4.7 Analyzing How Characters Respond to Trouble

CONNECTION “You may not realize it, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.” –Walt Disney “I wish stories were kinder to their characters…But I guess trouble is more interesting to read about.” –Shannon Hale How characters respond to trouble teaches us a lot about them. This can help us grow possible interpretations for our literary essays.

TEACHING POINT Today I want to teach you that essayists can study characters by asking “What does the character learn about ways to deal with this problem? What does the author teach us through the way this character learns to handle the problem?”

TEACHING What are the problems Michael faces in “Shells”?

TEACHING What are the problems Michael faces in “Shells”? Living with an aunt who feels like a stranger Parents recently died Lonely Pick a problem—he’s lonely. What are some scenes where Michael learns to deal with this problem?

TEACHING What are the problems Michael faces in “Shells”? Living with an aunt who feels like a stranger Parents recently died Lonely Pick a problem—he’s lonely. What are some scenes where Michael learns to deal with this problem? The scene where Michael says he’s lonely?

TEACHING What are the problems Michael faces in “Shells”? Living with an aunt who feels like a stranger Parents recently died Lonely Pick a problem—he’s lonely. What are some scenes where Michael learns to deal with this problem? The scene where Michael says he’s lonely?—No. He just names the problem. Michael and Aunt Esther are sitting on the couch together.

TEACHING What does the author teach us through the way this character learns to handle the problem? Then she flopped down on the couch beside Michael. “Oh, what would your mother think, Michael, if she could see this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into!” She looked at Michael with a broad smile, but it quickly disappeared. The boy’s eyes were full of pain.

TEACHING What does the author teach us through the way this character learns to handle the problem? Then she flopped down on the couch beside Michael. “Oh, what would your mother think, Michael, if she could see this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into!” She looked at Michael with a broad smile, but it quickly disappeared. The boy’s eyes were full of pain. He hasn’t let himself feel pain before. Let’s keep looking and thinking…

TEACHING What does the author teach us through the way this character learns to handle the problem? Then she flopped down on the couch beside Michael. “Oh, what would your mother think, Michael, if she could see this mess we’ve gotten ourselves into!” She looked at Michael with a broad smile, but it quickly disappeared. The boy’s eyes were full of pain. “Oh, my,” she whispered. “I’m sorry.” Michael turned his head away. Aunt Esther, who had not embraced anyone in years, gently put her arm about his shoulders. “I am so sorry, Michael. Oh, you must hate me.” Michael sensed a familiar smell then. His mother’s talc. He looked at his aunt. “No, Aunt Esther.” He shook his head solemnly. “I don’t hate you.”

TEACHING Thoughts What are some themes I could write about? I think Michael is learning something here because he’s not getting angry. He’s not saying “Can’t you just leave me alone?” like he did at the beginning. He stays on the couch instead of running away. Is he learning that when you’re lonely, you can reach out to other people? Is he learning that when you’re sad, changing the way you’re asking can really help? What are some themes I could write about? When you have trouble, it helps to share your problems and unhappiness with other people instead of running from it. It’s important to change when you’re facing really tough situations.

ACTIVE ENGAGEMENT Work with your writing club and brainstorm a few problems your characters are facing. Now, find a scene where the character deals with one of these problems. What does the character learn about ways to deal with this problem? What does the author teach us through the ways the character learns to handle the problem?

LINK We’ve learned 5 strategies essayists use to grow ideas for possible essays! By the end of writing today, you’ll be developing some possible thesis statements and supports for ideas. As you’re freewriting and growing ideas today, be on the lookout for when your interpretations start to repeat or sound similar. This might be a signal that you’ve found something super important that you could start developing a thesis statement around!

MIDWORKSHOP Freewriting is about letting all your thoughts out. Another good freewriting strategy is to stay with one idea, writing it over and over again in different ways, as if trying to get it just right. Scan your notebook and star a theme or two that your text teaches. Then push yourself to write long about that theme without stopping. When we do our Share, you’ll begin developing a thesis and supports!

SHARE Work on crafting your thesis statement and supports. Create several, trying on each for size. Whisper with your club if you get stuck or need a second opinion!