this reason, characterization is closely connected to character analysis. It helps us to understand the characters better throughout the reading process.

Characterization can be direct and indirect .

  • Direct characterization is when the narrator directly tells the audience what the personality of a character is.
  • In contrast, indirect characterization shows things that hint at a character’s nature.

Here are some examples of direct characterization taken from Patti Smith’s Just Kids :

“But he always suppressed his real feelings, mimicking the stoic nature of his father.”

Here we see a direct description of a character. The author straightforwardly talks about Robert’s feelings. In comparison, look at the description of a woman taken from John Steinbeck’s The Snake :

“He looked around at her again. Her dark eyes seemed veiled with dust. She looked without expression at the cat’s open throat.”

These lines don’t directly reveal anything about the woman, but the reader can understand that she is cold and dangerous. It’s an indirect characterization that focuses on looks and actions to convey the message to the reader.

Receive a plagiarism-free paper tailored to your instructions. Cut 20% off your first order!

🧙 Types of Characters for Your Essay

When it comes to characters, they can be divided into several groups. For example, characters can be:

  • Protagonists or antagonists,
  • Static or dynamic,
  • Flat or round.

These types define how much the characters change through the course of the story and their role in it.

Character Type: Definition

In psychology, a character type is defined by a combination of personality traits that coexist in an individual. Authors incorporate different types of characters into their works to convey the message and make the story more exciting or relatable to the reader.

There are three ways to categorize a character type:

  • by archetypes,
  • by their role in the narrative,
  • by their ability to change throughout the story.

If you are about to write a character analysis essay, being familiar with character archetypes is essential. They have been categorized by a generation of writers, including the Swiss psychologist Carl Jung and the American literary theorist Joseph Campbell. A lot of characters we see in today’s literary works are rooted in them.

Get an originally-written paper according to your instructions!

Archetypes include the Trickster, the Ruler, the Lover, the Sage, and others. The Hero is one of the most notable archetypes. Hercules or Achilles can be good examples of heroic protagonists. They are strong and courageous; they meet challenges and save the day by helping others.

Main Character: Definition & Examples

The main character and the protagonist often get mixed up. Most narratives also have the figure of the antagonist , whose actions affect the plot and stimulate change. Let’s have a look at the similarities and differences between these types.

The main character is central in the narrative. We experience the story through their eyes. They don’t necessarily have to be protagonists, though it happens in many cases.

The crucial difference between the main character and the protagonist is that the protagonist goes through changes throughout the story. The main character, however, is there to guide the reader through the experience. Often they help to show a different, darker side of the protagonist.

To understand the difference better, let’s turn to some examples.

What’s a Static Character?

Now that we’ve learned about the main character and the protagonist, we will closely look at other types of character classifications. One of the ways to categorize a character is by their ability to change throughout the story.

A static or simple character is someone who undergoes little or no significant changes. They often exist for comedic purposes. Here are some examples:

Complex Character: Definition & Examples

Complex or dynamic characters are the opposite of static characters. Characters of this type change as the book progresses. They display different qualities, emotions, and motives. They become more complicated and interesting to the reader as the story unfolds.

Check out these examples of dynamic characters:

Other Kinds of Characters

You already know about several ways to define a type of character. Now, let’s go over some other types, starting with flat and round characters.

Similar to dynamic and static ones, round and flat characters represent two different ends of a spectrum. Round characters usually come with an in-depth background. They are traditionally protagonists, antagonists, or those close to them. In contrast, flat characters are two-dimensional, and there is not much depth to them.

For the examples, we will turn to the novel Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Finally, here are some bonus character types for you:

  • Stock characters have a fixed set of traits and are flat. Most of the time, they exist for comical relief.
  • Symbolic characters represent a concept or a theme that goes beyond them. They can be round and flat as long as they symbolize a particular notion or phenomena.
  • Sidekick is a secondary character who supports the protagonist.
  • The love interest is someone with whom the main character is infatuated.
  • Foil is someone who’s set in contrast with the protagonist, thus putting more emphasis on the latter’s qualities.

Characterization Essay: Which Character Type to Choose

Before you start writing a paper, it essential to decide on the character you’re going to analyze. There are different types of characters in every story, so you need to choose which one suits your essay topic the best.

Usually, it’s best to choose a dynamic and round character . With static and flat ones, there may not be enough substance for you to analyze. However, some such personalities can be interesting to work with. For instance, a flat character such as Mr. Collins can be symbolic of something. Then, you can talk about how it embodies a specific idea or notion. You can also look at how they affect other characters in the story.

📝 How to Write a Character Analysis Step by Step

Now, we’re going to discuss how to write your paper step-by-step. But first, here are some pre-writing steps for you to consider:

  • Choose a character for analysis.
  • Take notes while reading;
  • Define the type of the character and their role in the story;
  • Pay attention to their descriptions and actions.

How to Analyze a Character: Description Examples

Knowing how to organize your work is an essential skill. Certain things need special attention if you are describing a character:

  • physical appearance,
  • emotional state,
  • how the character speaks,
  • behavior and personality traits,
  • relationships with other characters.

When you analyze a character, try to look at them as if they were a real-life person. You want to know their motive, learn about how they feel, and understand why they think in a certain way. Ask yourself:

  • How did the character change throughout the story (if at all)?
  • What do other characters say about them? Can their words be trusted?
  • Where is the character physically and emotionally? What brought them here?
  • What is the character ready to do to achieve their goal?

Now, let’s look at the character of Franklin from the short story Just Before the War with the Eskimos by J.D. Salinger:

Character Profile Template for Writing

When writing your essay, use this character analysis template:

The picture shows the main steps in writing a character analysis essay.

In the following sections, we’ll discuss each step in detail.

Character Analysis Outline: How to Start a Character Analysis

The beginning of your essay is its crucial part. It sets the mood and grabs the reader’s attention. There are many different ways to write a character analysis introduction, but here are the most effective ones:

  • Use a quotation. It’s a great way to make a catchy hook. If it relates to the character and reflects their nature, it can also help to set the tone for analysis. In case you are using a quotation from somewhere else, mention the source in parentheses.
  • Talk about the book or story. Mention the author, the name of the story, and the genre. Briefly describe the main events that are taking place in the story.
  • Introduce the character. State their role in the story (define whether they are a protagonist, an antagonist, etc.) Then, explain whether the character is static or dynamic. Finally, describe them in 2-3 sentences.

The final part of an introduction is a thesis statement.Read on to learn how to write one!

Character Analysis Thesis Statement & Examples

A thesis is the key component of every essay, and character analysis is not an exception. It’s crucial to develop a good and clear thesis statement that includes all the aspects of your paper. For instance, if you plan to write a 4-paragraph body, including 4 points in your thesis.

What should a character analysis thesis include? Well, try to think of any trait that the character possesses that has to do with their downfall or somehow influences the story. Think about how this trait affects the character’s relationship with others or how it contributes to their motive or aspiration.

Take a look at the following examples:

How to Write Character Analysis Paragraphs for the Main Body

The main body of your essay can include as many paragraphs as you need. In this part, you introduce the character and analyze them. We have already talked in this article about what kind of questions should be answered in these paragraphs. The most important points are:

  • Describe the character and their role within the story.
  • Give the audience an explanation of the character’s motives.
  • Show what message the author wanted to convey through this character.

Keep in mind that every paragraph should have a topic sentence that captures its main idea.

Tsukuru Tazaki’s spiritual rebirth also affects his physical appearance.

Character Analysis Conclusion: How to Write

The conclusion part of your essay summarizes all the information you have mentioned and restates the thesis. Here is some advice for your conclusion paragraph:

🖥️ Character Analysis Essay Format

Most college assignments and essays are written according to the APA or MLA format. Both styles have the same formatting, which requires:

  • a double-spaced paper with 1-inch margins,
  • a page header with page numbers flush right,
  • an 11-12-point font.

While writing an essay on characters, pay special attention to quotations. Here are some tips for APA in-text citations:

  • When you summarize or paraphrase the information, mention the author’s name and publication date in brackets. Example: According to Collins (1997.)
  • When you quote directly from the source, add the number of the page, as well. Example: “There is a view that…” (Collins, 1997, pp. 134-135.)
  • If the source includes three or more authors, use the abbreviation “et al.” after the first author’s name. Example: (Collins et al., 1997)

As for MLA format:

  • You can write the author’s name in the sentence. Example: As Collins mentions in his essay<…>.
  • You can mention the author’s name in the parentheses at the end of the sentence. Example: (Collins, J.K.)
  • The last option is to use either footnotes or endnotes.

Below you’ll find a collection of character analysis essay examples and a downloadable sample to inspire you even more.

  • The Grandmother in A Good Man Is Hard to Find: Character Analysis
  • Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman: Character Analysis
  • Jay Gatsby and Nick Carraway: Character Analysis
  • Prospero in The Tempest: Character Analysis
  • Agamemnon in the Iliad: Character Analysis
  • Lord Pococurante in Candide: Character Analysis
  • Andromache in the Iliad: Character Analysis
  • Character Analysis of the Knight from The Canterbury Tales
  • Essay on Soldier’s Home: Analysis of the Characters

Character Analysis Example (Downloadable)

Roald Dahl’s  Matilda  is one of the most famous children’s novels of the 20th century. The protagonist of this tale is Matilda Wormwood, a five and a half-year-old girl with a brilliant and lively mind that distances her from the rest of the family. Matilda’s character is particularly interesting as she has a powerful personality with extraordinary mental abilities, and she manages to overcome all the obstacles that surround her.

Character Analysis Essay Topics

  • Character analysis of Abbas from A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge .
  • Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
  • Beowulf and Hamlet : similarity and diversity of the characters.
  • Personal and social failures of Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller.
  • Character analysis of Othello .
  • Analyze the characters of Stanley and Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire .
  • The tragedy of Mathilde Loisel from The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.
  • Character analysis of Huck Finn from Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn .
  • Moral force of Kate Lipton from Double Helix by Nancy Parker.
  • Character analysis of Thorvald and Nora in Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House .
  • Discuss the character of king Creon in Antigone .
  • Analyze the personality of Lydia from Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice .
  • Compare Nick Carraway and Tom Buchanan from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.
  • Describe the peculiarities of Lord Pococurante in Candide .
  • Sarty Snopes in William Faulkner’s Barn Burning : character analysis.
  • Analyze the character of Biff Loman in Death of a Salesman.
  • Personality of Nora in A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen.
  • Examine the main characters of The Yellow Paper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.
  • Personality change of the main character in Edgar Alan Poe’s The Black Cat .
  • Analyze the characters of E. Hemingway’s A Clean, Well-Lighted Place .
  • Describe the main characters of the novel The Overstory by Richard Powers.
  • Controversial personality of Vladek in Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman.
  • Character analysis of Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley .
  • Discuss the character of Creon in Oedipus the King .
  • The manipulative character of Iago in Willian Shakespeare’s Othello .
  • Analyze the characters of Nil and Kristine in A Doll’s House .
  • Eccentricity of Grendel’s character in Beowulf .
  • Describe the main characters of Four Summers by Joyce Carol Oates.
  • Examine the characters of Harold Krebs and his mother in Ernest Hemingway’s Soldier’s Home .
  • Analyze common and different traits of the characters in The Monkey’s Paw .
  • Character peculiarities of Rostam and Sohrab in Shahnameh by Ferdowsi Tousi.
  • How does the character of Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen differ from the rest of her family?
  • The behavior and meaning of the characters in Nicholas Rowe’s The Tragedy of Jane Shore.
  • Compare the characters of Victor Frankenstein and the monster in Frankenstein or the Modern Prometheus by Mary Shelley.
  • Discuss the differences of main characters in Everyday Use by Alice Walker.
  • Examine the character of Connie in Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been by Joyce Carol Oates.
  • The influence of social pressure on the characters of Chopin’s Desirée’s Baby and Sedaris’ A Modest Proposal .
  • Dynamic feminist characters of Delia and Jig in Sweat by Z. Hurston and Hills Like White Elephants by E. Hemingway.
  • Analyze the personality traits of Emily in William Faulkner’s A Rose for Emily .
  • Examine the characters of The Quiet American by Graham Greene.
  • Henry ΙV by William Shakespeare : analysis of main characters.

Now you know everything necessary for writing an excellent character analysis. What character would you like to analyze? Let us know in the comments!

Further reading:

  • How to Write a Literary Analysis Essay Step by Step
  • Literature Review Outline: Examples, Approaches, & Templates
  • Library Research Paper: Example & Writing Guide [2024]
  • How to Write a Critique Paper: Tips + Critique Essay Examples
  • 435 Literary Analysis Essay Topics and Prompts [2024 Upd]
  • How to Write a Literature Review: Actionable Tips & Links

❓ Character Analysis FAQ

A character analysis involves:

1. description of a character; 2. explanation of how they change throughout the story; 3. their role in the narrative; 4. relationships with other characters; 5. what idea the author wanted to convey through the character.

A character analysis creates a description that contains their most important qualities. It provides a new perspective of a character that reveals more about what it’s like to be human. It can also point to a moral or a lesson.

Literary analysis uses the technique of tracing the character development. This technique is usually used to understand the theme of the work better. Through tracing a character’s development, we can learn more about the story’s message and how it’s conveyed.

A summary paragraph in a character study should include answers to the questions “what,” “who,” “where,” and “why.” You should mention who narrates the story, where the story is set, its theme, and the message it conveys.

  • Critical Concepts: Character and Characterization: Kansas State University
  • Analyzing Novels & Short Stories: Texas A&M University
  • Guidelines for Writing a Character Analysis Essay: Tidewater Communite College
  • Literary Criticism: Thesis Examples: The University of Texas at Arlington
  • Writing a Literary Analysis Paper: Germanna Community College
  • Flat and Round Characters: Encyclopedia Britannica
  • Literature: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • How to Write a Book Analysis: Kean University
  • Elements of Literary Analysis: Alamo Colleges District
  • Defining Characterization: Read Write Think
  • APA Style: General Format: Purdue University
  • Share to Facebook
  • Share to Twitter
  • Share to LinkedIn
  • Share to email

Recommended for You

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Outline, Steps, & Examples

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Outline, Steps, & Examples

If you are assigned to write a rhetorical analysis essay, you have one significant advantage. You can choose a text from an almost infinite number of resources. The most important thing is that you analyze the statement addressed to an audience. The task of a rhetorical analysis essay is to...

How to Analyze a Poem in an Essay

How to Analyze a Poem in an Essay

Any literary analysis is a challenging task since literature includes many elements that can be interpreted differently. However, a stylistic analysis of all the figurative language the poets use may seem even harder. You may never realize what the author actually meant and how to comment on it! While analyzing...

How to Write a Book Review: Format, Outline, & Example

How to Write a Book Review: Format, Outline, & Example

As a student, you may be asked to write a book review. Unlike an argumentative essay, a book review is an opportunity to convey the central theme of a story while offering a new perspective on the author’s ideas. Knowing how to create a well-organized and coherent review, however, is...

Argumentative vs. Persuasive Essays: What’s the Difference?

Argumentative vs. Persuasive Essays: What’s the Difference?

The difference between an argumentative and persuasive essay isn’t always clear. If you’re struggling with either style for your next assignment, don’t worry. The following will clarify everything you need to know so you can write with confidence. First, we define the primary objectives of argumentative vs. persuasive writing. We...

How to Write a Cause & Effect Essay: Examples, Outline, & Tips

How to Write a Cause & Effect Essay: Examples, Outline, & Tips

You don’t need to be a nerd to understand the general idea behind cause and effect essays. Let’s see! If you skip a meal, you get hungry. And if you write an essay about it, your goal is achieved! However, following multiple rules of academic writing can be a tough...

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 101 Guide [+ Examples]

How to Write an Argumentative Essay: 101 Guide [+ Examples]

An argumentative essay is a genre of academic writing that investigates different sides of a particular issue. Its central purpose is to inform the readers rather than expressively persuade them. Thus, it is crucial to differentiate between argumentative and persuasive essays. While composing an argumentative essay, the students have to...

Character Analysis

Barbara P

Writing Character Analysis - Outline, Steps, and Examples

12 min read

Published on: Feb 9, 2020

Last updated on: Nov 22, 2023

Character Analysis

People also read

Get Better at Math: Solving Math Problems Quick and Easy

Learn How to Write an Editorial on Any Topic

Best Tips on How to Avoid Plagiarism

How to Write a Movie Review - Guide & Examples

A Complete Guide on How to Write a Summary for Students

Write Opinion Essay Like a Pro: A Detailed Guide

Evaluation Essay - Definition, Examples, and Writing Tips

How to Write a Thematic Statement - Tips & Examples

How to Write a Bio - Quick Tips, Structure & Examples

How to Write a Synopsis – A Simple Format & Guide

How to Write a Comparative Essay – A Complete Guide

Visual Analysis Essay - A Writing Guide with Format & Sample

List of Common Social Issues Around the World

11 Common Types of Plagiarism Explained Through Examples

Article Review Writing: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide with Examples

A Detailed Guide on How to Write a Poem Step by Step

Detailed Guide on Appendix Writing: With Tips and Examples

Share this article

Have you ever struggled to understand characters beyond what meets the eye?

Character analysis is more than just explaining the character. It focuses on a particular character in a story and analyzes their strengths and weaknesses, and the depth of their character. 

These assignments help students develop critical thinking, analytical skills, and writing skills. Analyzing characters from various backgrounds also helps encourage inclusivity.

Writing a character analysis might feel tricky, but fear not! 

In this blog, you will learn how to write a character analysis, with tips and examples.

So without further ado, let’s dive right in!

On This Page On This Page -->

What is Character Analysis

This type of analytical essay involves examining the traits, motivations, behaviors, and development of a character within a story or literary work. 

Its purpose is to deeply understand and interpret the complexities of a character, going beyond surface-level descriptions.

Purpose of a Character Analysis

The key objectives of character analysis are:

  • Understanding Depth: It aims to uncover the layers of a character's personality, motivations, and emotions to comprehend their role in the story comprehensively.
  • Exploring Development: It involves tracking the character's journey throughout the narrative, identifying changes in their beliefs, attitudes, or actions.
  • Identifying Motivations: Character analysis seeks to unearth the driving forces behind a character's choices, behaviors, and relationships within the story.
  • Relating to Themes: Dissecting characters helps in exploring and understanding the themes, messages, and conflicts within the story.
  • Enhancing Engagement: It encourages readers or students to engage more deeply with the narrative, fostering empathy and connection with the characters.
  • Interpreting Author's Intentions: It aids in deciphering the author's purpose in creating specific characters, adding depth to the understanding of the literary work.

How to Write Character Analysis

Writing a good character analysis goes beyond just describing how a character looks or acts. It's like peeking into their thoughts, and feelings, and how they change as the story goes on.

Here are some steps you can follow to write a compelling character analysis;

Step 1: Choose a Character

When you pick a character to study, think if they change or if they stay the same throughout. Each character type brings its significance to the story. 

When analyzing characters, knowing their type helps in understanding their roles, motivations, and impact on the narrative.

Here are different types of characters you can encounter:

Step 2: Gather Information

Gathering information is crucial for character analysis because it helps us understand the character better. By knowing about their physical attributes, personality traits, and what they do in the story to move the plot, we can identify the character better. 

Look at the example of Harry Potter, the protagonist in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series:

Step 3: Outline Your Analysis

Create a structured plan for your character analysis essay. Begin with an engaging introduction, introducing the character and their significance. 

Proceed to discuss the character's development throughout the story and their interactions with other characters in the story. 

Here is a basic outline structure you can follow for your essay:

Here is a template you can look at to understand the structure and flow of the analysis essay:

Character Analysis Template

Step 4: Support with Evidence

While analyzing characters, substantiate your observations with evidence from the text. 

Quotes, descriptions, or scenes that depict the character's actions or character relationships provide strong evidence for your analysis.

Let’s take a look at the example below of a character analysis of Hamlet:

Step 5: Analyze, Don't Summarize

Remember, your goal is to analyze the character, not summarize the plot. Focus on interpreting their actions, decisions, and the types of characters they represent. 

Let’s take a look at the example of character analysis of ‘Waiting for Godot’:

Step 6: Incorporate Critical Perspectives 

Consider different interpretations of the character. Acknowledge how their character development influences the story's themes and the author's intentions for including them.

The character analysis of Joseph Andrews is a great example of understanding this factor:

Step 7: Write Your Character Analysis

Craft your analysis into a structured and coherent essay. Ensure your analysis contributes to a broader literary analysis of the work. 

Here are some tips to help you:

  • Avoid summarizing the plot extensively. Concentrate on interpreting the character's traits, actions, and their significance within the story.
  • Contextualize your analysis within the broader themes or messages of the literary work.

Step 8: Conclusion

Conclude your analysis by summarizing the character's evolution, the impact of their character traits on the story, and their significance to the overall narrative.

Let’s take a look at the conclusion in the character analysis of Kurtz in Heart of Darkness:

Step 9 - Proofread and Refine

Though conclusions mark the end of an essay, it is considered a good practice to proofread. This step ensures the quality and readability of your essay. 

Here are some tips to help you proofread and refine:

  • Look for unclear or difficult sentences that might confuse the reader.
  • Double-check formatting guidelines, citation styles, and bibliography entries if applicable. 
  • Correct any grammatical errors, punctuation mistakes, or spelling issues. 
  • Check that the quotes or scenes you've mentioned actually support your ideas.

