Bronx Masquerade Character Analysis
Directions: With your group, choose one of the characters on the white character chart to analyze.
You will work together to write 3 paragraphs analyzing each character trait. Focus on 1 trait per
paragraph. Each paragraph must include quotes that show the character’s words, actions, and
reputation and explanations about how those quotes show the trait. Use the outline below to help
you write your paragraphs. Although you are working as a team, ALL STUDENTS ARE
WRITING!
Outline
TS: Sentence 1: (Character’s name) is (trait 1), and this is clear from the character’s actions, words,
and reputation.
CD: Sentence 2: For example, (character’s name) (quote showing character’s actions) (pg #).
CM: Sentence 3*: Explain how the actions show the trait.
CD: Sentence 4: Another example of how (character’s name) is (trait) is when (he/she) says
(quote showing character’s words) (pg # _).
CM: Sentence 5*: Explain how what the character says shows the trait.
CD: Sentence 6: Finally, (name the character that says something about your character)
says (quote what that character says about your character) (pg # _).
CM: Sentence 7*: Explain how the reputation shows the trait.
CS: Sentence 8*: What does the character need to do to help him/herself to grow, or continue
growing?
*Add more sentences to explain if you need to.
Example:
Sheila Gamberoni is lonely, and this is clear from her actions, words, and reputation. For
example, Sheila tries to walk like Porscha Johnson (133). The reason why she tries to imitate
Porscha’s walk is because she is trying to fit in so that she won’t feel so alone. Another example of
how Sheila is lonely is when she says “Please don’t call me Sheila…I prefer Natalina, my Africana
name”(108). Sheila takes a big risk saying this to Mr. Ward’s class. Most of the students don’t
understand that she’s saying it because she wants a name that reflects her ethnic Italian heritage, not
a name like “Sheila” that “doesn’t tell you who I am, or where I came from”(110). Finally, Wesley
says “Look, at least in Mr. Ward’s class, we make it easy. You want to hang, you want to fit in? It
ain’t no big secret. Just bring your poetry every Open Mike Friday and share right along with the
rest of us”(135). Wesley knows that Sheila feels lonely and that she wants to fit, so he helps her
understand that she doesn’t need to change herself. Like Wesley says, Sheila needs to keep reading
her poetry at Open Mike Friday so that she can open herself up to more people and get to know
them so that she won’t feel so lonely anymore.