Writing a Literary Essay About a Character
In unit 2, you will be asked to write a brief (450 word) essay about a literary character. You may choose a character from any of the short stories we have read in class, or a character from a book you've read on your own. In your essay you will analyze your chosen character and connect their personality traits and actions to the larger theme or moral of the story. Take a look below for some suggestions and guidance in writing this paper.
Writing a Thesis Statement
Planning Your Essay
Example Literary Essay Template:
1. Introduce the book ( author, title, genre)
2. Write a 5 sentence summary of the story – the gist.
3. Your thesis: Pick one character and explain how their character traits and how he/she changed throughout the course of the story or book. You might also connect this character to the larger theme or moral of the story.
4. Second paragraph: Describe what the character was like at the beginning of the book with respect to this one character trait (she/he was timid, shy, arrogant,etc.). Use an important scene to explain your point of view.
5. Third paragraph: Describe what the character was like in the middle section of the book with respect to this one character trait (you could see change beginning to take place). Use an important scene to explain your point of view.
6. Fourth paragraph: Describe what the character was like towards the end of the book with respect to this one character trait (you could see that change had taken place). Use an important scene to explain your point of view.
7. Conclusion: Restate your thesis.Connect to the character (text to self/text to text). Connect to a “big idea” (text to world)
1. Introduce the book ( author, title, genre)
2. Write a 5 sentence summary of the story – the gist.
3. Your thesis: Pick one character and explain how their character traits and how he/she changed throughout the course of the story or book. You might also connect this character to the larger theme or moral of the story.
4. Second paragraph: Describe what the character was like at the beginning of the book with respect to this one character trait (she/he was timid, shy, arrogant,etc.). Use an important scene to explain your point of view.
5. Third paragraph: Describe what the character was like in the middle section of the book with respect to this one character trait (you could see change beginning to take place). Use an important scene to explain your point of view.
6. Fourth paragraph: Describe what the character was like towards the end of the book with respect to this one character trait (you could see that change had taken place). Use an important scene to explain your point of view.
7. Conclusion: Restate your thesis.Connect to the character (text to self/text to text). Connect to a “big idea” (text to world)
Describing Your Character
Describing your character