Character Analysis Example

Examples of character analyses offer valuable insights into structuring an essay. They help to demonstrate how to organize thoughts systematically, from the introduction to the conclusion:

Let’s take a look at the character analysis of Oedipus Rex:

Let’s take a look at some more examples:

Character Analysis of Antigone

Mr. Birling's Character Analysis

The Crucible Character Analysis

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Jay Gatsby Character Analysis

Othello Character Analysis

Okonkwo Character Analysis

John Proctor Character Analysis

Tips for Writing a Character Analysis

Here are some tips that can help you improve your analysis:

  • Focus on Subtleties: Pay attention to subtle character traits, gestures, or speech patterns that reveal deeper insights into the character's personality.
  • Contextual Analysis: Consider the character within the context of their environment, era, or social background to understand how these factors shape their actions and beliefs.
  • Contrast and Compare: Compare the character with others in the story to highlight unique attributes or to showcase how they contrast with different personalities.
  • Symbolism and Imagery: Explore any symbolic elements or imagery associated with the character, as these can often convey deeper meanings or themes.
  • Evolution over Time: Analyze how the character evolves or changes throughout the narrative, focusing on pivotal moments that drive their development.
  • Impact on Plot Development: Highlight the character's role in advancing the story, influencing other characters, or triggering significant events.
  • Narrative Perspective: Consider how the character's portrayal might differ based on the narrator's perspective or point of view.

So, there you have it! 

By now you must have gotten an idea of how to write a character analysis. 

By following these steps and tips, you'll grasp how to craft a thorough character analysis. You'll be able to understand and explain the complexities of the character effectively. 

However, if you need help with it, then working with a professional essay writing service like MyPerfectWords.com, will save you time and help you learn better.

Barbara P (Literature, Marketing)

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Get Help

Keep reading

Character Analysis

We value your privacy

We use cookies to improve your experience and give you personalized content. Do you agree to our cookie policy?

Website Data Collection

We use data collected by cookies and JavaScript libraries.

Are you sure you want to cancel?

Your preferences have not been saved.

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay?

14 August, 2020

14 minutes read

Author:  Kate Smith

A character analysis essay is one of the most complicated academic assignments that students usually write for Literature or English classes. Generally, this kind of essay writing requires you to describe the character in the context of the story. This can be done through the analysis of the relationship between the major and secondary characters or through your personal opinion of a particular character.

Character Analysis

So, there is something you should learn before getting down to work. What is a character analysis and how to approach it? Let’s try to find the answers in the information below.

What is a Character Analysis?

A character analysis is a kind of essay where you examine behaviors, motivations, and actions of characters. Also, a character analysis is an in-depth assignment that makes you think critically about one or more characters and make judgements after analyzing the text. In most cases, it is used for the analysis of literary works. This form of academic writing involves personalities’ descriptions and conflicts with others they experience throughout a story. This analysis aims to provide a critical assessment of characters and build up conclusions based on the storyline. You may analyze a personality through his or her behavioral patterns or internal and external conflicts.

character analysis essay

When you’re asked to write a character analysis, you must look at that story from a different angle. How? This is not your average reading for fun. Your task is to focus on the character synopsis and everything that’s associated with the people involved in the story.

Aim of a Character Analysis

A character analysis aims to evaluate a character’s traits, their functions, and the conflicts they have to deal with throughout the story. During the analysis, you will need to think critically, ask questions, and make conclusions about the character. To make your analysis informative, you will have to go beyond available descriptions that are written by the author. To understand the meaning of every event, phrase, and action, you will have to read between the lines. Don’t be afraid of using some additional resources if you feel like knowing more about the epoch a character lives in. If you want to gain an alternative opinion about a character, do not hesitate to find out your friends’ or internet users’ thoughts. Thus, thorough research may help you develop some creative ideas that will add great value to your future paper.

General Types of Characters

You should have a deep understanding of a character before starting an in-depth analysis. While a good character has many sides, there are some standard features to be considered:

  • Protagonist: Being the main figure in a story, this character has the whole plot based on their life, actions, events, and feelings.
  • Antagonist: Being a villain in a story, this character is positioned as the opposite figure to the major hero. Their basic nature remains negative, which makes them even more interesting than the main character. An antagonist plays a significant role even in short stories.
  • Major: This character dominates the story. While they are not the main one in the story, they are involved in all the events.
  • Minor: This character appears in a story from time to time. Their role may be significant for the plot development, but then they may disappear for some time and pop up again.
  • Dynamic and static characters: The existence of these two opposite characters is determined by their reflection of each other’s specifications. While one character of a story goes through an internal or external transformation, another one may have their basic characteristics unchanged. There is a common idea that an evolving character tends to be more interesting than a static one. However, you can also analyze a static character from the perspective that they are not sympathetic, smart, or deep enough to learn their lessons. Or on the contrary, they remain strong enough and can resist the system without going under it.
  • Stereotypical: If you are familiar with stereotypes, you will know what type of character is meant here. Generally, this particular character serves as the representation of the social, national, as well as demographic background of the story.
  • Foils: The main goal of this hero in the story is to stay in contrast with main characters and a protagonist in order to highlight the features of the main character.
  • Multi-dimensional characters: This group of characters involves an unlimited number of personalities. They are one-dimensional characters in the story who usually are not particularly interesting for the reader or viewer and do not play a crucial role in the storyline.

How Do You Start a Character Analysis Essay?

Before you start writing, you may wonder how to do a character analysis. Of course, you need to select a character to describe. In some cases, your professor will give you a character to talk about. By reading a story several times, you may notice the tiniest details. Ideally, you can use a highlighter or marker to mark each spot where your character is mentioned. Here are some more details of how to start with a character analysis:

  • Take notes while reading. Take notes by highlighting every significant element of the story.
  • Introduce your character. Introduce your character by providing their detailed description.
  • Describe your character. Provide a smooth transition from the general description of your character to the point of convergence of the story.
  • Build up a thesis statement. Finish the presentation with your paper’s proposal.

Main Points of a Character Analysis

When you need to analyze one character, you can make it from the perspective of several types at once. The character’s ability to change can create an additional source of analysis. At the same time, the complex and changing personality will be more interesting for the detailed analysis. To make it easier to work with such characters, you should focus on their characteristics, namely their importance for a story, actions, events, and so on. In most cases, you have to cover three major points:

Personality

Reveal the main features of a character to provide the reader with a portrait. By adding some facts and descriptions of actions, you will enable a deeper understanding of the analyzed hero. There is no need to use some words with broad meanings like “bad,” “nice,” “honest,” etc.

Role in a story

Describe the importance of the particular character in the context of the general story. Also, you should pay attention to their actions and their ability to move the events forward.

Character development

Analyze the changes the character has gone through and what features they have now. You should focus on the progress of a person, even if it is regressive.

Character Analysis Outline

In the character analysis essay outline, you should describe two or maybe even three specific character categories. Your mission is to describe the personality of the character, their function in the story, and the value they have.

  • Describe the personality of the character. The reader gets familiar with the characters of the story through the words the characters use, the emotions they express, and the actions they take. It is quite easy to build up an opinion about the personality of a character through the prism of their outward behaviors. Eventually, you will understand that the character fits into one of the character categories mentioned above.
  • Explore the character’s role . While writing a character analysis, it is important to describe the role of that character in detail. Apart from expressing unique character traits, the character will also perform a specific function in the story. Whether it will be the major or minor role, the analysis should address all the aspects of the performed role.
  • Outline the growth and development of the character . In order to write a professional analysis, you will explain how the character matures and transforms as the plot progresses.

The majority of characters will have to go through particular transformations until the end of the story. You should pay special attention to whether the character becomes better or worse, stronger or weaker, rich or poor. Mention any areas or scenes where these transformations occur. In the story, you will recognize them from the cues like “it was then that she understood…” or “for the first time in months, he…”

Do you need a more detailed analysis of your character?

To make your analysis essay correct, you need to explore your character deeply. If you set some points you will follow in your work, you will manage to be consequential in your analysis. So here are some crucial nuances you should remember to describe the character:

You should focus on the reasons that make the character in a story to make a particular decision or take a specific action. You have an opportunity to explore the rightfulness of those actions as well as their reasonability. While you are asked to express your thoughts about certain events and feelings, you should be objective by looking beyond the cover.

Every action taken by a character can say a lot about his/her personality. You should not skip any events because it can be important for the general story and reveal some info about the character, his/her attitude to things, etc.

You should pay attention to the words the person uses because they can say a lot about their personality. Their accents and phrases may provide you with valuable information about nationality, social status, education, or even age of a character.

Descriptions

There are two major sources of the description: from other people in a story and the author. The author can provide the reader with one attitude and description of the major character, while secondary heroes in a story may describe them from their own perspective. At that point, their conclusions may be totally different, yet they’ll provide you with an understanding of the person’s nature.

The way people refer to a person also determines the features of a character. They may have nicknames or other names that will demonstrate their background and the attitude of other characters toward them. You can also define the origin as well as other important nuances.

Character Analysis Examples

By using a readymade character analysis example, you can concentrate on the creative process itself. Here are some nice examples of written character analysis based on a couple of popular stories:

https://literatureessaysamples.com/joe-gargerys-character-analysis/

http://jmendelis.blogspot.com/p/sample-character-analysis-essay.html

Popular Topics for Character Analysis

  • Hamlet Character Analysis
  • The Crucible Character Analysis
  • Macbeth Character Analysis
  • Ophelia Character Analysis
  • Iago Character Analysis
  • 12 Angry Men Character Analysis
  • The Great Gatsby Character Analysis
  • Beowulf Character Analysis
  • Lady Macbeth Character Analysis
  • Atticus Finch Character Analysis
  • Romeo Character Analysis
  • Antigone Character Analysis
  • Victor Frankenstein Character Analysis
  • Pride And Prejudice Character Analysis
  • Machinal By Sophie Treadwell Character Analysis
  • Of Mice And Men Character Analysis
  • Othello Character Analysis
  • Macduff Character Analysis
  • Lord Of The Flies Character Analysis
  • To Kill A Mockingbird Character Analysis
  • The Breakfast Club Character Analysis
  • Charlie Brown Character Analysis
  • Death Of A Salesman Character Analysis
  • Hester Prynne Character Analysis
  • Mr Darcy Character Analysis
  • Desdemona Character Analysis
  • Fahrenheit 451 Character Analysis
  • Willy Loman Character Analysis
  • A Raisin In The Sun Character Analysis
  • The Things They Carried Character Analysis
  • A Rose For Emily Character Analysis
  • Nick Carraway Character Analysis
  • Daisy Buchanan Character Analysis
  • Boo Radley Character Analysis
  • 13 Reasons Why Character Analysis
  • King Lear Character Analysis
  • Jay Gatsby Character Analysis
  • Blanche Dubois Character Analysis
  • Oedipus Character Analysis
  • Claudius Character Analysis

Tips on Writing a Character Analysis from Handmadewriting Experts

Whether you follow a character analysis template yourself or ask a professional essay writer to complete this paper for you, you should not forget the common principles of work. Luckily, Handmadewriting’s specialists always follow the standard rules for character analysis writing:

  • Support all your statements with evidence. Y ou should incorporate evidence for every single point you make, although it must be relevant to the story. By means of quotes taken from the story, you can easily support your ideas and increase your credibility.
  • Point, illustrate, and explain. The so-called PIE method is a must for character analysis writing. Make sure to make a point, integrate quotations to support it, and explain how every quote creates the point.
  • Use your own words to anchor the quote. A quotation should not be left alone in the sentence. You need to explain the eligibility of this quote and its meaning.
  • Do not overuse quotes. You are allowed to use up to 10% of quotations in an academic paper, so remember this number. If you overuse quotes, you can hardly hope for a good grade.

Are you ready to proceed with your character analysis paper? Once you learn all writing rules and tips, you will be able to finish an excellent paper before the set deadline.

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

  • PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
  • EDIT Edit this Article
  • EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
  • Browse Articles
  • Learn Something New
  • Quizzes Hot
  • This Or That Game New
  • Train Your Brain
  • Explore More
  • Support wikiHow
  • About wikiHow
  • Log in / Sign up
  • Education and Communications
  • Studying Literature

How to Write a Character Analysis

Last Updated: November 11, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Jamie Korsmo, PhD . Jamie Korsmo is a Ph.D. candidate in English at Georgia State University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 750,015 times.

Learning how to write a character analysis requires a thorough reading of the literary work with attention to what the author reveals about the character through dialogue, narrative, and plot. A literary analyst writes about the role each character plays in the work. The protagonist is the most important character, while the character who plays the villain in the conflict with the main character is called the antagonist. Great writers create characters with many facets, so character analysis should focus on these complexities. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you write your own character analysis.

Getting Started

Step 1 Choose your character.

  • For example, if you are reading Mark Twain's classic Huckleberry Finn , you might consider choosing Huck or the runaway slave, Jim, because they are dynamic characters who show a wide range of emotion, who often act in unpredictable ways, and who move the plot forward with their actions.
  • It might be less effective to choose the duke or the king, the tricksters Huck and Jim meet in Arkansas, because they have fairly minor roles in the story, they don't show a wide range of emotions, and, more than anything, they're simply stock characters (the story needs a humorous detour and a way for Jim and Huck to be separated, so that Huck can have his infamous All right, then, I'll go to hell! moment, and the duke and the king fulfill that role).

Step 2 Read the story with your character in mind.

  • For the Huck Finn example, you might think about how Huck is described as a backwoods boy, but he clearly wrestles with larger issues that have complex social implications - like slavery and religion.
  • Think about how Huck relates to runaway slave Jim, both in the beginning of the novel and at the end. Think about Huck's relationship with his drunk, abusive father and how it shaped his identity.
  • Huck is the main character, so obviously his actions are important. But what, specifically, is special about the way Huck acts? How does he make different decisions than someone else in the same situation might? You could talk about how Huck decides to rescue Jim from the people who intend to return him to his owner because he decides that slavery is wrong, even though this idea contradicts everything society has taught him.
  • Think about how Huck grows and learns throughout the story. In the beginning, he is more likely to get caught up in schemes (like faking his own death); but later on, he avoids the trickery he observes (like when he tries to ditch the deceptive duke and king).

Step 3 Take notes.

  • You can also keep a notebook handy while you're reading to help you keep track of your thoughts about the character as you read.

Step 4 Choose a main idea.

  • For the Huck Finn example, you might choose something about the hypocrisy of civilized society since, in essence, the novel is about a boy who was brought up to support enslaving blacks, but decides, through his experiences with Jim on the river, to value Jim as a person and a friend rather than just as a slave. Similarly, Huck's own father captures and "enslaves" Huck, a situation that Huck eventually escapes and mirrors Jim's own quest for freedom. Society views Huck's escape as moral and just, but Jim's escape is a terrible crime to the townspeople. In this contradiction lies a major crux of the story.

Step 5 Make an outline.

  • An outline will help keep your thoughts organized and maintain an effective flow as you move through the analysis.

Writing the Character Analysis

Step 1 Write your introduction.

  • Your introduction should provide the topic of your analysis, enough background information to inform and intrigue your reader, and your thesis idea/claim.

Step 2 Describe the physical appearance of the character.

  • Think about Huck's ragged clothes and what that says about his character. Discuss how Huck dresses up like a little girl to find out the news in town and how this altered appearance influences your analysis of Huck.

Step 3 Discuss your character's background.

  • Discuss Huck's relationship with his father and with the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, who take him in. How do these characters influence Huck's development? The contrast between Huck's alcoholic father and the conservative ladies who care for Huck later is an interesting continuum of social behavior to analyze and consider where Huck's own beliefs/actions fall on that continuum.

Step 4 Discuss the character's language use.

  • Huck has an admittedly vulgar attitude for a little boy and often does not speak in a way that the Widow Douglas approves of. He does try hard to obey her and act appropriately in church, but he often missteps and announces himself, through his actions and words, as a person who is far less civilized than he pretends to be, or than the Widow would like him to be.

Step 5 Write about the personality of the character.

  • Huck Finn tries to abide by the rules of society, but at the end of the day he acts based on emotions. He decides to rescue Jim from being returned to his master, even though it is against the law, because he believes that Jim does not deserve to be treated like a slave. Huck decides this on his own, in direct opposition to the values his society has taught him.

Step 6 Analyze the character's relationships with others.

  • Huck's external conflict relies on all of the events that take place on his journey down the river - the physical struggle of the trip, his mishaps along the way, getting caught up in various scandals and schemes, etc. His internal conflict reaches its climax when Huck decides to help Jim attain freedom from slavery. This is a crucial moment in the story where Huck follows his heart instead of his social conscience.

Step 8 Collect supporting material or evidence for the analysis.

Using Evidence in Your Writing

Step 1 Support your writing with textual evidence.

  • Using quotes from the text will increase your credibility as an author and will support your ideas more effectively.

Step 2 Use the PIE method.

  • For example, you might say the following: Huck Finn garners a significant new identity from being a raftsman. He insists, "It amounted to something being a raftsman on such a craft as that." This shows the freedom and pride he associates with his raft.

Step 3 Anchor the quote within your own words.

  • Incorrect: "It amounted to something being a raftsman on such a craft as that."
  • Correct: He insists that "It amounted to something being a raftsman on such a craft as that."
  • Correct: "It amounted to something being a raftsman on such a craft as that," Huck insists.

Step 4 Do not over-quote.

Writing Help

character traits essay outline

Community Q&A

Community Answer

  • Use specific details from the text to support every point. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
  • Write a rough draft to gather your thoughts about the analysis before polishing your work for submission. Thanks Helpful 4 Not Helpful 0
  • Organize the analysis carefully. Write an introduction that will attract a reader to your work. Make sure that each paragraph is unified around a central topic. Tie your work together with a polished conclusion. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

character traits essay outline

You Might Also Like

Deal With Conflict

  • ↑ https://grammar.yourdictionary.com/grammar/writing/how-to-write-a-character-analysis.html
  • ↑ https://www.germanna.edu/wp-content/uploads/tutoring/handouts/Literary-Analysis.pdf
  • ↑ https://www.tcc.edu/wp-content/uploads/archive/writing-center-handouts/essay-types-character-analysis-essay.pdf
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/film-analysis/
  • ↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/character-trait-examples.html
  • ↑ https://purdueglobalwriting.center/paragraph-development-with-pie-2/
  • ↑ https://writingcenter.uagc.edu/quoting-paraphrasing-summarizing

About This Article

Jamie Korsmo, PhD

To write a character analysis, first you'll need to come up with a main idea, or thesis statement, for your character, like "Huck Finn embodies the struggles of growing up as a young boy." Then, you'll want to write about each facet of your character, like their appearance, background, personality, relationships, and growth throughout the story, and explain how they prove your thesis. As you're writing your analysis, try to use quotes and examples from the text to back up what you're saying. To learn how to outline a character analysis, scroll down! Did this summary help you? Yes No

  • Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Cynthia Buccola

Cynthia Buccola

Oct 5, 2016

Did this article help you?

character traits essay outline

Nov 13, 2019

Anonymous

Mar 8, 2017

Robin Soderberg

Robin Soderberg

Oct 9, 2016

Anonymous

Jun 20, 2016

Am I a Narcissist or an Empath Quiz

Featured Articles

Start a Text Conversation with a Girl

Trending Articles

How to Take the Perfect Thirst Trap

Watch Articles

Wrap a Round Gift

  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Info
  • Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

Menu.

  • How It Works
  • Prices & Discounts

How Do You Write a Character Analysis: 8 Solid Tips

Stefani H.

Table of contents

It is no secret — characters are what bring life to a story.

Their personalities, behaviors, and action make a story worth a read. As a result, teaching and writing character analysis essays have become extremely essential in any course.

8 Tips to Write an Impressive Character Analysis

While writing a character analysis , students are required to provide factual information about a character in a story. This includes a character’s mannerisms, physical appearance, relationship with other characters, and many more.

Order Now: 100% Original, Top-Quality Character Analysis

In this article, we will look at the important tips to consider when writing a character analysis essay. Lecturers assign students such essays to help them build on their critical thinking skills and be objective.

1. Select a character

The most important thing to consider when selecting a character is to choose one that you can find a lot of information to write about — that is, if your professor hasn’t assigned you a character. So avoid minor characters or those showing little development or growth in the story. Such characters won’t add much value to your essays.

That doesn’t mean you only stick to the protagonist and antagonist. While it is true there is a lot to write about regarding the two, it is also possible that most of your colleagues will write about them. To avoid your essays looking like the rest, pick a character with enough material to write about.

So, how do you choose a character:

a. Identify the types of characters in the story.

In every story, we have a protagonist, antagonist, major, minor, dynamic, static, and stereotypical characters. For example, if we look at Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Macbeth is the protagonist while Macduff is the antagonist. In the Harry Potter series, Professor Dumbledore is a major character while Fleur Delacour is a minor character.

b. Once you have information on all the characters in the book, select a character that has a lot of material to work with.

2. Reread or watch the story, with a focus on the character

Even if you have already read the story and think you have everything in mind, it is prudent to reread or rewatch the story. If possible, do a close reading of the story.

But on this occasion, concentrate on the character in mind. The important things to consider when close reading the story are:

  • How the author describes the character. For example, in the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, the author describes women, such as Mrs. Barrymore and Miss Beryl Stapleton, as trustworthy and dedicated to their husbands. Besides, they would do anything for their husbands;
  • Relationship between your character and other characters;
  • Character’s actions;
  • Character’s struggle and success.

