Arkansas State Communication Association

Drama Units and Activities

Inside Out

Unit(s): Acting (Character Analysis

Purpose:

To begin building believability in character by allowing students to draw from and develop his/her own experiences

Objective:

Students will use his/her own experiences to understand a character.

The student actor should develop a sense of compassion for the character being explored.

The student should erase the idea they are playing "AT" something, and begin to experience the character as a real being, with feelings and emotions.

Materials:

A play script if they are working on a character from a play.

Character Analysis Handout to use as a guideline.

Writing paper and pen to record all of his/her findings about the character.

"Four Levels of Character" handout to be filled out completely.

Procedure:

Read script.

For each division of the character analysis, the student is to take 10 minutes and write, as quickly as possible, everything he/she can think of about the character that pertains to that category. Then go to the next category and take another 10 minutes and repeat the procedure. Continue through the character analysis until all categories are written on.

Fit all your writing entries into each of the Four Levels of Character handout.

Orally present the Four Levels of Character to the class using first person.

Note:

The student has investigated the character from his/her perspective and by introducing this character to the class through first person the character has been presented as a real, live individual - you.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS (INSIDE)

I. What is the character's major goal in life and in the play?

A. What are his needs and wants?

B. What is he willing to do to get what he wants?

II. What is the character's background?

A. Family

1. Father's and mother's influence
2. Brothers' and sisters' relationships to him
3. Type of discipline as a child
4. Affection, over protection or rejection
5. Economic status
6. Religious attitudes
7. Special situations (i.e., divorce, etc.)

B. Innate Intelligence

C. Educational Background

1. Level of education achieved
2. Adjustment to peers
3. Interests and activities

D. Character's Political and Sociological Environment

III. What are the character's adjustments

A. Social

1. Manners
2. Friends
3. Participation in social activities and organizations
4. Role he plays in a group
5. Feelings about his minority group status
6. Dating, courtship
7. His home and how he lives
8. Hobbies and interests
9. His ideas, beliefs and political opinions

a. Heroes
b. Hates

B. Marriage

1. Choice
2. Success in marital adjustment
3. Children and their relationships

C. Character's Vocation and Career

1. Kind of work he does
2. How he feels about his work
3. How he got where he is
4. Indoors/outdoors

D. Emotional Adjustments (Which are applicable)

1. Compensation
2. Rationalism
3. Aggression
4. Self-righteousness
5. Masochism
6. Sadism
7. Alcoholism
8. Narcotics
9. Negativism
10. Fantasy
11. Regression
12. Suspicion & Hostility
13. Anxiety
14. Phobias
15. Compulsions
16. Illness
17. Hysteria
18. Dealing successfully with emotions
19. Self-awareness
20. Sense of Humor

" FOUR LEVELS OF CHARACTER "

Character Sketch


PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:  [ age, health, appearance ]
    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

SOCIAL BACKGROUND:  [ family, education, job, religion, clubs ]
    1.

    2.

    3.

PSYCHOLOGICAL QUALITIES:  [ emotional disposition, moods, desires,
                                                  intelligence, motives ]
    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

MORAL CHARACTER:  [ values, beliefs, commitments, moral decisions ]
    1.

    2.

    3.

    4.

ANY OTHER BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
[ fiction or non-fiction ]
[picture]
[color]
[music]

Arkansas State Communication Association

Teaching Guidelines

Arkansas Guidelines

Drama Units and Activities

Inside Out

CHARACTER ANALYSIS (INSIDE)

" FOUR LEVELS OF CHARACTER "