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WORKSHOP OVERVIEW
CHARACTER
This workshop focuses on recognizing that
authors create speakers and characters to Perspective and Bias
represent the behaviors, values, and perspectives
of real people. Students can increase their AP Enduring Understanding
®
analytical skills as they see that fictional
characters embody traits and values of people in Characters in literature allow readers to study and explore a range of values, beliefs,
the real world. In addition to the methods of assumptions, biases, and cultural norms represented by those characters.
Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
characterization that they learned in Unit 1,
students are now asked to consider a speaker’s
or character’s background and what that reveals You can tell a lot about people based on the content that they post on their
about that character or speaker. social media profile. For example, you can potentially figure out their sense
KEY POINT of humor, their taste in music, or their views of current events. You’d also get
A character or a sense of how often they engage with social media and respond to online
content. While you cannot learn everything about people solely based on their
COMMON MISCONCEPTION speaker’s perspec- online activity, it’s one source of clues about the person running the account.
Some students may assume that a fictional tive and biases
are shaped by his
character has no background or personal history. or her past. These
But a speaker’s or character’s background can biases appear in the Values Influence Character’s Perspective
shape their values and perspectives. By asking character’s choices,
students to think about the character or speaker actions, dialogue, Characters must navigate their fictional worlds from their own perspectives,
before the story begins, you can contribute to internal thoughts, which often seem as complex and nuanced as people’s perspectives in real life.
their understanding of a character’s motivations and interactions Readers learn about a character’s values through details about his or her thoughts,
and behavior. with others. words, and actions.
As with people in real life, the perspectives of characters are influenced by
their backgrounds, their education, their families, and their past experiences.
Even apparently minor details in the story can provide helpful information about
LITERARY CONCEPTS a character’s perspective. Characters reveal their perspectives and biases in their
Speaker/Character assumptions about others, the stories they tell, their secrets, their decision-making
Perspective process, and even their misperceptions.
Values
Bias Discovering a Character’s Perspective
Characterization
Background Readers can learn about a character’s biases through a character’s choices and
Actions and Choices actions. How characters act toward people who are different from them, how
they apologize to someone close to them, and even how they adapt to new
Internal Thoughts circumstances — all of these may reveal a character’s perspective or bias. Indeed,
an astute reader not only infers a character’s values (ideas, attitudes, or beliefs
Dialogue Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
Interactions about the human condition) from all the elements of characterization but also
Tone applies that information when interpreting other parts of the text.
Characters may even be unaware that they are revealing information about
their values and biases to the reader.

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Big Idea: Character AP Key Questions
®
Enduring Understanding: CHR-1 What drives the character to think, feel, and/or
act in the manner he or she does?
®
AP Skills: 1.A Essential Knowledge: Review
CHR-1.E
Which words, phrases, and details contribute
to a character’s characterization?

118 Unit 2 Analyzing Comparisons and Representations

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