3. Take notes

As you reread the story, take notes of the new information you have uncovered. Note down the physical and character traits, the character’s background, objectives, motivation, and values. This will help you vividly express your character or add weight to their description.

Note that your work is not merely to take notes or reread the story, but also to analyze it. Find out your character’s main purpose in the story, how they speak, and even what you can use to associate them with.

4. Discuss the character’s main theme

Now that you have gathered and analyzed all the details about the character, the next step is to come up with what the essay will be about.

The thesis statement , main goal, theme, or topic of your character analysis essay must analyze a specific character. It must also follow your instructor’s prompt. For example, in the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, the main theme is science vs. superstition. There are other themes to write about, such as trust and betrayal or appearance and reality.

5. Develop an outline

A well thought out character analysis essay cannot come out clearly without an outline . The main purpose of an outline is to direct you as you write the essay and avoid fumbling. In your outline, list all the facts about your character and how you want your essay to come out.

To ensure that all your ideas are presented in an organized way:

  • Clearly define your topic by brainstorming different ideas and looking for keywords relevant to your topic of discussion.
  • Review other relevant sources on the story or do secondary research. You can find relevant materials in the library or online databases.
  • Map out the structure: A standard character analysis outline must show what goes in the introduction, body, and conclusion.

By coming up with a solid outline, you will easily support your thesis statement, besides having a clear direction on where each text will go.

6. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction

You already have your outline and thesis statement in mind to guide you on how you start your character analysis.

As usual, start with a strong hook or statement that will show the reader why this character is worth examining. For example, you can start your essay with a question, quote, or storytelling.

After which, show the reader some intriguing facts about the character. Besides, reveal to the reader what is coming, and your thesis statement.

7. Write the body paragraph

The body is where you answer all the questions the reader may have about a character and discuss the theme. As a result, it is prudent to subdivide it into different sections. To make sure you have tackled everything, check out your assignment criteria on the things required.

Here are the most important things you must discuss in the body.

a) Discuss the character’s physical appearance

Readers always want to relate with characters, and if the character looks like them, they will be more inclined to read your essay. Therefore, show what the character looks like or their appearance.

At this juncture, you can pick a phrase from the book to add weight to your descriptions. If we take an example from the novel The Hound of the Baskervilles, the author describes Beryl Stapleton as exquisite and finely cut. She has dark, eager eyes and a sensitive mouth. You can use this information to influence your analysis of Beryl.

b) Discuss the character’s background

The background information to reveal about your character should revolve around their childhood and environment. Show readers where the character was born or raised, their education, or what their upbringing was like. How does the character’s past influence his behavior or present-day behavior? Going back to Beryl Stapleton, we notice she is the wife of Jack Stapleton and a native of Costa Rica. You can discuss how these influence her development.

c) Discuss the character’s personality

Is your character introvert or extrovert? Is he/she timid or outspoken? Do they have values? If so, how are they exhibited in their words, actions, and behavior? Specify to your readers the character’s personality traits.

Remember to pick out quotes from the book to add weight to what you say about your character. For example, Beryl Stapleton comes out as a villain and a victim. On one hand, she endures abuse and beatings from her husband, Jack Stapleton. On the other hand, she is in the plot and is an accomplice to the Baskerville murders. She is also known to be highly ambitious and assertive.

d) Discuss the character’s language

A character’s language also helps bring out what he or she is. If he/she uses vulgar language, we can deduce what kind of behavior he/she possesses. You may also reveal to the reader whether the character uses the same language throughout the text.

e) Discuss the character’s relationships with others

Is the character a leader or a follower? Is his/her interaction with others good or poor? Use quotes from the text to show how the character relates with others. Try to explain why these character relationships are important.

To discuss character relationships correctly, understand the relationships between characters. Consider the following:

  • Who is this relationship between?
  • In what ways are the characters alike or different?
  • The ways characters feel about each other. For example, Beryl Stapleton truly loves her husband. Unfortunately, he doesn’t feel the same as he is also pursuing Laura Lyons.
  • The ways characters need/use each other? For example, Beryl Stapleton and other women in The Hound of the Baskervilles needed their husbands to take care of them, as during those times, women were not supposed to work/be independent.
  • Explain the relationship between the characters. Is it positive or negative?

f) Discuss the character’s growth

Most literary works will show the changes that take place in the lives of characters, especially if they are important or memorable ones.

Is there some type of conflict or development that the character experiences? Do they go somewhere? Are they better or worse at the end? It is important to show your readers how your character grows at different stages of the story.

8. End with a strong conclusion

Your concluding paragraph will basically reinstate your thesis statement. It should also include a summary of the main points talked about in the body of your essay. Remember to end it in a way that leaves your readers thinking about the character.

Wrapping up

As you can see, writing a thorough character analysis essay requires solid research, critical thinking, proper organization, and a good understanding of the character in question, which you can gain by diving deep into a literary text — and we have shown you how to do that.

From how to research a character to what to include in your character analysis essay, now you have all you need to help you understand what the author’s thoughts were when writing a character and also develop critical thinking skills. Best results in your next character analysis essay assignment.

In need of a character analysis and don’t know where to begin? That’s what Writers Per Hour is here for. Our professional writers are not just experts in writing but they’re well-versed with doing character analysis, helping you deliver a solid and in-depth character analysis.

Share this article

Achieve Academic Success with Expert Assistance!

Crafted from Scratch for You.

Ensuring Your Work’s Originality.

Transform Your Draft into Excellence.

Perfecting Your Paper’s Grammar, Style, and Format (APA, MLA, etc.).

Calculate the cost of your paper

Get ideas for your essay

  • Pay Someone to Write a Paper
  • Buy Literature Review
  • Reaction Paper Writing Service
  • Urgent Essay Writing Service
  • Write My Philosophy Paper
  • Buy Biology Paper
  • Marketing Plan Writing Service
  • Presentation Writing Service
  • Paper Editing Service
  • Do My Capstone Project
  • EE writing service
  • Report Writing Service
  • Do My Powerpoint
  • Write My Lab Report
  • Do My Accounting Assignment
  • Write My Book Report
  • Write My Assignment
  • Write My Discussion Post
  • Psychology Essay Writing Service
  • Write My Literature Review
  • Write My Annotated Bibliography
  • Write My Thesis Paper for Me
  • Buy College Paper Now
  • Analytical Essay Writing Service
  • Assessment Help Online
  • Buy Custom Personal Statement
  • Write My Speech
  • Buy Research Proposal
  • Do My Research Paper
  • Buy ToK Essay
  • Do My Coursework Online
  • Do My Case Study
  • Do My Math Problems Online

gardeshq, best essay writing service, best termpaper writing service, best write my paper service

Character Analysis Essay Guide: How to Write a Good Character Analysis Essay

Writing in high schools or colleges is one endless activity. And while it may be hectic and frustrating for some, to others, it is a sweet experience because essays provide opportunities for students to show their creativity.

A character analysis essay is one of the most essay types you will probably write, depending on your course. These pieces explain and expound on the characters in plays, cinemas, or other literary forms, but they all follow a similar pattern.

And if you’re looking for a guide to help you write your essay, look no further. I’ll walk you through some simple steps to write a character analysis essay.

Tips on How to Write a Good Character Analysis Essay

Writing a character analysis essay is much more than just describing a character. You must look at how that character’s actions affect the story and what it means for them.

Here are some tips on how to write a good character analysis essay.

Read the entire story

Before you start writing a character analysis, you must read the story from beginning to end. This will help you understand the characters better and give your essay more credibility and structure.

New Service Alert !!!

We are now taking exams and courses

Further, it helps you get an overall idea of what’s going on in the book or movie so that you know how much information is available about each character before writing your essay.

And even if you have ever read the story, reading it a subsequent time is still encouraged. This is because it helps you focus your mind on the characters, setting, or plot development. Generally, ensure you’re familiar with every detail of a character before beginning your essay.

Identify the character to analyze

An effective character analysis essay goes deep into detailing a specific character. And depending on your essay length, character choice will play a significant role.

If your professor requires a large word count, protagonists or antagonists are the best characters to choose from rather than minor characters. This is because the main characters have more details than the others.

However, you do not have to go for the protagonist. Instead, go for a dynamic character who undergoes several changes because it gives you more meat to write on.

Reread or rewatch the story with perspective on your character

Now that you have a clear idea of your story and what kind of character you’re writing about, it’s time to start thinking about how this character will move through space and time.

Further rereading the story with this character in mind helps you focus on them alone. Some of the questions to ask yourself in this stage include;

  • Description of the character by the author
  • What are the character’s actions?
  • What is the relationship between the character and others?
  • What are the character’s failures and successes?

Take notes identifying the central theme

As you read the story, take notes of important themes. The main theme is the story’s central idea and usually involves a problem or conflict that characters face and often resolves itself by the end of the story.

In addition, the central theme plays throughout all three acts of a play or novel, but they’re usually more apparent in Act 1 than in Acts 2 and 3 because those later acts mainly deal with plot complications and resolutions.

Outline and write the paper

Your paper consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion. The opening is a concise brief of the character in question and leads the reader to gain interest in reading the piece. On the other hand, the body has several sections, but it is a good idea to follow your instructor’s guidelines. At the same time, the conclusion ties everything together and summarizes your entire paper.

How Do You Analyze Characters in an Essay

Generally, analyzing a character entails identifying, determining their role, and understanding their actions. Further, you must explore their relationships with others, identify their traits, and finally identify how they evolve through the book or play.

These are six primary ways of analyzing characters in an essay. Let’s now look at each in detail.

  • Character identification

This is a significant step, and you should classify your character as static or dynamic. Additionally, you should identify if they are primary or secondary characters.

  • Role determination

After identifying the character, you should move to determine their role. If you go for the main character, it means their part is to bring out the theme, while the secondary characters’ role is to support the achievement of the theme.

  • Identify the character’s mentioned roles

Next is to identify the mentioned character roles. Some aspects to help you include why the characters are antagonists or protagonists, their first actions in the story, and how they influence the story.

  • Character’s relationships

This entails how the identified character relates with others and the significance of these relationships in the story.

  • Identify personality traits

Traits of the character emanate from their actions and relationships. They may include bravery, self-centeredness, or generosity.

How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Character Analysis Essay

Writing a thesis statement for a character analysis essay entails four major steps. These are drawing a rough sketch of the characters, their main traits, role, and functions, and summing all these points into one sentence.

The thesis statement is the main idea of your paper, so it is vital to make sure that the thesis statement is specific, direct, and clear. The body paragraphs should support your thesis statement with specific examples. In other words, each body paragraph should provide support for your thesis statement.

For your statement to be effective, it must include all four mentioned parts. The first part describes the character’s appearance, actions, values, beliefs, and tendencies. It then comprises their relationship, role, and functions.

The role and function of the character will form the bulk of your thesis statement. And because the statement answers the why and how question, you should ensure you provide an entirely detailed explanation of the character’s role and functions and how it contributes to the theme and plot.

After having all these parts, it is time to sum them into one sentence.

How to Write the Introduction of a Character Analysis Essay

Writing the introduction of a character analysis essay is probably the most important because it determines if a reader will continue reading the paper or not. As such, following these steps will help you write the best introduction.

  • Start with a quote

Quotes are one of the best ways to start an introduction. However, ensure they are related to the character’s trait. For example, if the character is generous, use a quote about generosity.

  • Background information

Next is presenting the literature information. This is where you identify the character’s name, author, and title.

  • Character introduction

Your introduction should then introduce the character being analyzed. Some of the information included here include their role, whether they are protagonist, antagonist, static, or dynamic.

Further, you should have a few lines giving a general look and description of this character.

  • Have a broad assertion

This part of the introduction is the transition between the character description and the thesis statement. It also entails the central theme of the piece of literature being analyzed.

  • Thesis statement

This is the last part of your introduction. It includes your fundamental assertion and thus should be clear. You can also highlight what you will cover in your body paragraphs.

How to Write the Body Paragraphs of a Character Analysis Essay

The body of a character analysis essay is also a significant part because it gives more details about the character. Each paragraph has a topic sentence and specific examples supporting the sentence. In addition, the topic sentence supports your thesis statement.

Further, the body paragraphs are where you will develop your analysis. Each body paragraph should have a topic sentence and specific examples from the work of literature to support that topic sentence.

If possible, include quotations from the text and paraphrases of what other people have said about the character in question.

As you write this section, some of the must-answer questions include the following;

  • How does the character describe themselves?
  • How do others describe the character?
  • What does your character do, and how do they treat others?
  • What motivates the character to behave in a specific way?
  • What lessons can one learn from the character?
  • Does the character encounter conflicts, and how do they solve them?
  • What are the character’s appearance, background, and other physical features?

How to Write the Conclusion of Character Analysis Essay

This is the last part and involves three major areas; stating a summary of the entire essay, your opinions, and your thoughts and predictions. You can also note how the character is relevant in real-life situations.

Also see: How long should a conclusion be in an essay? 

Also, this is where you will elaborate on those points and explain why they are relevant to your topic. Any quotes from the source material that shows how well you understand the material being studied should also be included in this paragraph.

Further, the conclusion concludes the character’s role in the story, how they changed over time or why they were essential to the plot. You could also expand on other characters and how they relate to your character of choice.

Generally, your conclusion should have the following;

  • Give your opinion on the character as well as their role in the book or movie;
  • Mention what you have learned about this character
  • Tell how your opinion changed after reading/watching the work
  • Indicate what other people may think about this character and give your reasons why they might feel differently than you do
  • The application on day-to-day life

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

  • Knowledge Base
  • How to write an essay outline | Guidelines & examples

How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples

Published on August 14, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph , giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

upload-your-document-ai-proofreader

Table of contents

Organizing your material, presentation of the outline, examples of essay outlines, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about essay outlines.

At the stage where you’re writing an essay outline, your ideas are probably still not fully formed. You should know your topic  and have already done some preliminary research to find relevant sources , but now you need to shape your ideas into a structured argument.

Creating categories

Look over any information, quotes and ideas you’ve noted down from your research and consider the central point you want to make in the essay—this will be the basis of your thesis statement . Once you have an idea of your overall argument, you can begin to organize your material in a way that serves that argument.

Try to arrange your material into categories related to different aspects of your argument. If you’re writing about a literary text, you might group your ideas into themes; in a history essay, it might be several key trends or turning points from the period you’re discussing.

Three main themes or subjects is a common structure for essays. Depending on the length of the essay, you could split the themes into three body paragraphs, or three longer sections with several paragraphs covering each theme.

As you create the outline, look critically at your categories and points: Are any of them irrelevant or redundant? Make sure every topic you cover is clearly related to your thesis statement.

Order of information

When you have your material organized into several categories, consider what order they should appear in.

Your essay will always begin and end with an introduction and conclusion , but the organization of the body is up to you.

Consider these questions to order your material:

  • Is there an obvious starting point for your argument?
  • Is there one subject that provides an easy transition into another?
  • Do some points need to be set up by discussing other points first?

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

  • Academic style
  • Vague sentences
  • Style consistency

See an example

character traits essay outline

Within each paragraph, you’ll discuss a single idea related to your overall topic or argument, using several points of evidence or analysis to do so.

In your outline, you present these points as a few short numbered sentences or phrases.They can be split into sub-points when more detail is needed.

The template below shows how you might structure an outline for a five-paragraph essay.

  • Thesis statement
  • First piece of evidence
  • Second piece of evidence
  • Summary/synthesis
  • Importance of topic
  • Strong closing statement

You can choose whether to write your outline in full sentences or short phrases. Be consistent in your choice; don’t randomly write some points as full sentences and others as short phrases.

Examples of outlines for different types of essays are presented below: an argumentative, expository, and literary analysis essay.

Argumentative essay outline

This outline is for a short argumentative essay evaluating the internet’s impact on education. It uses short phrases to summarize each point.

Its body is split into three paragraphs, each presenting arguments about a different aspect of the internet’s effects on education.

  • Importance of the internet
  • Concerns about internet use
  • Thesis statement: Internet use a net positive
  • Data exploring this effect
  • Analysis indicating it is overstated
  • Students’ reading levels over time
  • Why this data is questionable
  • Video media
  • Interactive media
  • Speed and simplicity of online research
  • Questions about reliability (transitioning into next topic)
  • Evidence indicating its ubiquity
  • Claims that it discourages engagement with academic writing
  • Evidence that Wikipedia warns students not to cite it
  • Argument that it introduces students to citation
  • Summary of key points
  • Value of digital education for students
  • Need for optimism to embrace advantages of the internet

Expository essay outline

This is the outline for an expository essay describing how the invention of the printing press affected life and politics in Europe.

The paragraphs are still summarized in short phrases here, but individual points are described with full sentences.

  • Claim that the printing press marks the end of the Middle Ages.
  • Provide background on the low levels of literacy before the printing press.
  • Present the thesis statement: The invention of the printing press increased circulation of information in Europe, paving the way for the Reformation.
  • Discuss the very high levels of illiteracy in medieval Europe.
  • Describe how literacy and thus knowledge and education were mainly the domain of religious and political elites.
  • Indicate how this discouraged political and religious change.
  • Describe the invention of the printing press in 1440 by Johannes Gutenberg.
  • Show the implications of the new technology for book production.
  • Describe the rapid spread of the technology and the printing of the Gutenberg Bible.
  • Link to the Reformation.
  • Discuss the trend for translating the Bible into vernacular languages during the years following the printing press’s invention.
  • Describe Luther’s own translation of the Bible during the Reformation.
  • Sketch out the large-scale effects the Reformation would have on religion and politics.
  • Summarize the history described.
  • Stress the significance of the printing press to the events of this period.

Literary analysis essay outline

The literary analysis essay outlined below discusses the role of theater in Jane Austen’s novel Mansfield Park .

The body of the essay is divided into three different themes, each of which is explored through examples from the book.

  • Describe the theatricality of Austen’s works
  • Outline the role theater plays in Mansfield Park
  • Introduce the research question : How does Austen use theater to express the characters’ morality in Mansfield Park ?
  • Discuss Austen’s depiction of the performance at the end of the first volume
  • Discuss how Sir Bertram reacts to the acting scheme
  • Introduce Austen’s use of stage direction–like details during dialogue
  • Explore how these are deployed to show the characters’ self-absorption
  • Discuss Austen’s description of Maria and Julia’s relationship as polite but affectionless
  • Compare Mrs. Norris’s self-conceit as charitable despite her idleness
  • Summarize the three themes: The acting scheme, stage directions, and the performance of morals
  • Answer the research question
  • Indicate areas for further study

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

  • Ad hominem fallacy
  • Post hoc fallacy
  • Appeal to authority fallacy
  • False cause fallacy
  • Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

  • Choosing Essay Topic
  • Write a College Essay
  • Write a Diversity Essay
  • College Essay Format & Structure
  • Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

  • Grammar Checker
  • Paraphrasing Tool
  • Text Summarizer
  • AI Detector
  • Plagiarism Checker
  • Citation Generator

Here's why students love Scribbr's proofreading services

Discover proofreading & editing

You will sometimes be asked to hand in an essay outline before you start writing your essay . Your supervisor wants to see that you have a clear idea of your structure so that writing will go smoothly.

Even when you do not have to hand it in, writing an essay outline is an important part of the writing process . It’s a good idea to write one (as informally as you like) to clarify your structure for yourself whenever you are working on an essay.

If you have to hand in your essay outline , you may be given specific guidelines stating whether you have to use full sentences. If you’re not sure, ask your supervisor.

When writing an essay outline for yourself, the choice is yours. Some students find it helpful to write out their ideas in full sentences, while others prefer to summarize them in short phrases.

You should try to follow your outline as you write your essay . However, if your ideas change or it becomes clear that your structure could be better, it’s okay to depart from your essay outline . Just make sure you know why you’re doing so.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). How to Write an Essay Outline | Guidelines & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved February 22, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-outline/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to create a structured research paper outline | example, a step-by-step guide to the writing process, how to write an argumentative essay | examples & tips, what is your plagiarism score.

logo

Step-by-Step Guide for Writing a Character Analysis Essay

writing a character analysis essay

When assigned to write a character analysis essay or paper, you are expected to examine the actions, traits, behavior, and personalities of the antagonists and protagonists in a story, poem, song, film, or novel. You have to include a discussion of the characters' experiences, conflicts, roles, traits, and appearances. It is a full essay with introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs.

Like a typical essay, when writing an essay that entails analyzing a character, you have to have a catchy sentence to grab the readers' attention at the very first paragraph-the introduction. You should also have an excellent thesis statement to announce what it is about.

If you want to know how to ace that character analysis essay or are unsure what to do next, you are in the right place.

Whether it is a character from a Movie or famous books such as Macbeth , A Rose for Emily , To Kill a Mockingbird , The Yellow Wallpaper, Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, Lord of the Flies, or any other story, you came to the right place.

This ultimate guide has everything to point you in the right direction. But before anything else, let�s first focus on the basics.

What is a Character Analysis Essay?

A character analysis essay is a piece of academic assignment where you critically analyze the traits, motivations, behaviors, and encounters of a specific character or characters from a TV show, book, play, novel, short story, poem, film, or in real-life scenarios. It is also known as a character analysis paper, character essay, characterization essay, or essay about characters.

The key focus of a character analysis essay is to narrow down to a specific character and provide their sketch so that someone who has read or has not read the story can get the role the character plays.

When writing this essay, your focus is on examining the actions and personalities (characteristics and traits) of the antagonists and protagonists in a story. It encompasses a description of the roles, traits, experiences, and conflicts of the specific characters, independently or relative to others.

