Writing About Characterization
After reading “The Father”(opens in a new tab) and Federigo’s Falcon(opens in a new tab), select one of the four characters to write a paragraph about which explains why you believe that character is either flat or round and static or dynamic. Use the outline below to help you construct your paragraph.
I. Topic sentence (For example, “The character of ______________ is both flat and static.”) a. Construct a sentence that starts with a transition and then identifies the first type of character listed in your topic sentence. (For example, “First of all, she is flat, meaning she is not a well-developed character.”) i. Then, identify an element of character from the characterization chart that supports your above claim.
ii. Next, give one specific example (i.e. from the “Evidence from the Text” column of your chart) from the text to support your claim in “i,”iii. Next explain why this specific example supports your claim (use the information you recorded in the last column of your characterization charts to help you with this point.
b. Now transition to your second main point, which is the second character type that you listed in your topic sentence. This sentence is similar to the one that you wrote for “a.” i. Then, identify an element of character from the characterization chart that supports your above claim that the character is either flat/round or static/dynamic.
ii. Next, give one specific example (i.e. from the “Evidence from the Text” column of your chart) from the text to support your claim in “i.” iii. Next explain why this specific example supports your claim (use the information you recorded in the last column of your characterization charts to help you with this point.
c. Construct a closing sentence that reminds your reader of your main point.
Please view the rubric for a scoring breakdown.(
Requirements: long
Answer preview
Thord Overaas, the main character in “The Father,” is dynamic. First, Overaas is a self-centered individual, full of pride and fearless; however, these traits change towards the end when he becomes humble and generous. As Björnson (Line 9) conveys, Overaas was a wealthy man who liked showing off his high status in every essential function he attended for Finn. The most striking deed was Overaas’s request to the priest to allow him to baptize Finn by himself, despite not being ordained by the church to do so. This specific example justifies Overaas’s dynamic trait of self-centeredness, pride, and fearlessly asking his church priest to allow him to baptize the son, yet he is not a priest. Overaas, later in the story, tones down his pride and becomes a humble and generous man after losing Finn from drowning when crossing the lake for the wedding preparations (Björnson, Line, 53-56).
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