Writing a Character Profile

As a teacher, I sometimes set this as a homework task. What do I expect?

I expect the student to report on reading, to outline (profile=outline) the major features of the character, to begin an analysis of this character's behaviours and motivations, to show an accurate understanding of his or her relationships within the novel (or play), and his or her part in developing central themes in the novel.

A profile is more than a character description. I would expect you to give some assessment of the character's actions, attitudes and reactions to events in the narrative. Obviously, you would have a much fuller idea of the character after reading the whole novel, but a profile is an interim opinion suggesting major traits and likely behaviours as you find them so far. It would extend to about 250 words.

Some headings to plan your profile

• Name, age, physical description, mental characteristics
• Role in the novel, typical language, a developed or stereotyped character?
• Motivations, attitudes
• Significance of his or her role in the novel (or play)
• Your opinion, or assessment, with some opinion of the character supported by references to incidents and quotations (with page references).

Possible criteria to judge your profile

structured writing? proof-read? edited?

comprehensive (covers more than one incident or reference in support)

defensible opinion (derived from reading, identifiable with the reading).

Some references

Describe a person

Characters in The Grapes of Wrath

Story planning

Sue Woolfe & Sue Hampton About Literature pp. 66-69, Macmillan Australia 1984.