Instead of offering light definitions and descriptions of a character, a character analysis entails synthesizing the driving force and personality of the character in question. You critically look at how these two influence the entire story, poem, song, or play.

A character essay is a common literary writing assignment for college students pursuing English and Literature. The true success of doing a character analysis comes when you view the characters as though they are real people who act, feel, and live as we do.

Therefore, there is no room for baseless interpretations and assumptions. You need to support every idea, concept, or observation with a proper quotation, summary, or paraphrased facts from the text or other credible scholarly sources . Again, since it is not your story, you must avoid writing in the first person , despite your personal preferences and opinions � being objective when writing a characterization essay is paramount.

Purpose of Character Analysis Essay

A character analysis aims to reveal some of the most interesting details about a character that can be applied to real-life situations.

Writing a character analysis essay allows you to see through a character from the lens of the author as it entails narrowing down the character�s traits, encounters, beliefs, and behavior. 

You also get the chance to provide a sketch of the character, which can further help expound on the moral message the author is trying to pass to the audience that cares to interact with their piece of work.

A character analysis allows you to understand, contextualize, and evaluate the story from a broader perspective to determine the purpose of the story. In some stories, characters have symbolic meanings that are authors� ways of using literary devices to unmask different aspects of society. Some characters cause conflicts (i.e., the antagonists), while others play the role of progressing the story (i.e., the protagonist).

When your instructor or professor assigns you to write a characterization essay, they test whether you paid attention while reading, watching, or listening to a piece of work. It is also a strategy to assess your critical thinking depending on how best you write about the characters and the text's overall meaning.

Different Types of Characters to Consider when Writing

As you probably have learned in your literature or English class, there are several types of characters categorized based on factors such as roles, behavior, and traits in the story. Below, we explore some of these character types

1. Major characters

Major characters are the main characters that run the show or story. In most cases, you will find either one or a maximum of two major characters. A major character can either be a protagonist, otherwise known as the good guy, or an antagonist, who is the villain or bad person in the work of art or literature.

2. Protagonist characters

The protagonists are also known as the heroes, the main characters around whom the story's plot revolves.

3. Antagonist characters

The antagonists oppose the protagonist, also known as the villain. In some cases, antagonists� characters could be natural power, supernatural phenomena, or majestic beings.

4. Minor characters

The minor characters are those who help bring out the traits and personalities of the main characters. They are static and unchanging characters who maintain their stance, traits, and beliefs.

5. Dynamic/changing characters

Dynamic characters are the opposite of static characters, and they keep changing.

6. Static Characters

The static or unchanging characters are consistent in thought, behavior, allegiance, approach, and traits throughout a story, cinematography, or play. In How to Kill a Mockingbird , Atticus Finch fits the description of a static character, given he maintains his beliefs even in the most challenging situations. If you have read The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, you would agree that Jim is a static character, given that his personality remains the same throughout his journey. In Hamlet, Polpnius can be described as a static character because he remains sneaky throughout the story.

A foil character brings out the protagonist's qualities because they are the exact opposite of the protagonist's character. Foils are usually the opposite of the protagonist. For example, Draco Malfoy is a foil character in Harry Porter, and another example is Dr. Watson from the Sherlock Holmes Series.

7 Steps when writing a Character Analysis Essay

Character analysis essays follow the format and structure of a standard academic essay and have an introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Before writing a character essay, you need to read the assignment promptly to understand the scope of the essay. It also helps with choosing a character or knowing what to focus on and what to leave out.

Here are some steps to follow if you want to write a successful essay on a character.

1. Read the story or novel

Assuming you have gone through the character analysis essay prompt, you have to read the story, watch the film, play, theater performance, or listen to a narration. Reading with a general mindset enables you to contextualize the piece of work. You will be able to identify the author's thesis and how they use different characters to advance the themes that support the thesis. A general perspective of the story, novel, film, or poem helps you easily identify the characters. As you read, take notes on the different characters in the story, which will help you in the second step.

2. Identify the character of interest

After you have familiarized yourself with the story, song, or film, the next step is to select your specific character of focus.

 In some cases, your instructor will likely assign a character of focus for your character analysis assignment. However, some professors will leave you the freedom to choose a character.

If this is the case, ensure that you consider a character that plays a dynamic role for you in writing a vivid character analysis paper. For example, if you are writing a character analysis essay based on Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, you can choose a character like Jim or Huck, who are both dynamic characters in the story.

To select a good character, refer to the notes you were taking as you initially read through the story or watched the film or play.

3. Re-read and Take notes

Even if you have already read the story or watched the performance, play, or film, you need to do it all over again, only that this time you will be taking notes based on your character.

With the instructions in mind, you can limit your scope, identify points quickly, and cover useful aspects when writing your analysis.

Focus on the description of your character, how the character relates to other characters, the conflicts the character faces, the struggles, wins, and failures of your character, and how the character advances through the story, film, or performance.

Taking notes while watching or reading helps you to identify rich pieces that will build up your paper. You can underline important passages or annotate important quotes.

4. Choose your thesis statement

At this stage, you are fully knowledgeable about your character and their role in your story or film. You should gather your notes and think of the main idea that links them, and the main idea that ties together these aspects is your thesis statement.

The thesis statement can be a sentence or two that tells the reader what your essay or paper is about, and it should promise the reader the purpose, scope, and direction of your paper.

An example of a good thesis statement for a character analysis is � Through Miss Maudie Atkinson�s open-mindedness, optimism, and compassion, she helps Jem and Scout better understand Atticus and their community.�

When writing your thesis, consider your character's motivations, actions, behavior, changes, and roles in the storyline. Your thesis can be aligned to a theme that your character advances.

5. Draft your essay outline

With the thesis at hand, you can now create an outline for your character analysis essay or paper. The outline will map out every section of your paper, which can help you determine your essay's flow, organization, and formatting.

Other people prefer writing an essay plan before creating an outline. We have given a template for an essay plan in this article in case it would help to simplify the pre-writing process.

The outline helps you organize your thoughts and maintain an effective flow of ideas as you write the analysis. And when writing it:

  • Have an attention-grabber as your opening statement in the character analysis essay
  • Ensure that your topic is clearly reflected in the essay title and thesis statement
  • Come up with comprehensive topic sentences
  • Organize the ideas in your essay
  • Maintain one idea per paragraph
  • Every idea in your essay must support your thesis statement

You are ready to put rubber on the road with such a solid outline. You can now comfortably write the essay. We recommend taking some break to cool your mind before beginning to write.

6.  Write the essay

The writing stage should be enjoyable if you worked hard on the pre-writing phase. As you settle down to write your character analysis essay, follow your essay outline.

Write the introduction

Have the thesis in mind and begin by writing an attention-grabbing introduction. Strategically place your essay hook, such as a rhetorical question, quote, or fact, and the introduction should enthuse the reader to read your essay beyond the first paragraph.

The introduction should also give a background of your character and their role in the story. And to intrigue your readers, even more, write a thesis statement that describes what they should expect in your character analysis paper.

If allowed, you can give an outline where you signpost the rest of your paper in the introduction so that your readers are not ambushed with ideas. 

Develop the body paragraphs

The body paragraph is where the real action takes place. It is where you answer the prompt, enabling your reader to find a link between your arguments and the thesis. Here, try to connect your character to the themes in the story, film, or performance. When writing the body, focus on these elements:

  • Physical Appearance of your character. Describe how your chosen character looks and relate it to their traits, behavior, and personality. For instance, if a character appears formally dressed, it could mean that they are respectful, organized, and composed. If they appear rough and ragged, like Huck, you could conclude they are troublesome.
  • Background of the character. Present the background of the character, including their history. History connects to character, personality, and personal development. Let your readers know how your character was raised, in what environment, and how these factors influence who they are.
  • Their Personality. Explore the values, beliefs, behavior, and character traits of your character. As you explain their personality, use quotes from the story, play, or film. Some personalities include composed, mindful, articulate, ambitious, assertive, vengeful, forgiving, annoying, troublesome, etc.
  • Their language. Let your readers know how your character speaks. Are they vulgar, or are they mindful of their words? Do they use formal language or slang? Also, the report of your character has an accent. Language can come in handy when connecting your character to a given culture.
  • Relationship with others. Explore how your character relates to others. The interactions make it possible to frame the character of an individual. Examine how these relationships are important in the context of your analysis.
  • Growth and transition. As you write the analysis, look at how your character develops, grows, or transitions through the story, film, or play. Examine your character's life and document how they progress as the story unfolds.

Finalize with a vivid conclusion

When all is done in the body of your character analysis, ensure that you wrap up your essay using a remarkable concluding paragraph . Here, you should restate your thesis using totally different words. You should then summarize your arguments from the body paragraphs related to the thesis. Summarize the role and personality of the character in the story. Finally, write a concluding statement that makes your analysis memorable or gets your readers thinking. The final statement could be the moral message from your character.

7. Proofread and edit the essay

When writing the first draft, we always insist on writing in raw form without bothering about other things such as grammar, spelling, or syntax. Writing is meant to achieve some flow and explore your creativity.

You need to take a break after writing to ensure that you develop an objective mindset. It could be hours or days, depending on your deadline.

Proofread your essay and edit it for grammar, spelling, and organization. Only submit an error-free paper. You can use editing software or Apps such as Ginger, Pro Writing Aid, or Hemingway editor. Besides, pass your essay through plagiarism checkers such as PlagScan to ensure that you submit a plagiarism-free character analysis essay.

Detailed Structure/Outline for Character Analysis Essay

Like a typical essay, having a character analysis essay outline or map helps you visualize the end and write a paper that comprehensively answers the assignment prompt questions. With a good outline, you have a map that will guide your writing process.

Paragraph #1: Introduction

Introduction � general comments about the character and/or novel lead you to your thesis statement (described above). Be sure you have identified the author and title of the book and the character you will be analyzing. Some questions you could address in your introduction include:

  • Why did you pick this character?
  • What do you like and/or dislike about this character?
  • Do you identify with this character on any level? Do you know someone similar to them? Explain.

Paragraphs #2 - #4 (Body Paragraphs)

Three Body Paragraphs � the topic sentence for each body paragraph includes one character trait you chose to describe your character. For example, �Atticus Finch is a man of great integrity.� Follow the topic sentence with evidence from the novel: examples from the story that support your topic sentence and at least one direct quotation from the novel in each body paragraph. Next, explain how your examples support your topic sentence and conclude each body paragraph with a summarizing �clincher� sentence to wrap up your ideas.

Paragraph #5

Conclusion � restate your thesis statement and add some final thoughts about your character and/or the novel�leave the reader in awe of your wisdom!

Character Analysis Essay Plan

If you want something that can help you outline the contents of your essay, here is a format you could use. This plan can come in handy when you are writing a last-minute essay or do not have too much time to waste writing a full outline.

Great Starter������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Thesis Statement����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������.

Body Paragraph #1

Adjective #1���������������������������������������������������.

Example�����������������������������������������������������

Quote������������������������������������������������������.

Explanation���������������������������������������������������

Body Paragraph #2

Adjective #2���������������������������������������������������

Body Paragraph #3

Adjective #3���������������������������������������������������

Quote������������������������������������������������������

Great Finisher/conclusion�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������............

How to format Quotations in a Character Analysis Essay

A character analysis essay draws from the ideas and quotes from the story, play, or film. It is the best way to relate your character to your story, which helps contextualize your analysis. There are three approaches to formatting and framing quotes in a character analysis essay.

  • Create an intro to your quotation that helps the reader understand its meaning. This is called a �tag line.�

Example : A change in Jem�s attitude toward the Radleys is shown when Scout reports, �Less than two weeks later we found a whole package of chewing gum, which we enjoyed, the fact that everything on the Radley Place was poison having slipped Jem�s memory� (Lee, 60).

  • Double quotation marks around the entire quote; single quotation marks to show where the quotations exist already in the text.

Example: Jem�s frustration with the injustices of the world is shown in the courtroom. ?Doesn�t make it right,� said Jem stolidly. He beat his fist softly on his knee. �You just can�t convict a man on evidence like that � you can�t� (Lee, 220).

  • Changing a word or two in a quotation to clarify its meaning.

Example: Harper Lee helps her readers understand why this neighbor is so mysterious to the children of the neighborhood when she states that �Mr. Radley kept [Boo] chained to the bed most of the time� (Lee, 16).

Final Words!

Writing a character analysis essay can be easy and tough at the same time. It is tough because you must read, research, and synthesize information on a specific character and relate it to the story. This might sound like too much work but not when you apply the tips we have shared above. It is also easy in that you have to focus on one character for every essay you are writing, which means limited research compared to when writing a book critique where you have to address aspects of the entire book or a movie review where you have to focus on all characters. To succeed, ensure that you read a text or watch a play or film before planning and organizing your ideas. Besides, with so many resources online, you can never miss information that helps you to write the best character essay.

If writing is not your thing, you do not have the time, or you don�t feel like writing a character essay, you can hire our custom writing professionals to help you. They contributed to this guide and understood what it takes to write a perfect essay that meets the highest grades in the rubric.

character traits essay outline

Gradecrest is a professional writing service that provides original model papers. We offer personalized services along with research materials for assistance purposes only. All the materials from our website should be used with proper references. See our Terms of Use Page for proper details.

paypal logo

Start Writing a Character Analysis Essay with Us

  • Essay Writing Guides

Start Writing a Character Analysis Essay

Characters are the cornerstones of stories in the broad world of literature; they are individuals with unique intricacies, motivations, and travels. But taking characters at their value only goes so far in revealing their significance. Exploring character analysis in depth reveals a wealth of knowledge that enhances reading and promotes a comprehensive comprehension of the story’s overall structure. In this article, we set out to discover the fundamentals of a character analysis essay , delving into its definition, significance, and constituent parts.

Understand Character Analysis Essay

What is a character analysis essay? Character analysis is a critical process that involves examining the traits, motivations, and development of characters in a literary work. It goes beyond mere observation, requiring readers to delve into the intricacies of characters’ personalities, actions, and relationships. Characters serve as conduits through which readers explore the depths of human nature, embodying universal themes and aspects of behavior. 

Characters analysis offers profound insights into the human condition and enhances comprehension by enabling readers to grasp the underlying messages, themes, and conflicts within a story. Character analysis fosters critical thinking by encouraging readers to interpret evidence, form connections, and form informed opinions about the text.

Key components of the character analysis essay include personality traits, character development, motivations and goals, relationships, and symbolism and archetypes. Personality traits provide insights into the character’s strengths, weaknesses, virtues, and flaws, while character development examines how the character evolves and changes throughout the story. Understanding these components enhances the reading experience and instills a deeper appreciation for the artistry of storytelling. 

Selecting the Character

What is a character analysis selection process? Selecting a character for analysis is crucial for crafting a compelling and insightful essay about a character . Some tips to guide in choosing the most suitable character include considering their significance, complexity, contrasts, personal interest, availability of textual evidence, and relevance.

Choosing a character integral to the plot is essential for conducting a meaningful character analysis essay that sheds light on the central themes and conflicts of the story. Characters are the driving force behind the plot, shaping events and conflicts that unfold within the story. Analyzing a character central to the plot allows for a deeper understanding of the story’s progression and thematic significance. They often embody the central themes and motifs of the narrative, allowing readers to uncover deeper layers of symbolism embedded within the text.

Analyzing a character central to the plot provides context for understanding the motivations, conflicts, and relationships that drive the narrative forward. Characters who play pivotal roles in the plot are often more compelling and memorable to readers, engaging them deeper and encouraging deeper engagement with the text.

Analyzing a character that resonates with the writer on a personal level can greatly enhance the depth and authenticity of the analysis. The benefits of choosing a character that resonates with the writer include emotional investment, empathy and understanding, authenticity, and insightful reflection.

Emotional investment allows for a deeper level of engagement with the text, fueling the passion for the analysis and inspiring insightful observations. Empathy and understanding enable readers to empathize with the character’s experiences, motivations, and struggles, leading to a more nuanced analysis. 

Authenticity lends authenticity to the analysis, as it reflects genuine thoughts and feelings about the character. Insightful reflection prompts insights into one’s own experiences, beliefs, and values, enriching the analysis and adding depth to understanding both the character and oneself.

By choosing an essay about a character that resonates with the writer personally, one can infuse their analysis with authenticity, empathy, and emotional depth, resulting in a more compelling and insightful exploration of the text.

Gathering Evidence

Character analysis is a crucial process in understanding a character’s personality and behavior. To learn how to write a character analysis essay correctly, it is essential to gather textual evidence, such as close reading, note-taking, annotation, character profiles, comparative analysis, and archetypal analysis. These methods help extract relevant information from the text, providing a foundation for your analysis.

Archetypal analysis can explore how the character embodies archetypal traits or roles commonly found in literature, such as the hero, villain, mentor, or trickster. By carefully identifying and documenting the various traits exhibited by the character, you can develop a nuanced understanding of their personality and behavior.

Supporting details play a crucial role in bolstering your character analysis essay , providing concrete evidence to support your interpretations and arguments. To effectively utilize specific examples from the text to support your analysis, select relevant examples that directly relate to the traits, motivations, and actions you are analyzing.

Provide context by introducing each example with a brief explanation or summary of its significance within the larger narrative. Analyze the example in detail, pointing out specific details or language choices that illuminate the character’s traits or motivations. Incorporate quotations from the text whenever possible, using quotation marks to indicate the exact words spoken or written by the character.

When analyzing supporting details, consider multiple perspectives: Acknowledge alternative interpretations and perspectives, but provide reasons why your analysis is the most valid or persuasive. By effectively utilizing specific examples from the text to support your character analysis essay , you can strengthen your arguments and provide readers with a deeper understanding of the character’s role within the story.

Character Analysis Essay Outline

Let’s have a look at the character analysis essay outline and how to write it perfectly.

  • Start with a hook or question about the character.
  • Provide background information and the thesis statement.
  • Describe the character’s role, appearance, and initial impressions.
  • Identify and discuss the primary traits of the character.
  • Explore the character’s desires, fears, and motivations.
  • Analyze the character’s evolution throughout the story.
  • Discuss key events or turning points that shape the character’s development.
  • Examine the character’s interactions with other characters.
  • Discuss the character’s role in the plot.
  • Explore how the character embodies or reflects the story’s themes and symbols.
  • Analyze how the character’s actions affect the plot’s progression.
  • Provide specific quotes or passages from the text.
  • Illustrate key character traits with examples of their actions or dialogue.
  • Interpret symbols or imagery associated with the character.
  • Restate the thesis.
  • Recap key points
  • End with a thought-provoking statement.

By following this outline for a character analysis essay , you can structure your essay effectively, providing a comprehensive analysis of the chosen character while engaging the reader from start to finish.

Character Analysis Essay Structure

Character analysis essay format typically follows a three-part format: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. The introduction serves to introduce the character being analysed and provide context for the analysis. Create a compelling introduction, start with a hook, write background information, and introduce the thesis statement. End the introduction with a clear and concise statement that outlines the purpose and focus of the essay. This will set the stage for a compelling and engaging character analysis essay.

The body paragraphs delve into the analysis of the character, each focusing on a specific aspect or trait. Each essay paragraph should begin with a topic sentence, followed by supporting evidence from the text and an analysis that explores the significance of the evidence in relation to the character’s development and role in the story. Organizing the analysis into coherent paragraphs is essential for presenting a logical and persuasive argument. 

The conclusion of the character analysis essay summarises the analysis’s main points and reinforces the character’s significance within the narrative. It restates the thesis statement in different words, provides a brief recap of the main arguments presented in the essay, and offers final insights or reflections on the character’s importance and impact on the story.

By following these guidelines, you can craft a conclusion that reinforces the significance of the character and provides a satisfying conclusion to the essay.

Process of Analyzing a Character

Character Development:

  • Initial Impression: Discuss the character’s introduction and personality traits.
  • Growth and Change: Analyze how the character evolves and changes over the story.
  • Internal Conflict: Explore internal struggles or conflicts the character faces.
  • Relationships: Examine the character’s relationships with other characters and how they evolve.
  • Resolution: Evaluate the character’s development at the end of the story.

Motivations and Actions:

  • Identify Core Motivations: Understand what drives the character to act and the underlying reasons behind their behavior.
  • External Influences: Analyze the external factors that influence the character’s motivations and actions.
  • Internal Conflicts: Explore any internal conflicts or contradictions within the character that influence their motivations and actions.
  • Character Consistency: Evaluate the consistency of the character’s motivations and actions throughout the text.
  • Consequences of Actions: Discuss the consequences of the character’s actions and decisions within the narrative.

Impact on the Narrative:

  • Plot Development: Examine the character’s role in advancing the plot and driving the story forward.
  • Theme Exploration: Analyze how the character embodies or reflects the story’s central themes and motifs.
  • Symbolic Significance: Explore any symbolic significance associated with the character and their role in the story.
  • Influence on Other Characters: Discuss how their relationships, actions, and decisions impact the development and behavior of other characters.
  • Resolution and Conclusion: Evaluate the character’s ultimate role in the resolution and conclusion of the story.

By discussing what is character analysis significance in shaping the story, you can provide a comprehensive analysis of their role and impact within the narrative, highlighting their contribution to the overall meaning and interpretation of the text.

Polishing and Refining

Proofreading is an important step in the editing process, ensuring your writing is free from errors and effectively communicates your ideas. To correct errors in grammar, punctuation, and syntax, take a break, read aloud, use editing tools, focus on one element at a time, print and review, and seek feedback from peers or instructors.

Polishing involves refining language, strengthening arguments, and enhancing the overall clarity and coherence of your work. Techniques for polishing your writing include clarifying your thesis, tightening your writing, strengthening your arguments, enhancing transitions, checking for consistency in tone, style, and formatting, and proofreading carefully.

Afterthoughts on Character Analysis Essay

A profound character analysis essay offers a profound understanding of the human psyche, storytelling, and the timeless relevance of literature. By examining character traits, motivations, and impact on the narrative, students gain a deeper understanding of universal themes, conflicts, and complexities of the human experience.

  • Academic Writing Guides
  • Citation Guides
  • Essay Samples
  • Essay Topics
  • Research Paper Topics
  • Research Paper Writing Guides
  • Study Tips and Tricks

Featured articles

Career Goals Essays

We’ll Help You Write Career Goals Essays

Career goals essays are important for expressing personal ambitions and objectives in the professional realm. They can greatly impact college applications, job interviews, scholarship submissions, and career advancement initiatives. These essays about career goals have the power to showcase an individual’s determination, visions, and unique brand, opening doors to academic programs, job opportunities, and funding. […]

Author: Marina Kean

Start Writing a Character Analysis Essay

Characters are the cornerstones of stories in the broad world of literature; they are individuals with unique intricacies, motivations, and travels. But taking characters at their value only goes so far in revealing their significance. Exploring character analysis in depth reveals a wealth of knowledge that enhances reading and promotes a comprehensive comprehension of the […]

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay With Examples and Tips

11 December 2023

last updated

Essay writing is an exciting and valuable academic exercise for students at all levels of learning. Basically, the practice helps in developing students’ critical thinking skills. For example, when writing a character analysis essay, students use these skills to cover a specific character’s personality and mannerisms objectively. Moreover, this type of essay aims to analyze a character in a story in such a way that readers can develop a mental picture of them. In this case, the secret of writing a good character analysis essay involves choosing a dynamic character, such as a protagonist or an antagonist. Then, another tip is to write the first draft and read it at least twice to identify and correct errors and mistakes. In turn, the final draft should reflect a perfect document. Hence, students need to learn how to write a good character analysis essay with its features.

Definition of a Character Analysis Essay

Among many different types of essays is a character analysis essay, a text that describes a particular character in a story. When writing this essay, students analyze relationships between characters in question and other characters, paying particular attention to their mannerisms. Also, these mannerisms are exemplified by their behaviors, styles of speaking, physical appearances, and many other characteristics. Even though students may offer their personal opinions when analyzing specific characters, they must employ critical thinking and be objective. In essence, what matters in a character analysis essay is factual information about a character in question. In this case, the writer’s opinion should support rather than challenge the specific traits and characteristics of a character. Hence, a student writes this type of essay when instructions require them to discuss how a particular character is shaped in a story.

How to write a character analysis essay

Types of Characters

When analyzing a character in a story, writers must first understand what kinds of characters are their subjects. Typically, there are different types of characters whose distinctions are based on particular behaviors, traits, and roles that they exemplify within a story. In turn, the main character types fall under five categories: major, minor, dynamic, static, and stoic.

1. Major Characters

In a story, major characters run a storyline, and they define a plot of this story. For example, there are two types of major characters: protagonists and antagonists. In this case, the former represents typical heroes, those characters that the audience is likely to admire. Then, the latter represents characters that take the role of a villain. Basically, the audience is likely to despise this type of character. Moreover, it is easier to spot protagonists because a story’s plot revolves around them. In literature, examples of protagonists include Harry Potter from the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Othello from the tragedy Othello by William Shakespeare, Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen, and Frodo from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. On the other hand, examples of antagonists from the literature include King Joffrey from Game of Thrones , Darth Vader from the Star Wars series by George Lucas, and the Wicked Queen from “Snow White and Seven Dwarfs.”

2. Minor Characters

As opposed to major characters, minor characters do not run stories. However, they are ones that help major characters to shine through storylines. In other words, minor characters in the course of their activities help main characters to create situations and circumstances that reveal the central characters’ personalities. As explained, this personality is defined by mannerism. Then, examples of minor characters in the literature include the whole Fellowship of the Ring in J.R.R Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Individually, these characters help Frodo, a protagonist, to deliver the Ring to Mordor. In turn, another example of minor characters in literature is the duo Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series. On several occasions, they help Harry Potter, a protagonist, in his battle against Voldemort.

3. Dynamic, Static, and Stoic Characters

Dynamic characters are those characters that change the course of a story in certain respects. In many cases, a protagonist is a dynamic character. Moreover, an example in the literature is Harry Potter from J.K. Rowling’s book series, who notices that he is similar to Voldemort in many ways throughout a storyline. Nevertheless, he resists “dark” traits that define Voldemort because he is a good person. As such, he resists any temptation to become a dark wizard. On the other hand, static characters never change in a story. Also, an excellent example in the literature is Atticus Finch from “How to Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee. Despite finding himself in controversial circumstances, he remains firm in character and worldview throughout a story. Further on, stoic characters draw attention to the main character(s), and their role in a story is to fortify the protagonist’s role and image. In turn, a great example of a stoic character in literature is Dr. Watson from Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle.

Step 1: Preparation

Preparation is the starting step in writing a critical analysis essay. In essence, this step involves planning how to go about writing. Basically, a student reads a story, chooses a character, defines a topic, prepares ideas, and considers the audience and its needs. In this case, the essence of preparation is that it enables students to “get it right” from the beginning. Moreover, it is by preparing that students take into consideration requirements and seek clarification as necessary.

A. Reading a Story

In most instances, instructors guide students on which story to read and a character to analyze. However, if such guidance is not provided, a student should – as a matter of priority – choose a story and a character in this story to write about. About a story, writers should read it at least twice to have a good understanding of a plot and each character’s role.

B. Choosing a Character

The standard practice is that a character analysis essay focuses on major characters (protagonist and antagonist) as subjects of analysis. However, as indicated, an instructor may require students to analyze a specific character. In this case, instructions can require students to explore how a minor character enhances a major character’s image in a story. Also, the writer’s issue is to identify characters for analysis and read all about them in an assigned story.

C. Defining a Topic

Like any essay, a character analysis essay should have a topic. Basically, even though the goal is to analyze a specific character, writers must have a topic that underscores their work. When defining a topic, students may follow the instructor’s prompt or develop their own approach. Ultimately, a character analysis essay topic should align with the paper’s goal, which is to analyze a specific character.

D. Preparing Ideas

Typically, students get ideas about their work as soon as they read prompt requirements given by their instructors. When writing a character analysis essay, a student should generate ideas after reading instructions and reading through them. However, it is the latter exercise that serves as the foundation of ideas for writing a text. Indeed, this aspect exemplifies the essence of a character analysis essay, focusing on how a character emerges from a story. As discussed, a character can only be a protagonist, antagonist, minor, dynamic, or stoic. Understanding where characters fit helps a writer to generate ideas about effects of their roles in a story. Here, students should apply critical thinking to dissect characters objectively.

E. Considering an Audience

Every form of writing has an audience – readers that writers have in mind when writing their texts. In essay writing, the main audience is the instructor. However, in an application essay for college , the audience is the admission board of a college or university. Since instructors determine the quality of a character analysis essay, students should consider their requirements. Ideally, these requirements reflect what instructors, as the audience, need regarding a character analysis essay.

Step 2: Setting Up the Stage

The second step in writing a character analysis essay is setting the stage for the actual writing of a text. Here, students engage in several activities, including finding credible sources , making notes, creating an essay outline , and creating an annotated bibliography. As an academic text, a character analysis essay should satisfy all academic writing conventions, including backing up claims and arguments with evidence. Although a learner can write about a character in a story by simply reading a story, a character analysis reflects an in-depth discussion about a specific character. Hence, students should write about what others (scholars) have said about a story and a character.

A. Finding Sources

Reliable sources are external texts that writers rely on to find evidence supporting what they intend to write. Basically, when writers make claims or observations when composing a text, they must back it up with evidence to avoid making what they write seems like a personal opinion. Notably, subjective opinion is not encouraged in academic writing, unless writers are using it objectively. Moreover, the only way that students can demonstrate that their essays are free of bias is by providing evidence for their claims, arguments, opinions, and observations. In turn, this evidence comes from external academic sources – books and journal articles.

B. Making Notes

After finding sources, a student should read through them while making notes. Basically, these notes should be relevant to a task at hand. Therefore, when authors of a character analysis essay find sources pertinent to their mission, they should make notes as they read through them and write down what they find interesting about their characters. Given that the task at hand involves analyzing a character in question, students’ notes should reflect a deeper understanding of this character, such as what others say about their manner of speaking or effect in a story.

C. Creating an Outline and an Annotated Bibliography

Like any other academic text, such as a research paper , a term paper , a Master’s thesis , or a dissertation , essays have outlines that provide a structure. Typically, this outline involves having three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. When writing a character analysis essay, a student should stick to this essay structure . Then, an annotated bibliography summarizes study sources that writers intend to use to get evidence that backs up their claims and arguments. Although it is not needed in an essay, students who write a character analysis essay can develop one based on credible sources that they identified in the second step of essay writing. In this case, annotated bibliographies would provide quick access to evidence that learners need to strengthen their papers.

Step 3: Actual Writing of a Character Analysis Essay

After preparing and setting the stage, authors of a character analysis essay begin the actual writing of a paper. Here, students begin with the first draft, which provides an opportunity to organize thoughts, make mistakes, come up with new ideas, find new sources that back them up, and alter a critical analysis essay outline. Basically, this stage is about putting everything together to develop an essay that addresses the instructor’s requirements.

A. Writing a First Draft of a Character Analysis Essay

When writing a character analysis essay, students are likely to make numerous spelling and grammatical errors and other mistakes, such as inconsistent arguments and illogical conclusions. As such, writing the first draft provides writers with this allowance since they would have an opportunity to perfect their work. Nonetheless, the first draft’s content should mirror the expected work, which is dissecting a character’s personality. 

Step 4: Wrapping Up

After writing the first draft of a character analysis essay, students must read and reread their work to identify all mistakes and errors. As discussed above, the chances of the first draft having spelling and grammatical errors, illogical conclusions, and inconsistent arguments are high. In turn, this fourth step in writing a character analysis essay provides students with an opportunity to perfect their work. Here, learners revise and edit the first draft to eliminate all errors and mistakes and ensure that their papers reflect a format of an academic text in all aspects. Also, body paragraphs should have topic and concluding sentences, transitions, and right formatting. Additionally, writers should subject their work to peer review and then write the final draft.

A. Revising and Editing the First Draft

The purpose of reading the first draft at least twice is to identify all errors and mistakes, as explained above. Basically, once writers note them down, they should revise their papers accordingly, ensuring that all inconsistencies are corrected. Moreover, students should edit all spelling and grammatical mistakes to give a written document to look like a professional appeal.

B. Topic Sentences.

The first statement that a student writes in every paragraph in the main text (body) should reflect a topic sentence. Basically, this sentence aims to introduce a single idea that a writer intends to develop in a paragraph. By considering a character analysis essay, this idea can be a claim or an observation about a subject under analysis. In this case, the standard practice is that a single idea that a writer expresses in a topic sentence should align with a paper’s thesis statement , as it is developed in the introduction part of a character analysis essay.

C. Concluding Sentences

While a topic sentence introduces a paragraph, a concluding sentence brings it to a close. For example, a reason why a student writes a concluding sentence is to finalize an intended message captured in a section. As such, it provides the writer’s concluding thoughts about a topic sentence and how it advances a thesis statement. Also, the content that comes between topic sentences and concluding sentences reinforces a sandwich rule: making a claim, backing it up with supporting facts, elaborating on it, and indicating its relevance in a context of a thesis.

D. Transitions

In writing a character analysis essay, students need to create a document with a natural flow from a beginning to an end. Basically, the aspect that enhances this flow is the use of transitions, which involve words and phrases, like “consequently,” “hence,” “thus,” “nonetheless,” “as such,” and “put differently.” In this case, a writer can use these words and phrases in any part of a text. However, using them in the main text is more appropriate as it is where writers need to create linkages between claims, evidence, and elaborations. Hence, transitions make such connections flawless and logical.

E. Formatting

When writing an academic text, it is critical for students to observe all academic writing rules. For example, one of these rules is writing a character analysis essay according to assigned rules that guide a paper format that learners are using to write their work. In this case, the main paper formats are APA 7, MLA 8, Harvard, and Chicago/Turabian, all of which differ in certain ways. For instance, they all have different requirements for citations and paragraph formation. Therefore, when writing a character analysis essay, a student should format a paper according to the appropriate writing format. Although learners may observe this rule when writing the first draft, they should certainly do so when creating the final draft.

F. Peer Reviewing

When writing a character analysis essay, students should ensure that their work is of high quality. Basically, what makes an academic text of high quality is peer review, which means subjecting a written work to a critical review by a friend, tutor, or mentor. For example, journal articles are regarded as peer-reviewed scholarly sources for a simple reason that they have been reviewed and made perfect. In turn, this perfection entails ensuring the absence of errors and mistakes and the use of credible and reliable sources.

Step 5: Writing a Final Draft of a Character Analysis Essay

The final draft represents the final work of a student in writing a character analysis essay. Basically, it is a document that students hand over to the audience by way of submission or publication. As such, writers must ensure that their texts are of the highest standard to eliminate the possibility of attracting penalties, such as a low grade or lousy review, in case they publish their work on online platforms. Also, to be clear that what students have is of the highest quality, they should read and reread their papers. In turn, it is the only way in which they can be sure that there are no errors or mistakes.

Simple Outline Example of a Character Analysis Essay

As indicated in the previous section, students should take time and create an outline for their work when writing an essay. This outline comprises three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion as below.

I. Introduction Paragraph II. Body Section (this part may include several paragraphs) III. Conclusion Paragraph

While most academic texts follow this outline, some papers differ on features that writers address in each section. Basically, when writing a character analysis essay, students should ensure that the introduction section highlights its thesis. In turn, this statement guides the entire writing, meaning that it is the central claim or idea in a paper. In body paragraphs, writers should ensure that topic sentences open each paragraph while concluding sentences end them. Moreover, learners should ensure sufficient and appropriate use of transitions and observance of a sandwich rule. In the conclusion section, students should restate the thesis and summarize the paper’s main points.

How Students Know That They Write a Character Analysis Essay

Generally, the purpose of a character analysis essay is to provide an in-depth analysis of a specific character. As such, writers know that they write a character analysis essay if their texts describe a given character’s personality and mannerisms. In turn, the latter entails how a character in question behaves, speaks, looks like (physical features), and their familial and social relationships, as it is covered in a story.

How a Character Analysis Essay Differs From Other Papers

When it comes to an outline, a character analysis essay is similar to other types of papers . However, regarding the content, this type of essay differs from other papers significantly. For example, an argumentative essay focuses on making the writer’s argument acceptable to the audience, meaning that the content revolves around the writer’s perspective regarding an issue. In contrast, a character analysis essay focuses on providing the audience with a detailed picture of a specific character in a story, meaning that the content revolves around a subject (character). In an informative essay , the writer’s goal is to educate the audience about a topic or an issue, meaning that the content revolves around explaining concepts relating to a specific theme in question. Therefore, the point of difference between a character analysis essay and other essay types is content more than structure.

Easy Strategies for Writing Each Section of a Character Analysis Essay

When it comes to the introduction, authors of a character analysis essay should provide a hook, which can be a statement, quote, or a joke. Basically, a hook sentence aims to grab the reader’s attention and make them interested in reading the entire paper. Then, if students know how to write a hook , they provide a brief background of a text after it. Also, it is where they introduce a story and a character under investigation. In turn, writers should conclude this section with a thesis, thus outlining the purpose of writing. About the main text (body), if learners are familiar with the rules of how to write a topic sentence , they begin each paragraph with it, which establishes a claim. Further on, the feature that follows is evidence (supporting facts) and then an explanation. As a result, the last element is a concluding sentence. 

1. Paying an Attention

Based on the above information, it is evident that authors of a character analysis essay must pay attention to several things. In the introduction, writers should pay attention to the thesis, and, in the body paragraphs, they should follow a sandwich rule. Basically, this rule reinforces the claim-evidence-explanation approach. In the conclusion section, students should pay attention to the main points’ summary to make sure no new information is captured in this paragraph. Additionally, learners should ensure that they provide closing remarks, which emphasize their objective opinions about subjects matter.

2. Major Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Besides spelling, grammatical and other mistakes, writers of essays make other mistakes, leading to the fact that their work becomes less than high-quality. In writing a character analysis essay, one mistake that students make is to focus on a single aspect, such as personality, thereby undermining the subject’s full image. In this case, the solution to this mistake for a writer is to focus on the character’s mannerisms – behavior, speaking style, and appearance. Then, another mistake that learners make is to focus on aspects that do not advance an in-depth analysis of a subject, such as a story’s plot. In turn, the solution to this mistake for students is to focus on the subject’s roles in a plot’s context.

An Example of Writing a Character Analysis Essay

Topic: Frodo and His Heroic Weakness

I. Sample Introduction of a Character Analysis Essay

In literature, characters play an essential role in enhancing the plot of a story. Basically, they do this through their actions, behaviors, relationships, and other aspects of personality. Moreover, their mannerisms define who they are within the context of a story. In The Lord of the Ring , J.R.R. Tolkien captures a heroic conscience that characterizes human existence. Then, the author reveals the destructive power of greed and envy, mainly where promises are concerned. Nonetheless, Tolkien shows how friendship and courage overcome these vices. At the center of a story , The Lord of the Ring, is Frodo Baggins, a protagonist, who, despite undergoing a series of challenging adventures, emerges as a hero.

II. Example of a Body in a Character Analysis Essay

A. frodo as a hero.

Tolkien develops Frodo as a young hobbit with a remarkable character. As a ring-bearer of a fellowship, Frodo has the Ring that belongs to Sauron, the Lord of the Rings. As such, Sauron is an antagonist in a story. For example, he is “a dark lord who lost the one Ring that held much of his power” (Tolkien, 2003, p. 54). Then, the author describes the Ring as precious and powerful enough to enslave Middle Earth. While everybody is scared of the Ring and no one wants to lead its destruction, Frodo courageously overcomes such fear. Despite a myth that absolute evil and frightening dark forces are likely to victimize anyone who attempts to destroy the Ring, the young hobbit is keen to prove everybody wrong. In turn, it is the anger toward myths and oppressions that they seemed to cause people that motivate Frodo to act to restore safety in Middle Earth. 

B. Frodo’s Weakness

The first indication of Frodo’s inexperience comes when he faces his initial challenges in his quest. Basically, how he deals with them reveals his weak points. For example, when Frodo delays his departure from the Shire, in spite of the urgency of the task ahead, he comes out as an indecisive character (Tolkien, 2003). Although a protagonist has common sense, he lacks wisdom, which is evident when he chooses to face the Old Forest’s dangers. Besides getting himself into harm’s way, Frodo also endangers the lives of his friends. In this case, he comes out as a fool in Bree when he draws unnecessary attention to himself. At Weathertop, the main character gives in to the temptation of putting on the Ring, thus exposing himself to an attack by the Ringwraiths (Tolkien, 2003). Despite all these shortcomings, Frodo survives the dangers of his own mistakes and those of his quest. Moreover, the novel attributes this success to the fact that hobbits are tougher than they look and can endure hardships. More importantly, Frodo himself is not interested in possessing the Ring, which makes him avoid the dark forces it represents. In this respect, he emerges as a hero in the end.

III. Conclusion Example of a Character Analysis Essay

Frodo’s adventure in The Lord of the Ring is a selfless quest to bring good to society despite powerful myths that undermine people’s courage to act when needed. In this case, Tolkien describes specific events that characterize the protagonist’s quest to destroy Sauron’s Ring. Moreover, what is clear is that Frodo is a courageous hobbit who refuses to be defined by his weaknesses. Eventually, his actions display his heroic character, one that defies all odds against him. In turn, a lesson from a story is that people do not need to be perfect to be heroes, but they need to aspire to do what is right.

Arthur, S. (2003). Walking with Frodo: A devotional journey through the Lord of the Rings . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Summing Up on How to Write a Good Character Analysis Essay

When writing a character analysis essay, students must understand that this type of paper is different from all others. While an argumentative essay focuses on convincing the audience about an issue, a character analysis essay covers telling the audience about a specific character’s personality and mannerisms within the context of a story’s plot. As such, it also differs from an informative essay that focuses on educating the audience about a topic or an issue. Nonetheless, all these essays assume the same outline, which entails three main sections: introduction, body, and conclusion. In turn, when writing a character analysis essay, a student must note the following tips:

  • Read the instructions carefully.
  • Read a story.
  • If there is no instruction about a character, choose a dynamic character, who is either a protagonist or antagonist.
  • Reread a story and make notes that are specific to a chosen character.
  • Develop a thesis statement.
  • Draft an outline.
  • Write the first draft.
  • Read and reread the first draft to identify and correct errors and mistakes.
  • Subject the first draft to a peer review.
  • Write the final draft.
  • Read and reread the final draft.

To Learn More, Read Relevant Articles

How to write a critical response essay with examples and tips, free personal narrative examples: basic guidelines with tips.

character analysis

How to Write Character Analysis Essay?

character traits essay outline

A character analysis is a complete evaluation of a character's persona, their role in the story line, their challenges achievements and conflicts as the plot of the story mature along the way. An excellent character analysis has a critical angle of questioning the character as well as draw conclusions based on facts presented by nature in the cause of his or her interactions, (Schauber, 2014). When developing a character analysis, the writer should be open minded not to draw a conclusion on nature without assessing all possible scenario.

Mastering a character analysis essay is part of the academic prowess you'll need as you prepare for college. As a high school senior, it's also the perfect time to explore financial aid opportunities to support your higher education journey. Discover a list of the best scholarships for high school seniors which could provide the financial cushion you need, as you hone your analytical and writing skills through assignments like character analysis essays.

Character analysis has been employed by screenplay writers and professionally in movie scripts where a character, for instance, a villain or heroes is cultivated from the time the movie starts to its end. We know all the trends and help you at our essay writing services . Also known as ' pay someone to write my paper ' service.

Traits to Watch for in a Character Analysis Essay

While developing a morph metric scale for character analysis, it is important to choose a character whose role keeps on changing as the plot of the story develops. Continuously examine their ethical alignment on the play. Identify if the author has created a moral persona of the character or a villain or if they exhibit interchanging personality in the cause of the play. Based on these findings, draw a valid conclusion on their ethical stand, (Schauber, 2014).

Artistically, authors and screenwriters do employ the use of redundant phrases that are utilized by the same character over and again. Paying close attention to the characters wordplay is imperative. Analyze what he or she says and does in different scenarios. Be keen to collectively sum their perspective in a whole sum manner. For instance, the character in question might be violent to his family member but be very at ease with colleagues and friends or vice versa. In such a situation this character can be described as having inferiority or superiority complex disorders in relation to a particular group in question.

The saying goes, show me your friends, and I will tell you your characters. Ideally the author has all necessary tools to alter the cause of a specified character throughout the play; however, other characters might have different opinions with the author Thomas, J. (2009). To better understand the writers' personality, it would be easier to hear from those that are in his social circles elaborate what they think of the character. In the case of a movie character review, a character may show their true character when they lower their shield when they are around family and friends.

What is a Character Analysis Essay?

Character analysis essay focus on a “character” in any story. The analysis reveals facts and figures and lesson one takes from the character about life. Character analysis is merely not based on facts but the reviewer needs to read the psychology of the character, his/her emotions, his/her approach to a specific situation, reasons and motivation behind a particular attitude. The review draw conclusion from the character’s approach and relate it to life. This is done by using the evidences provide in the story by the author (approach of character in multiple circumstances).

It is important to read the story properly and keep eye on details and analyze the charter and draw conclusion in light of the given evidences.

There different kinds of characters:

  • Hero (protagonists) the central character, most of the work revolves around him/her.
  • Major characters: there may be one to two major characters where they dominate in the story.
  • Villain (antagonists): the negative or force full character of the story.
  • Minor characters are those in any story which keep help the major character to reveal facts in different situation and they remain unchanged during the story.

There may be dynamic characters which keep changing throughout the story. Static characters are those who remain same or constant in a story.

character traits essay outline

Step 1: Initiate your Essay with Quotation about the Character

Once you have chosen your character to analyze, our write my essay service professionals suggest that you start the character analysis essay by providing a thoughtful and powerful quotation about the character. You can relate the character to the quote and provide a stage for character analysis. If your character is hardworking, use a quotation that reflects hard work or if your character is brave, then share the quotation about bravery. If your character showed patriotism, then start with a quotation that highlights patriotism. By using a quotation, the reader will develop an interest to read, but one shall make sure that quotation should be relevant and best portray the character.

Step 2: Provide Background Information

In the second step one can give background information about the author, title of the story and time frame the possible reasons behind the story. Give briefly what is story all about. It is important to read the story carefully and link passages either they are link to the character directly or indirectly.

Step 3: Introduce the character

The third part of the character analysis essay is most vital and it is further divided into three parts. Initially you introduce your character and then you define three significant attributes that you have identify in the character and which develops as the story progresses. After introducing the character, there are three distinct body paragraphs which define the character traits of your character.

Writing character analysis essays presents unique challenges because it lacks specific method and does not have a clear pattern. The purpose of a character analysis is to explore the traits that influence the persona of a character. Consequently, to make the character study effective, the writer must go beyond the surface of stating the persona of a character, to exploring the reasons that explain that particular persona. In effect, the author must show that, had the character been in different circumstances, his/her persona would be different. The following is a discussion of various elements in a character analysis essay.

How to Write the Introduction?

An ideal introduction starts with a quotation, a statement, or a question that relates to the character in question. The significance of the introductory statement may not be clear to the reader at the early stages of the paper, but should be clear as the essay progresses into the body. The simplest introduction includes elements about the character that the body of the article may not discuss in depth. In the last sentence of the introduction, the paper must set the parameters that will define the scope of the article and state what the character analysis aims to achieve.

Most Common Topics

As noted earlier, the challenge in writing character analysis is that there are no standard items nor clearly defined patterns that a paper should adhere to.

In crafting a compelling character analysis, one can draw parallels to the meticulous process scientists undertake in their quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe. Much like literary enthusiasts dissecting the intricacies of fictional personalities, astrophysicists too, delve into the unknown, piecing together the cosmic narrative. For those with a penchant for both literary and scientific exploration, marrying these interests could lead to a uniquely enriching educational journey. Pursuing a course in astrophysics at one of the top colleges for astrophysics could provide a robust foundation, enabling a seamless fusion of these seemingly disparate realms. Through such an interdisciplinary endeavor, one not only sharpens analytical and critical thinking skills vital for character analysis but also broadens the horizons of understanding, enriching both the literary and scientific discourse.

However, several common topics have formed the basis of character analysis in the past. They include the following.

topics

  • What makes the character great?
  • How do the qualities of a character affect the outcome of his actions?
  • What are the most prominent symbols of the character if any?
  • Has the geography of the character or the narrative in question influenced the behavior of the character?
  • Can the themes wrought be the character analysis be related to the real world, if so, how?

Character Analysis Sample

character analysis example

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay?

A character analysis essay is like most other academic papers which are composed of three parts; introduction, the body of the paper and conclusion. In writing the article, one should ensure that the last sentence of the introduction paragraph clearly outlines the thesis statement. The statement should be clear and objective to as seen from the reader point of view. After the introduction, the items in the body should be organized such that each paragraph explains one idea. The organization of the sections should be cohesive and ensure the flow of ideas. In the last paragraph, the paper should give closing remarks and state whether the thesis of the article has been achieved by the substance provided in the body.

Outline for a Character Analysis Essay

The following is the outline for a character analysis essay used by the writers from our professional paper writing service :

outline character analysis

I. Introduction

  • Introduce the title of the story and the author.
  • Give the background of the story.
  • Thesis: In a single sentence, state the main traits of the character and how they affect other characters as well as the themes of the story.

II. Describe how the character is revealed at the beginning of the story

  • Introduce the adjective that will describe the character.
  • Make reference to what other authors say about the character
  • State and explain how the trait identified affects the story.

III. Describe how the character evolves throughout the course of the story

  • Identify the adjective that best describes the character.
  • Not the change that the character undergoes throughout the story or novel.
  • Explain the significance of the change in the character’s traits.

IV. Describe the traits of the character at the end of the novel

  • Note how different the character is from the character at the beginning of the story.
  • Note whether the character has changed for better or worse.
  • If there is no change, observe whether that is right or bad for the character.

V. Conclusion

  • Explain the lessons learned from the experiences of the character.
  • State the feelings in light of what the character has gone through.

Our psychology essay writing services are ready to give you a hand asap. Just leave us a notice.

The summary of character analysis essay may be summarized in three different steps: firstly what are the lessons learnt by the character during the course of his/her struggle. Let’s say any character who entirely depends on her/his family members and is escapes from challenges in life. So how did the character overcome this problem.

The second part should focus on reasoning or evidences that how did the character overcome his/her fear and challenges in life. The character may rely on his/her family whenever struggle but as the story progressed the character overcome his/her fear and become more confident and realize that he/she can face the problems himself/herself. At the end the character did not rely on his/her family in order to face problems and challenges in life.

Thirdly the review can provide his/her thoughts and wrap up the topic by taking the message away. Let’s say from the story I learnt that though challenges are always not really pleasure but they are part of our lives and it’s better to face them than to avoid them. It is a fact that at the end of every challenge one faces one feel more confident, stronger and happier and prospers.

In conclusion , it is important to mention that choosing the correct title for a paper determines whether it will make the desired appeal to potential readers. The most efficient way of developing the title is to go through the thesis statement and the conclusion and derive the statement from the grand idea of the two parts.

If you have any troubles choosing the title or topic for the article you can use our paper topic generator tool, or just order an essay with our essay writing services.

Frequently asked questions

She was flawless! first time using a website like this, I've ordered article review and i totally adored it! grammar punctuation, content - everything was on point

This writer is my go to, because whenever I need someone who I can trust my task to - I hire Joy. She wrote almost every paper for me for the last 2 years

Term paper done up to a highest standard, no revisions, perfect communication. 10s across the board!!!!!!!

I send him instructions and that's it. my paper was done 10 hours later, no stupid questions, he nailed it.

Sometimes I wonder if Michael is secretly a professor because he literally knows everything. HE DID SO WELL THAT MY PROF SHOWED MY PAPER AS AN EXAMPLE. unbelievable, many thanks

You Might Also Like

Film Analysis Example: A Complete Guide to Ace Your Task

New Posts to Your Inbox!

Stay in touch

Character Analysis

Caleb S.

How to Conduct a Great Character Analysis - Tips and Examples

Published on: Jul 19, 2022

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

Character Analysis

People also read

Extensive Guide on Appendix Writing For Graduating Students

A Step-by-Step Guide to Write an Effective Opinion Essay

How to Write a Poem Step by Step - Beginners Guide

Different Types of Plagiarism and How to Avoid Them

10 Essay Writing Mistakes That Are Holding You Back

Tips by an Essay Writer to Avoid Plagiarism

A Comprehensive Guide to Write an Evaluation Essay

How to Write Poetry: A Beginner's Guide

A Complete Writing Guide of Article Review for Beginners

Complete Visual Analysis Essay Writing Guide by Experts

Complete Guide on How to Write a Summary with Examples

Share this article

Are you tired of staring at a blank page, struggling to analyze your characters effectively? 

Well, you're not alone! Let's face it, character analysis can be a real pain in the neck, especially for students. 

But fear not, because we've got you covered. We've created a comprehensive guide to help you conduct character analysis like a pro! 

With our guide, you'll learn essential techniques and strategies to bring your characters to life and make them truly unforgettable. 

So, if you're ready to analyze, keep reading!

On This Page On This Page -->

Understanding Character Analysis

Character analysis is a literary technique used to understand a character's personality, behavior, and motivations. It involves closely examining the character's actions, thoughts, and relationships with other characters in the story. 

By doing so, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the character's role in the story and how they contribute to the plot's development. This helps you better analyze and interpret literature, leading to a more detailed and insightful understanding of the text. 

So, character analysis is a key component in becoming a successful student of literature.

Want to get started on a literary analysis? Check out this comprehensive guide on doing a literary analysis effectively!

Studying Different Types of Characters

In literature, there are several different types of characters that serve different roles in a story. By understanding these types of characters, you can better analyze each character and their purpose in the literary narrative.

  • Protagonist: The protagonist is the main character of the story, who drives the plot forward and is typically the character with whom readers sympathize or identify.
  • Antagonist: The antagonist is the character who opposes or causes conflict for the protagonist. They can be a person, an organization, or an idea.
  • Dynamic: A dynamic character is one who undergoes significant change or growth throughout the story, often as a result of their experiences.
  • Static: A static character is one who remains unchanged throughout the story and does not undergo significant development or growth.
  • Stereotype: A stereotypical character is one who embodies common, often exaggerated, traits or characteristics associated with a particular group or identity.
  • Supporting: Supporting characters are those who serve a secondary role in the story, and often provide context or help move the plot forward.

By recognizing these different types of characters, you can develop a thorough analysis of any character.

Order Essay

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

How To Do a Character Analysis?

Analyzing a character involves several steps that help you gain an understanding of their overall purpose in the story. 

Here are some steps to follow when conducting a character analysis:

Read the Text Thoroughly

To analyze a character, it's important to first have a solid understanding of the story they're a part of. Read the text multiple times, paying close attention to details like plot, setting, and character interactions. 

As you read, jot down notes on the character's traits, actions, and relationships with other characters. Look for patterns in the character's behavior and interactions, and note any symbolism or metaphors used to describe the character.

Compose Character Analysis Questions 

After taking notes, it's important to ask questions to analyze your character from various angles. The more you know about them, the better you will be able to compose the analysis. These questions should be specific to the character and their role in the story.

Some examples of character analysis questions include:

  • What does this character want, and what motivates them to achieve it?
  • How do the character's actions and decisions impact the plot of the story?
  • What is the character's backstory, and how does it shape their current actions and beliefs?
  • How do the character's relationships with other characters influence their development?
  • How does the character respond to conflict or challenges?
  • What are the character's strengths and weaknesses, and how do they impact their actions and decisions?
  • How does the character evolve or change throughout the story, and what events or experiences lead to this change?

Identify the Character's Traits

A character's traits are the qualities and characteristics that define them. These can include physical attributes like appearance and mannerisms, as well as personality traits like kindness, arrogance, or intelligence.

Consider the Character's Motivations

Understanding a character's motivations is key to understanding their behavior and actions in the story. Ask questions like, "What drives this character?" and "What are their goals and desires?"

Analyze the Character's Relationships

Characters often reveal aspects of their personality through their relationships with others in the story. Look at how the character interacts with other characters and how these interactions impact the character's development throughout the story.

Look for Symbolism

Characters are often used to represent larger themes or ideas in a story. Look for symbolism or metaphors used to describe the character, and consider how these relate to the story's larger themes and messages. 

Character Analysis Examples

Not sure how to write a great character analysis essay? Check out these interesting character analysis examples and a worksheet for getting started.

Character Analysis Worksheet

Character Analysis of Joseph Andrews

Character Analysis of Hamlet

Character Analysis of Pride and Prejudice

Character Analysis of Tess of the D'urbervilles

Character Analysis of Oedipus Rex

Character Analysis of Knight in Canterbury Tales

Character Analysis of the Clerk in Canterbury Tales

Lady Macbeth Character Analysis

Character Analysis of Hedda Gabler

Character Analysis of Waiting for Godot

Character Analysis of Stephen Dedalus

Character Analysis of Macbeth

Character Analysis of Heart of Darkness

The Crucible Character Analysis

Now that you know how to perform character analysis, it's time to put what you’ve learned to the test.

However, if you're still struggling with analyzing, you can always turn to our professional essay writing  to help you out.

Our team of experienced writers can craft an excellent character analysis that showcases your understanding of the characters. We offer a range of services, from writing and editing to proofreading, to ensure that your analysis is flawless.

You can also try out our AI essay writer to help you with your next character analysis assignment!

Caleb S. (Literature, Marketing)

Caleb S. has extensive experience in writing and holds a Masters from Oxford University. He takes great satisfaction in helping students exceed their academic goals. Caleb always puts the needs of his clients first and is dedicated to providing quality service.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Get Help

Keep reading

Character Analysis

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refunds & Cancellations
  • Our Writers
  • Success Stories
  • Our Guarantees
  • Affiliate Program
  • Referral Program
  • AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

character traits essay outline

Storyboard That

  • My Storyboards
  • Log In / Register

Character Analysis Worksheet Templates

Customize character analysis templates.

Character Analysis 5

If you're assigning this to your students, copy the worksheet to your account and save. When creating an assignment, just select it as a template!

Character Analysis Templates | Character Worksheets

What is a Character Analysis Essay Worksheet?

A character study is an important aspect of literary analysis, and our character analysis worksheets provide a comprehensive framework for analyzing and understanding characters in a story. These templates allow students to create detailed profiles that explore various elements, such as development, traits, and interactions with other characters.

By using our character analysis chart templates, students can easily identify and describe the key traits. They can analyze the character's development throughout the story, examining how their experiences and choices shape their journey. Additionally, students can explore the relationships with other characters, uncovering the dynamics and impact of these interactions.

With our character development worksheet, a student can dive deeper into the life of a character, gaining a greater appreciation for their complexities and motivations. This in-depth exploration enhances their understanding of the story and encourages critical thinking skills.

How To Analyze Character Traits

Analyzing traits is a crucial aspect of understanding and interpreting literature. By examining the traits of a character, readers can gain deeper insights into their motivations, behaviors, and overall significance within a narrative. In this section, we will explore how to effectively analyze character traits using various strategies and tools, including character analysis worksheets and the concept of indirect characterization.

  • Start with a Character Study Worksheet: Begin by utilizing a character worksheet, including character study worksheet, character analysis chart, or character profile worksheet, which serves as a structured framework to gather and organize information. This worksheet typically includes sections to record the character's physical attributes, personality traits, actions, relationships with other characters, and their overall role in the story. By filling out the worksheet, you can develop a comprehensive profile and identify key traits that shape their behavior.
  • Identify Key Character Traits: As readers, pay close attention to the author's descriptions and the character's actions, dialogue, and how they interact with others. Look for recurring patterns or specific behaviors that reveal their personality. These can include traits such as kindness, courage, honesty, or cunningness.
  • Consider Indirect Characterization: Indirect characterization refers to the author's use of subtle clues, such as a character's thoughts, speech, appearance, or the opinions of other characters, to reveal their traits. Analyzing indirect characterization requires reading between the lines and inferring the character's traits based on these subtle cues. Look for instances where the author indirectly explains or shows the character's traits, and use them to deepen your understanding of the character.
  • Examine the Character's Actions and Choices: A character's actions and choices can provide significant insights into their traits. Consider how the character behaves in different situations and what motivates their actions. Reflect on whether their actions align with their stated beliefs or if they exhibit any contradictions. This analysis can help you identify the character's values, strengths, weaknesses, and overall character development and analysis throughout the narrative.
  • Connect Traits to the Character's Role and the Narrative: Analyzing traits is not only about describing them but also understanding their significance in the context of the story. Consider how the character's traits contribute to their role within the narrative and their relationships with other characters. Reflect on how their traits impact the plot, conflict, and overall themes of the literature. This deeper understanding will enrich your analysis and interpretation.

By following these steps and utilizing a variety of our character analysis worksheets, you can effectively analyze character traits, explain their development, and gain a deeper appreciation for the complexities of the characters in literature. Remember to support your analysis with evidence from the text, such as specific quotes or examples, to provide a strong foundation for your insights and interpretations.

How To Write Character Analysis Essay

Now that you're armed with the knowledge and skills to analyze a trait, explore the world of literature with confidence and embark on your own captivating character analysis essays. When it comes to writing an analysis essay, having a well-structured outline is essential. The outline serves as a guide to help you organize your thoughts and ideas, ensuring that your essay effectively captures the complexities of the character and their traits. Let's explore how to create an outline using a character analysis outline worksheet, and how to incorporate the right words and language to showcase your analytical skills.

  • Begin with a Character Profile: Before diving into the essay, it's helpful to create a profile that includes important details about the character's background, traits, and development. This profile can serve as a reference point and provide you with a clear understanding of the character's journey. You can refer to a profile example or use the character analysis outline worksheet to organize your thoughts.
  • Introduction: Start your essay with an engaging introduction that provides a brief overview of the character and their significance within the narrative. Grab the reader's attention by highlighting the character's key traits or an intriguing aspect of their personality.
  • Thesis Statement: Craft a strong thesis statement that presents your main argument or interpretation about the character. Your thesis statement should reflect the character's traits and their impact on the story, while also setting the tone for your essay.
  • Body Paragraphs: Organize your analysis into coherent body paragraphs that focus on specific traits. Each paragraph should begin with a topic sentence that introduces the trait you will discuss. Use evidence from the text, such as quotes or specific examples, to support your analysis. Analyze how the character exhibits the trait and provide insights into their motivations, actions, and relationships with other characters. Be sure to incorporate the right words and language to showcase your analytical skills.
  • Conclusion: Summarize your main points and restate your thesis in the conclusion. Emphasize the significance of the character's traits and their contribution to the overall narrative. You can also leave the reader with a thought-provoking question or a broader reflection on the character's impact.

By following these guidelines and incorporating the profile, a strong thesis statement, well-structured body paragraphs, and a concise conclusion, you can create a compelling character analysis essay that showcases your understanding of the character's traits and their significance in the story.

Example of Character Analysis Literature: Engaging Texts for In-Depth Study

Explore these recommended engaging texts that serve as excellent examples for an in-depth analysis. These literary works offer rich and complex characters that your class can delve into and analyze, allowing for a deeper understanding of character development, motivations, and relationships.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

This novel offers valuable lessons on social class, prejudice, and the complexities of human relationships, making it an ideal choice for teaching character analysis skills in the classroom. Use a character map to help kids analyze the traits and relationships of characters like Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Through the characters of Scout, Atticus Finch, and Boo Radley, this novel will teach important themes of justice, morality, and empathy, providing ample opportunities to analyze their traits and motivations. Our digital worksheets can be used to engage students in interactive character analysis activities.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

The characters in this novel, such as Jay Gatsby, Daisy Buchanan, and Nick Carraway, exemplify the pursuit of the American Dream and the complexities of love and identity. Analyzing their traits can deepen students' understanding of human nature and societal expectations. A critical analysis template can help while examining the characters' motivations and the author's use of symbolism and imagery.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë

Jane Eyre's journey of self-discovery and her interactions with other characters, such as Mr. Rochester and Mrs. Reed, offer rich material for character analysis discussions. This novel explores themes of independence, morality, and the role of women in society.

Using these classic novels not only teaches students valuable skills in analysis but also exposes them to timeless themes, diverse perspectives, and literary techniques.

How to Make a Character Analysis Worksheet

Choose One of the Premade Templates

We have lots of templates to choose from. Take a look at our example for inspiration!

Click on "Copy Template"

Once you do this, you will be directed to the storyboard creator.

Give Your Worksheet a Name!

Be sure to call it something related to the topic so that you can easily find it in the future.

Edit Your Worksheet

This is where you will include directions, specific images, and make any aesthetic changes that you would like. The options are endless!

Click "Save and Exit"

When you are finished, click this button in the lower right hand corner to exit your storyboard.

From here you can print, download as a PDF, attach it to an assignment and use it digitally, and more!

Happy Creating!

Frequently Asked Questions About Character Analysis Worksheets

What is a character trait.

A character trait refers to the qualities, characteristics, or attributes that define a character in a literary work. These traits can include physical attributes, personality traits, values, beliefs, motivations, and more. Character traits help readers understand the motivations and actions of characters, and they play a crucial role in character analysis.

Can I create a character worksheet on my own?

Absolutely! Our worksheets provide a framework for analyzing characters, but you can also create your own customized character worksheets. You can tailor the questions and prompts to fit the specific needs of your students or the literary work you are studying. This flexibility allows you to focus on specific character traits or aspects that you want your students to explore.

How can character analysis worksheets help with writing a character analysis essay?

They serve as a valuable tool to gather and organize information about characters, which can then be used as evidence or supporting details in a character analysis essay. These worksheets help students identify and describe character traits, analyze character development, and explore the relationships between characters. By using the information from the worksheets, students can write a well-supported and insightful character analysis essay.

Can character analysis worksheets be used for different grade levels and texts?

Absolutely! They can be adapted for different grade levels and used with a wide range of literary works. Whether you are teaching elementary, middle school, or high school, you can modify the complexity and depth of the questions and prompts to suit the needs and abilities of all learners. Additionally, the they can be used with various texts, including novels, short stories, plays, and even films, allowing for versatility in the classroom.

Try 1 Month For

30 Day Money Back Guarantee New Customers Only Full Price After Introductory Offer

Learn more about our Department, School, and District packages

Example of using the storyboard Creator

  • Thousands of images
  • Custom layouts, scenes, characters
  • And so much more!!

Create a Storyboard

Essay Freelance Writers 

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: 5 Steps, Outline, Examples

Apr 28, 2022

blog banner

Apr 28, 2022 | Blog

When you are asked to write a character analysis, you will be expected to explain how a character changes and grows. Most major characters go through some kind of significant growth as a story unfolds, often a direct result of dealing with some sort of conflict. The final “how” question to answer is how to structure your own essay. Broadly speaking, there are two general ways to approach this.

The first option is to discuss one element (theme, characterization, symbolism, etc.) in terms of the entire work and then move on in the next section or paragraph to talk about another element in terms of the entire work. One advantage of this approach is that it allows you more room to explore each individual point without getting bogged down in details. On the other hand, it can seem like you’re simply describing what happened in the text rather than offering an argument about it—so make sure that your thesis offers some kind of insight into what the text reveals about life or human nature more generally! The second option for structuring your essay is called “focusing on differences.” In this option, you would identify differences between elements and then conclude by discussing what those differences say about life or human nature more broadly.

What Is a Character Analysis Essay?

In a broader sense, this is a type of essay which requires an understanding of the character in question. These kinds of essays are used to analyze characters in a literary piece. One of the aims would be to make a profile and analyze characters well. What motivates them? Why do they act? Think? Engage in certain behaviors? You also get to choose what you want to focus on as your angle for discussing the important character traits.

To understand these aspects, it is important that we look at each one individually, before we look at them all together.

What Is the Purpose

The purpose of a character analysis is to not only demonstrate to your instructor that you have read an assigned story or novel but also to enhance your knowledge of literary elements by examining the characters in the context of the role of a character in the story.

Understanding characters and how they interact with each other is vitally important to understanding themes and the author’s purpose for writing. Aspects such as conflict, plot, setting, and characterization all contribute to a story’s theme and function together to explore ideas. By understanding characters’ motivations, feelings, and actions, you can determine whether or not you agree with an author’s portrayal of certain topics or ideas.

Different Types of Characters

There are different types of characters. They come in two categories: major and minor. The major character is the central figure in a story, while the minor character supports the major character in various ways. These character types can be further divided into dynamic and static, round and flat, protagonist and antagonist, focal character, and stock character.

  • Dynamic characters are those who change over time, while static characters remain the same throughout a story.
  • Flat characters have few character traits that aid readers understand their personality or contribute to the plot of a story. On the other hand, round characters are multidimensional with distinct personalities that help shape the story’s events or conflict.
  • The protagonist is often considered to be one of the main dynamic round characters—the “good guy” or hero—while an antagonist is often considered to be one of the main dynamic round antagonists—the “bad guy” or villain—who clashes with these protagonists based on opposing goals
  • A focal character is a person around whom most of the other actions in a story take place; they may not necessarily be either good or bad but are instead of someone whose actions have significant consequences on other people’s lives (or even their own). In this sense they can also serve as foils against which other important figures will be compared (and contrasted) throughout their respective texts – this concept sometimes goes by “foil” as well

How to Analyze a Character

The first thing you should do when analyzing a character is to consider their role in the story. Is the character static or dynamic? Is this a major or minor character? What does this character want and how does their role in the story propel them towards that which they desire, either for good or for evil?

Another aspect of analyzing a character is thinking about how old they are. Did you notice any references made to their age that might give us clues about how they feel about themselves? Do they seem like an old soul, young at heart, or somewhere in between? A crucial part of understanding a person’s motivations is knowing whether they are just beginning life and have no preconceived notions as to what living entails, are middle-aged and looking back on mistakes while trying to move forward as best as possible, or have lived long enough to know that many things are out of their control and there’s only one thing left to do: live in the moment.

How to Write a Character Analysis Essay?

  • Read the story or book. It might sound obvious, but you really need to read the story before you can start analyzing it. Finish reading the book before you begin writing. If you don’t have time to read it all at once, give yourself time to do so before writing your character analysis essay. As you read, pay attention to the character’s emotions, actions, and words. What is the effect of each on others and how does each contribute to the character’s development? Use these observations to build your thesis by choosing a few character traits that represent him or her well. An excellent thesis statement should reflect an argument rather than just stating a fact.
  • Write an introduction that makes a strong first impression and convinces readers of your topic’s importance. You’ll be able to use much of your intro in the conclusion, so leave room to incorporate these elements later on.
  • In your body paragraphs, summarize all of the evidence you have discovered throughout research and note-taking that supports this specific claim about this specific character (e.g., Tom Robinson is innocent of rape and will die in prison; or Othello is too absorbed in thoughts of revenge and murder while Desdemona is portrayed as naïve and innocent). As you write each body paragraph, always refer back to your thesis so everything connects with your overall theme.
  • End with a strong conclusion that sums up what you’ve just proven about your character. You can also read a character analysis essay example to get some inspiration on how they are written.

How Do You Start a Character Analysis Essay

After reading the story, you need to start with a specific character and create a thesis statement.

The first step is to pick a character you’d want to write about. Sometimes, this task may be given to you; but sometimes you’ll have the right to choose one yourself. If it’s the latter, then you should think of which character will suit this assignment best of all.

Once you’ve made your choice, start analyzing your chosen character in depth by taking notes on his/her physical appearance, actions, thoughts, beliefs, and dialogue — everything that is relevant and relates directly or indirectly to your key idea. Even if the work doesn’t explicitly state this person’s name or use any pronouns referring to him/her (e.g., “She went out of the room.”), still, take note of this person’s actions so that later on when writing an analysis essay you’ll be able to easily identify them and cite passages from the original text as evidence for your observations

Step 1: Read the Story

The first step in learning how to write a compelling character analysis essay is reading the book with attention to the character you want to analyze. Of course, this may well be a task assigned by your teacher or professor, so you need to read it anyway. But even if you’re already into it, try reading it from different angles and ask yourself questions about the characters as you go along.

Notice which characters are dynamic and which are static. Dynamic characters change throughout the story, while static ones stay the same. Notice what makes them tick—what makes them change or motivates them to act in certain ways? It’s those very motivations that will help you prove an important point about them in your analysis essay later on.

Watch out for any conflicts between characters as well. How do they resolve their issues? Static characters often play a crucial role in conflicts (they’re usually “bad guys”), while dynamic ones have a more active role in resolving conflicts (they’re usually “heroes”). Once again, this sort of thing will come in handy when drawing conclusions about your main character later on!

Step 2: Choose a Dynamic Character

One of the most fundamental tips for how to write a character analysis is choosing a dynamic character. A dynamic character is someone who changes throughout the story, as opposed to a static character, who remains exactly the same from beginning to end. Dynamic characters are particularly important in works of literature that focus on their inner growth—for example, novels about coming-of-age or psychological development .

The protagonist (main character) of most literary works is usually dynamic. If you don’t know the work well, you might think about looking at some literary criticism for analysis ideas. Just make sure that you can identify the character traits that make your chosen character dynamic and explain why they’re so important to the story.

This will also be easier if you choose a character who plays a dynamic role in the story: someone who undergoes some kind of significant change as a result of their experiences and emotional growth—or lack thereof! Often times this will be one of the main characters; however, it could also be an antagonist or even a minor character who plays an important part in changing someone else’s personality traits or behaviors over time.

Step 3: Take Notes

As you read, take notes of important information. Write down things that make the character special. Does the character change from the beginning to the end?

Write down anything unusual or interesting about the characters, including physical appearance and personality traits.

Write down words that describe how each character acts or speaks. What kind of relationships do they have with other characters? Remember, a character is somebody who is in a narrative work of art (a book, film, play, etc.). He or she may be fictional (created by the author) or non-fictional (a real person). Think of them as people in a story. Take note also of how they interact with other characters within the story.

Step 4: Choose the Main Idea

The main idea is the theme of the story, which can be stated directly or indirectly. The author may also choose to make a statement about society and human nature as a whole. When choosing a theme, ask yourself what you think the most important undertone of your character analysis paper is going to be. You want to choose the main idea that reflects your character and helps you write your essay easily. Your subtopics should all reflect your main idea, so choosing something interesting will help you create an engaging essay with plenty of examples to include in your body paragraphs.

Step 5: Ask yourself the following Character Analysis Questions

Now that you’ve jotted down the basics of your character, here are a few questions to get you thinking about who they really are

  • Who is the protagonist (your character)
  • Who is the antagonist?
  • What are the strengths of your character?
  • What are his or her weaknesses?
  • What are their motivations?
  • What are their conflicts?
  • How does your character change and grow during the story?
  • How does your character deal with conflict resolution or failure to do so?

Character Analysis Essay Outline

Your next job is to write a character analysis essay outline of your paper. The structure of your essay will rely on this outline, so it’s important for you to spend some time on it. For longer papers, it’s probably best to break this section into subsections and use headings with Roman numerals, letters, and numbers for reference.

  • Introduction: The introduction should include the name of the author, the title of his work as well as some background information about the author if needed. Later on, a thesis statement will come in handy – a sentence or two summarizing what you’ve found out about the character and what he or she has contributed to the book (your thesis basically).
  • Body: The body paragraphs are where you present your paper’s main points. Your body paragraphs should contain ample textual evidence, be correctly formatted, and have seamless transitions. The body is the meat and potatoes of your essay. As such, it needs to contain lots of juicy textual evidence and meaty support, not fluff. Each body paragraph should start with a topic sentence that deals with one aspect of your entire thesis sentence for example “From all that we see throughout this play Tom Buchanan is racist” or “Daisy Buchanan exploits people in order to stay at their level financially” etc., then include quotes from the book that prove what you said in that topic sentence both directly (using words from the quote) AND indirectly (interpretation). Don’t forget that each paragraph needs a concluding sentence that sums up everything mentioned above!
  • Conclusion: Your conclusion can be either long or short depending upon how many points were included in your letter (if there are 5 points then three sentences would do, but if there are 10 points then more sentences may be required.) Try not to repeat any words/phrases used previously in your letter; think outside the box! Make sure that you have transitioned smoothly between each major point (for example using words like “firstly”, “

Introduction

Your introductory paragraph needs to accomplish three main things: it must 1) catch the reader’s attention, as it is the first thing they read; 2) introduce your topic, in this case, Homer Simpson; and 3) present a thesis statement . The thesis should give information about what you will be analyzing in your essay. For example, “Homer Simpson is the protagonist of the animated TV series The Simpsons and the father of two children.”

The body of the essay should be made up of several paragraphs, each presenting a separate point. Think of your central topic as a container you want to fill with arguments and supporting details. Use these tips to make your job easier:

  • Each paragraph should be focused on a single idea that supports your thesis. The topic sentences will differ according to the point you’re trying to prove about the character. For example, if you notice that he’s cruel, your key focus should be on an instance when he had power in his hands and abused it fully.
  • Don’t just summarize events; ask yourself why they happened or how they are significant.
  • Remember that every idea is supported by something from the original story or poem!

Now that you know about the character and have thought about how it has affected the novel or movie, you will add a conclusion. You will restate your thesis from the introduction and use it as the basis for your final comment.

Your character analysis paper conclusion should be a strong summary of everything you have learned from your research and the evidence in your essay. It should remind the reader of all of the important points, very briefly, so that they are clear to reference if necessary. You want to avoid repeating yourself by using synonyms to really drive home your point one last time. But don’t get too cute with this—your conclusion might look like just another part of the essay without something extra to distinguish it. Make sure you don’t sound too plodding or generic when wrapping up—give an example of how a certain quote helps solidify one last point about their character, or remind the reader why they should care—the importance is what makes this last piece memorable!

Character Analysis Essay Examples

To help you understand better how to make your character analysis essay more impressive, we have gathered here a number of character analysis examples to inspire you. Check the written examples of a character analysis essay below:

Sample Character Analysis Essay – “Hamlet”

Example character analysis essay on the godfather, a character analysis of mrs. jake grimes in sherwood anderson’s “death in the woods.”, character analysis of matilda wormwood from roald dahl’s matilda, final thoughts.

You should now have a firm grasp of how to write a character essay. Hopefully, the steps will give you some ideas on how to write your own paper. The character analysis essay examples provided also some inspiration to get started

Remember that many characters in one story can affect the plot and influence other characters who make it a point to change their lives for the better. If you feel that you need more help with your essay, we hope that this article and tips were helpful.

If you are still struggling with writing your essay, consider working with an editor. An editor can help improve the style and flow of the character analysis writing process and make sure you have covered all the key points of your in-depth character analysis without including unnecessary information.

Get Help from the Experts with your Character Analysis Essays Paper

Now is the time to get help from one of our experts. Our writing help for your essay will allow you to get a custom-written paper that you can use to improve your own work. You’ll also get in-depth writing help throughout as you work on your character analysis essay. Our experienced professional editors are here to work with you on anything from proofreading and editing grammar, spelling, punctuation, and sentence structure mistakes through complete revisions and suggestions for improvement right through to offering support on getting the entire job done if that’s what you need.

No matter where you are in the process of writing an essay, we’re here to offer expert advice and guidance.

sarah Bentley

With a passion for helping students navigate their educational journey, I strive to create informative and relatable blog content. Whether it’s tackling exam stress, offering career guidance, or sharing effective study techniques

People Also Read

  • How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline – Format, Templates, and Examples
  • Crafting a Comprehensive Literary Analysis Essay Outline With Examples
  • How to Write a Process Analysis Essay (Topics, Outline, Examples)

discount

Most Popular Articles

Racism thesis statement example, how to rephrase a thesis statement, capstone project topic suggestions, how to write an abortion essay, should students wear school uniforms essay, list causal essay topics write, respect essay, signal words, great synonyms, informative speech examples, essay writing guide, introduction paragraph for an essay, argumentative essay writing, essay outline templates, write an autobiographical essay, personal narrative essay ideas, descriptive essay writing, how to write a reflective-essay, how to write a lab report abstract, how to write a grant proposal, point of view in an essay, debate topics for youth at church, theatre research paper topics, privacy overview.

Need Support in Studies? 📚 – Enjoy 7% OFF on all papers! Use the code " WINTER2024 "

How I Got The Job

Inspiring Job Search Stories

Character Analysis Essay – Purpose, Outline, and Types

Character Analysis Essay

A character analysis essay is a literary tool that describes an in-depth analysis of a character’s profile, traits, and characteristics in fiction but in an essay form. The character may be in literature but can also be utilized in other art disciplines, such as films and video games. It is also important to stay objective and write a character analysis, and set aside personal biases and opinions to describe the character concisely and impartially effectively. The essay consists of certain categories that flesh out the different aspects of the character, from his origin to other characters’ relationships. The character analysis , simply put, is a matrix of the character dynamics but in the form of a list described individually.

Purpose of the Character Analysis

The character analysis essay builds the basic profile of the character in fiction. It is an in-depth study of the individual personages in a story and their roles and relationship with the plot. Simply put, the essay’s purpose is an in-depth explanation of the dynamics of the characters’ traits and personalities. In contrast with the term worldbuilding, which describes the setting or the physical description of the place where the story is set, the character analysis describes the people who inhabit them and their relationship to each other. This tool helps the writer know the purpose and role of the character within the story and to helps the writer determine what situations to put these characters into to drive the plot forward. The tool also helps the writer provide anatomy to the character’s story and introduce his exposition and relationship with the plot.

Character Analysis Essay

Outline of the character analysis essay.

The following is the typical content that you can use as categories to your character analysis and to describe certain aspects of the character.

  • Name : You can start by telling what the character’s name is. What is his full name? What is his alias or codename? What is his nickname or the name his friends, family, or a certain character call him? Does he have an honorable title or a job position like a King of a certain kingdom or a certain country president? This category also allows you to provide an etymology to the name of the character. Where is the origin of his name? What is the meaning of his full name? What is the relationship of his name to his back story and relevance to the plot? The name is significant as it will be easier to introduce the character to the readers by his name.
  • Physical Traits: The physical traits make it easier to describe the character visually. Physical descriptions usually start with the following categories: body type, facial features, hair, eye and skin color, body built, height, and facial expressions. This will help the reader create a quick mental note of what the character looks like. The description will also define the racial profile of the character and its significance to the story. The physical traits will also determine the other aspects of the personality of the character. The traits may vary from character to character, as one character may describe a character differently than the other as they all interact in the same situation.
  • Character Traits: The character’s personality is composed of different character traits divided into positive and negative. The positive traits can be their asset to achieve his goal, thus helping the character throughout the story’s progression. These traits can also be their strength, as it works in parallel with their innate or acquired abilities. On the other hand, the negative traits relate to the qualities deemed a flaw or hindrance that the character must overcome throughout the story. The negative traits can also help them realize their goals, and they can also drive the main conflict of the story if they are the villain.
  • Origin and Background: Describing the character’s origin helps to introduce a character in a story. Explaining his origin will help determine his ethnicity, the place of his birth, and what year. This information will help the readers formulate his goals and his story’s significance to the main plot. Other information like his job, where he studies his education, and other facts will constitute his background story.
  • Parentage: The character’s parents’ identity also helps the readers determine his motivation and ideology. As the character progresses in the story, his philosophy in life and values usually developed from childhood and his parents’ relationships. The writer can play on this aspect by planting a plot device in the character parentage, like the parents’ diverging ideologies that can help shape the character’s psyche and motivation for his actions. The character’s parentage will also help to affect his relationship with other characters outside his familial sphere. It can help shape his personality and be the basis of his behavior.
  • Relationships: Relationships like friends and colleagues also help to develop the character’s personality and values. As he continues to interact with other characters in the story, he may develop conflict that results in hostility or aversion. He may develop a rapport that results in a strong platonic bond or a romantic relationship.
  • Motivation: The character’s goal helps to drive the story forward. His actions and behavior are tied up in his goals, and seeking to fulfill these goals may help develop his personality or cause friction with the other characters.
  • Action: His motivation and values drive the actions and behavior of the character. All the things that he does to achieve his goals are based on his philosophy in life. Sometimes a character’s actions may conflict with the other characters and sometimes must be solved throughout the story as it unfolds.
  • Relation to the Plot: Each of the characters plays different roles within the story, and each one serves a purpose. Some are created to highlight another character’s trait and goal, others are created to fill a plot device, and some are killed to motivate a main character’s actions.
  • Character Growth : The character’s personal growth lies in the completion of his character arc. From his introduction to his final fate, a character’s growth is determined by the number of his experiences that may change his perspective or the gravity of his circumstance and conflict he must solve to progress.

Different Types of Characters

Two types of characters exist within a story; major and minor characters.

  • Protagonist(s) or Heroes: The protagonist is usually the main character in a story. They set the main goal of the story and achieve them throughout the plot’s progression. They can’t do it alone, though; they need supporting characters to help them achieve their goals and finish their job. Along the way, the protagonist is challenged by many conflicts and eventually head to the villain. These characters are driven by their morals and virtues that help them to be likable to the readers. Sometimes the protagonist’s goals are not successful. The antagonists became the winner, but these kinds of stories make fiction interesting as it is always a canvas for the writer to pour his creativity on.
  • Antagonist(s) or Villains: The antagonist or villain drives the main conflict of the story. Sometimes the villain’s goal conflicts with the hero’s goal and will help the story be interesting. An antagonist is not always an evil person. Likewise, a protagonist is not always good or moral. A well-developed villain makes the story more interesting as we delve deeper into the story. The goal of the villain unfolds. We can also root for the humanity and flaw of these characters as their character arc ends. An antagonist always causes trouble with the main protagonist. Their purpose is so important for the hero to learn some wisdom or develop a skill to improve his character while dealing with the villain.
  • Dynamic: The dynamic character is the one who changes throughout a storyline. Certain factors such as morality, motivation, or role may change because of circumstances or experiences. Typically, the main character is dynamic because they do not adhere to dual morality’s flatness but rather consists of varying shades of positive and negative qualities.
  • Stoic: A stoic character is the opposite of the dynamic character as they do not change throughout the storyline. Their morals and principles remain the same as the story ends. Their experiences and circumstances never change their values and goals and instead became firmer to their beliefs.
  • Foil: A foil character is interesting because they are added to the story to be contrasted with the main character. Their purpose is to possess a few qualities that the main character does not have, highlighting its strengths or weaknesses. A foil reflects these qualities to the main. Still, in their interaction with the pro, they may be antagonistic at first but eventually, help recognize their differences and learn a lesson from each other. Some villains are foils too, like Draco Malfoy to Harry in the Harry Potter film series.

Protagonist In-depth

What is a protagonist.

The protagonist or a hero is a character in a story with a goal that he or she wants to achieve healthily. Typically, the main character in a story is the main protagonist. Still, some stories portray a main villain as the main character, and the protagonists don’t have a choice to survive a powerful, this kind of plot is common in serial killer stories where the main character is a villain. The protagonist’s difference to antagonists is his morality and motives. A hero and a villain may share the same goal and desire, but they can diverge in their actions in achieving them. The protagonists in a story may be multiple depending on the plot, but usually, there is only one character that is the main focus of the story.

Purpose of Protagonists

The protagonist’s purpose is to drive the plot forward in ways that they need to achieve their goals backed up with the support of other characters. Sometimes they are tasked with defeating a certain villain to free others from the control of the antagonist. Typically, the main plot is telling the story of how the hero achieves the goal of fulfilling his desire in affair means. The protagonist is usually a reflection of the writer’s philosophy or ideology, and writing the story means injecting a way to communicate his ideas to the readers.

A protagonist’s background is important to the plot of the story. As the hero, his actions catalyze to drive the story forward. He sets the main focus of the story in a centralized manner. A character’s background or origin may influence his role in a story. Factors such as place of birth might affect the character’s view of life. A protagonist born in a wealthy family might struggle in later life when he experiences poverty for the first time; his main goal is to survive the difficulty and find ways to improve his situation by recognizing his reality and learning to cope.

The protagonist’s sense of morality sets him apart from the villain. The definition of morality, however, may vary from character to character. Simply put, it means a certain belief of the sense of right or wrong. A protagonist may be raised in a setting where immorality is tolerated, but it is up to the character to rise above the surrounding influence of negative characters. A protagonist doesn’t always have to be morally good to be called a protagonist; he may diverge from this as he has grown through his character arc. Let’s take, for example, the hero Robin Hood, technically. He is a thief and a liar, which makes him immoral, but his motivations and goals to give the coveted money to the poor make him a hero, albeit his actions are viewed as unlawful.

Positive Trait

A positive attribute is a trait that helps in the personal growth of the character and helps him achieve his goals by healthy and fair means. A positive trait can be viewed as a strength and is needed to overcome difficulties and challenges. This kind of trait also promotes healthy relationships and will benefit the character in so many ways. The protagonist usually has many positive traits that constitute his personality, and the character can utilize these traits to achieve his goals and motivate him to overcome the villain.

Negative Trait

A negative attribute is a trait that damage or has negative effects on the character or others. Another term for the negative attribute is a flaw; these traits are needed to be overcome to achieve character development. These kinds of the trait can damage or sabotage existing healthy relationships and may hinder the character’s personal development. The protagonist can possess negative qualities, too, but they do not utilize these attributes to inflict pain on others, unlike the villains. Overcoming these traits will give the character important lessons that will shape his personality development that will help him have a healthy psyche.

Goals drive the character to make an action; they are meant to help the plot be realistic. The character’s goals are backed-up by the character’s beliefs and emotions. It helps him to achieve these goals and to gain self-actualization and personal development. Sometimes, the character’s goal is to defeat the villain because the villain’s goal conflicts with his, usually for the greater good. Certain factors influence the character’s motivation to achieve these goals, like the environment, other characters, or circumstances. Without a clear character goal and motives, the protagonist’s story will fall apart, and the plot will be directionless.

Conflicts are the bedrock of any story; it fuels the stories’ effectiveness to the reader. A story may have multiple conflicts, but the main conflict will always be where the protagonist and the antagonist will play. There are two kinds of conflicts: outer and inner. The outer conflict represents the external influences that are against the character’s goal. On the other hand, the inner conflict represents the internal influences that are against the character’s goal, but within himself, like personal morality and other goals.

Relationship with Other Characters

A story is also a complex nexus of character relationships intertwined with each other, and each one may progress throughout the story. A relationship may be pleasant or hostile depends on the compatibility of each party’s goals and their similarities and differences. Other main protagonists usually support a protagonist. Some may give advice, and some give comfort; another may be a romantic partner that may help the character in his self-development journey. Friction is created to complicate the plot and putting a strain on certain relationships to challenge their stability.

Character Arc

A character’s arc means the development of the character as he progresses with the story. It is the achievement of the character’s goal and leading to the character’s personal development. The character arc of the protagonist constitutes the main plot of many stories. The process of the redemption of a flawed protagonist from his major decisions that drive him in conflict with the villain to the development of his character and achievement of his goals represents the whole definition of the phrase.

Antagonist In-depth

What is an antagonist.

The antagonist or the villain is a character that has goals and motives that usually damage himself or others and sometimes inflicts pain in others. Usually, the main villain in a story causes the main conflict in the protagonist’s life and will do anything at all costs to realize his goals even if it’s evil and will cause harm. The antagonist’s difference to the protagonists is his warped morality and evil intentions. A villain may have a similar goal as the hero. Still, the difference is that the antagonist usually has a complex motivation and personality that his driving force is based on his psychological wounds. There may be multiple villains in a story, but usually, they are just supporting characters or maybe henchmen that can cause trouble with the protagonist but don’t add up to the main plot.

Purpose of Antagonists

Usually, the villain is the main source of the conflict in a story, and the culmination of the conflict may be the final battle of the hero and the villain resulting from previous events that lead up to the climax. The antagonist may be initially a false protagonist but eventually revealed as the main villain in a story. Such revelation can induce a sudden surprise to the readers by this plot twist. In parallel to the antagonist’s character arc, the villain usually has a certain goal that must be achieved, whether it is in an immoral or unfair way. The antagonist characteristic may represent the author’s fears, desires that are perverted and caused by psychological trauma and may manifest in the fictional story as a character.

An antagonist’s character arc is also important to the story, and it may parallel with the protagonist’s story. Being the villain in the story, his actions can cause the main conflict of the story. He provides a sense of challenge for the hero and will allow him to face his fears. A character’s background or origin may influence his role in a story. Factors such as place of birth might affect the character’s view of life. An antagonist may be born in control. Fanatically religious parents, all his life he may be taught to be morally perfect all the time and adhere to the puritanic religious ways but eventually rise and break free to the clutches of his self-limiting beliefs and realize that he was never meant to be a good person and can be successful as a bad person.

The nature of the morality of antagonists had cause many debates among experts. The definition of morality, however, may vary from character to character. Simply put, it means a certain belief of the sense of right or wrong. An antagonist may grow up in a place where acts of kindness are promoted, but it is up to the character to rise above the surrounding influence of positive characters. An antagonist doesn’t always have to be morally bad to be called an antagonist; he may diverge from this as he grew through his character arc. For example, is the character Megamind from the animated movie of the same name. At first, he was the typical villain, smart and ambitious but eventually, after creating a superhero and become a villain out of boredom, he rises up and eventually became the opposite of what he was supposed to be and become who he is, a hero.

We can assume that the definition of the positive attribute is a trait that helps the character healthily achieve his goals, but that would be different in the case of the antagonist. A positive trait can be viewed as a strength and is needed to overcome difficulties and challenges. This kind of trait was supposed to help build a healthy relationship with others, but in the case of the antagonist, these qualities help them achieve their personal goals instead. Let’s have a character study of an animated character again, but his time from the movie Despicable Me, the main character Gru. Gru thinks his destiny is to become a villain, growing up trying to impress people, including his unsupportive mom with failed experiments. As a child, he was different and being bullied. They even laugh when he mentioned that he dreams of stealing the moon. He worked hard to perfect his experiments and eventually became successful in stealing the moon. After he met three orphaned children to utilize them in his evil plan, the plan backfired, and he eventually became fond of the kids. He started to rethink his ways and question his morality and eventually found peace and decided to retire from being a villain and became a good father to the girls.

As we have previously mentioned, a negative attribute is a trait that sabotages the character’s achievement of his goal and became perverted in so many ways. These kinds of traits have a detrimental effect on the existing relationships of the character. The villains are known for their negative traits, but the human personality is complex. They may also possess positive traits that are not visible to the heroes’ perspective. Overcoming these negative traits will help the character develop his personality and complete his character arc.

Goals are designed to be achieved by effort and motivation. The character’s goals help the story to create events that will serve its continuity. Goals help the character’s journey into self-actualization. Typically, the villain’s goal is to defeat the hero and further his evil plan, whether it’s world domination or monetary gain.

The story’s conflict helps to drive the story forward by creating events that will affect both the protagonist and the antagonist and help them develop their character. The villain is best in stirring up trouble for the protagonist. Without conflict, there is no story to begin with.

The villain usually has a complicated relationship with the other characters, especially the hero. Because the antagonists usually prioritize their personal goals over their relationships, they may be viewed as selfish. They may not have time to build relationships because reaching their goals is a much-given priority at the cost of an opportunity to build healthy relationships.

The character arc is the developmental process of the character’s plot throughout the story progression. In the culmination of the story, the achievement of the character’s goal may be the completion of the character’s story arc. In the villain’s case, the antagonist is usually defeated by the protagonist, marking the failure to achieve his goal. Still, in the process, the antagonist may gain insight and realization by regretting his actions and mistakes and gaining enlightenment, thus ending their story arc.

How to Write Character Analysis?

Here is the step-by-step guide to writing a character analysis essay.

Step 1 – Preparation

As with any creative project, the process usually starts with the preparation. It involves carefully planning the things that you’re going to use in completing the project.

A. Reading Inspirations 

In most cases, with school paperwork requirements, the teacher is the one who provides what story to read. They also provide which character to be analyzed, which usually the main protagonist or antagonist characters. If given a chance to choose your adventure, pick a story that you are most attuned to.

B. Choosing the Right Character

In choosing the character to analyze, pick the one that you are most intrigued with that will provide you a strong interest to get to know. This part of the process is crucial because it is important to choose the right character for you; however, choosing a flat character that doesn’t bring much to the table will render the project unsuccessful.

C. Refining the Topic

Like any paperwork involving writing an essay, there is always a topic to discuss. A character analysis essay is no different, albeit the works’ focus is analyzing a fictional character. Define and refine a topic and ensure that it is parallel with the rules and standards of writing and the chosen story.

D. Preparing Concepts

As soon as the instructor is finished explaining the guidelines and instructions on doing the project, you can start writing the concepts that you want to discuss in the essay. For the concepts, you may refer to the concepts mentioned above.

E. Considering the Readers

Like determining the target market in a business proposal plan, writing an essay also involves determining the type of readers that may read the project. Think about who will possibly read the work, the age bracket, interests, background, and culture. It will help the writer to tweak what is inappropriate with the reader.

Step 2. Setting Up 

After the preparation, the next step is to set up the backdrop of the writing. It involves creating a solid plan to set the direction of the essay.

A. Research

Researching before writing is a good plan because it will provide real-world information about the topic you want to discuss. Finding reliable external sources to back up the text in writing may help deviate the essay from being viewed as a personal bias and provide real-world proof to the claims and arguments being mentioned in the text.

B. Creating Lists

Writing a list and taking notes is a good skill in writing. It will help create solid ideas by listing the concepts you want to discuss or mention in the essay. Making a list also helps to jot down important details that can be utilized while writing the paperwork.

C. Writing the Outline

Like any writing work, creating an outline helps provide structure to the text’s written body. It will also give a sense of direction to the writing process. Outlining helps to jumpstart to what to expand or flesh out by jotting down bullet points and growing from there to full-blown paragraphs.

Step 3. Starting to Write

After completing the aforementioned steps, you can now begin writing your essay . You can start by making a draft and eventually go from there.

A. The First Draft

You can write first a draft; it is an unfinished written work that is a starting ground to be edited as the final work. The first draft allows the writer to make grammatical mistakes and to write errors. This is where the writer pours what is in his mind about the topic.

Step 4. Finishing Touches

This stage involves reading your finished initial work and reviewing the text for possible illogical arguments and grammatical mistakes. This will allow the writer to perfect his work and eliminating the errors committed to creating a clear and concise text.

A. First Draft Editing

Reading the first draft and listing the errors will also help to identify inconsistencies in writing. Reviewing the work at least twice will ensure perfection and create a more professional tone for your academic work. Revise the draft from top to bottom and refer to the listed grammatical and literary errors.

B. Introductory Statement

An introductory statement is a set of few sentences that answers the main point of the title. This text will introduce the main idea of the topic and initially tell the reader what the essay is all about.

C. Concluding Statement

The concluding statement is a paragraph that summarizes the main point of the essay but is usually written at the ending of the essay. It simply closes the topic by wrapping up the text with a final, personal opinion and closing sentences.

D. Transitions

These are the texts that bridge the introductory to the concluding statements. These phrases will link observations and evidence to support the idea that the essay is trying to convey. These texts will connect disjointed ideas and unify them into one coherent web of logical conclusions.

E. Formatting

As with writing an academic paper, it is important to review the work if it follows the standard writing rules. Adhering to the appropriate formatting, such as type style, size, and indentions, will help the work look formal and professional.

F. Secondary Opinion

To further help with the work, I suggest that you ask a trusted friend or professional to review your work. This will allow you to hear secondary opinions and advice on your work. This will find a different perspective that might unearth illogical statements, unresolve arguments, grammatical errors, and bland writing.

Concluding with the Final Draft

After the finishing touches, you can now post or submit your final draft, as this will also represent a finished work. Make sure, though, that the quality is at par before submitting to eliminate possible penalties or lousy writing.

Also read INFP Anime Characters – The Complete List

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

IMAGES

  1. Character Analysis Essay Guideline

    character traits essay outline

  2. FREE 8+ Sample Character Analysis Templates in PDF

    character traits essay outline

  3. Character Traits Analysis Essay by The Overseas Teacher

    character traits essay outline

  4. How to Write a Character Traits Essay

    character traits essay outline

  5. How to Write a Character Analysis Essay? Outline & Examples

    character traits essay outline

  6. How to Write a Character Analysis: Outline, Examples

    character traits essay outline

COMMENTS

  1. Writing a Character Analysis Essay

    1. Start with the Simple Details. You can start a character analysis by providing a simple, clear description of who your character is. Look at some basic identity traits such as: Age Gender Race (if relevant) Social class (if relevant) Protagonist or Antagonist?

  2. How to Write a Character Analysis: Outline, Examples

    One of the essential purposes of a character analysis essay is to look at the anatomy of a character in the story and dissect who they are. We must be able to study how the character was shaped and then learn from their life. A good example of a character for a character analysis essay is Daisy Buchanan from 'The Great Gatsby.'.

  3. How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

    Print How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline (5 votes) A character analysis is an examination of the personalities and actions of protagonists and antagonists that make up a story. It discusses their role in the story, evaluates their traits, and looks at their conflicts and experiences.

  4. How to Write a Character Analysis: Tips and Examples from Literature

    1. Character traits When analyzing a character, ask yourself: How does this character behave? What is his or her personality type? What are their motivations? How do they relate to the other characters in the story? Most of the time, the author does not directly name these traits, but you can observe them in the scenes that unfold.

  5. PDF TCC Writing Center: Character Analysis Essay

    Characters are the essence of a work of fiction. Fictional characters are portrayed through the characters' actions and reactions as well as other characters' actions and reactions to them. You develop a character by telling the reader about that character, what he is doing or thinking.

  6. How to Write a Character Analysis Essay in Simple Steps

    , Staff Writer Updated March 26, 2020 Image Credits A character analysis is a common school assignment where you break down a character from a novel or other story to get to know them better. If you've got a character to analyze, walk through the simple steps on how to write an in-depth character analysis right here.

  7. How to Write a Character Analysis

    1. What is Character Analysis 2. How to Write Character Analysis 3. Character Analysis Example 4. Tips for Writing a Character Analysis What is Character Analysis This type of analytical essay involves examining the traits, motivations, behaviors, and development of a character within a story or literary work.

  8. Character Analysis Essay: Outline, Topics and Writing Tips

    A character analysis is a kind of essay where you examine behaviors, motivations, and actions of characters. Also, a character analysis is an in-depth assignment that makes you think critically about one or more characters and make judgements after analyzing the text. In most cases, it is used for the analysis of literary works.

  9. How to Write a Character Analysis (with Pictures)

    5. Make an outline. Once you have decided on your main idea, make a brief outline of all of your supporting material. Make note of each place in the text where your character displays the characteristic you've chosen for your thesis. Include complicating evidence that allows the character to have more depth.

  10. How Do You Write a Character Analysis: 8 Solid Tips

    Map out the structure: A standard character analysis outline must show what goes in the introduction, body, and conclusion. By coming up with a solid outline, you will easily support your thesis statement, besides having a clear direction on where each text will go. 6. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction.

  11. Character Analysis Essay Guide: How to Write a Good ...

    Read the entire story. Identify the character to analyze. Reread or rewatch the story with perspective on your character. Take notes identifying the central theme. Outline and write the paper. How Do You Analyze Characters in an Essay. How to Write a Thesis Statement for a Character Analysis Essay.

  12. How to Write an Essay Outline

    Revised on July 23, 2023. An essay outline is a way of planning the structure of your essay before you start writing. It involves writing quick summary sentences or phrases for every point you will cover in each paragraph, giving you a picture of how your argument will unfold. You'll sometimes be asked to submit an essay outline as a separate ...

  13. Character Analysis Essay

    Different Types of Characters to Consider when Writing As you probably have learned in your literature or English class, there are several types of characters categorized based on factors such as roles, behavior, and traits in the story. Below, we explore some of these character types 1. Major characters

  14. Character Analysis Essay: Key Secrets of a Successful Paper

    Gathering Evidence Character analysis is a crucial process in understanding a character's personality and behavior. To learn how to write a character analysis essay correctly, it is essential to gather textual evidence, such as close reading, note-taking, annotation, character profiles, comparative analysis, and archetypal analysis.

  15. How to Write a Character Analysis Essay With Examples and Tips

    Types of Characters When analyzing a character in a story, writers must first understand what kinds of characters are their subjects. Typically, there are different types of characters whose distinctions are based on particular behaviors, traits, and roles that they exemplify within a story.

  16. How to Write Character Analysis Essay: Topics, Outline & Tips

    Apr 15, 2022 How to Write Character Analysis Essay? Written by Jennifer Lockman A character analysis is a complete evaluation of a character's persona, their role in the story line, their challenges achievements and conflicts as the plot of the story mature along the way.

  17. How to write the character analysis essay and improve your grades

    The character analyses are the understanding of the literary character from one or more perspective based on his or her background mentioned in the book. The main goal of this kind of analysis is to create the character`s detailed and relevant profile. How to do a character analysis?

  18. A Comprehensive Guide to Character Analysis

    1. Understanding Character Analysis 2. Studying Different Types of Characters 3. How To Do a Character Analysis? 4. Character Analysis Examples Understanding Character Analysis Character analysis is a literary technique used to understand a character's personality, behavior, and motivations.

  19. Ultimate Character Analysis Worksheet & Template Guide

    The outline serves as a guide to help you organize your thoughts and ideas, ensuring that your essay effectively captures the complexities of the character and their traits. Let's explore how to create an outline using a character analysis outline worksheet, and how to incorporate the right words and language to showcase your analytical skills.

  20. How To Write a Character Analysis Essay

    Are you wondering how to write a character analysis essay? Not sure how to start it? Don't worry; this video will help you out. In this video, you will learn...

  21. How To Write A Character Analysis Essay: 5 Steps, Outline

    How to Write a Character Analysis Essay: 5 Steps, Outline, Examples Apr 28, 2022 Apr 28, 2022 | Blog What Will I Learn? show When you are asked to write a character analysis, you will be expected to explain how a character changes and grows.

  22. Character Analysis Essay

    A character analysis essay is a literary tool that describes an in-depth analysis of a character's profile, traits, and characteristics in fiction but in an essay form. The character may be in literature but can also be utilized in other art disciplines, such as films and video games. It is also important to stay objective and write a ...

  23. Character Analysis Essay Outline

    In conclusion, the process of writing a Character Analysis Essay Outline demands a combination of research, analytical thinking, and effective communication skills. It is not merely summarizing the character's traits but delving into their psychology, motivations, and significance in the narrative. Success in crafting such an essay lies in the ...