Character Analysis
Of Miss Strangeworth in “The Possibility of Evil”
When you analyse something, you take it apart and examine its components. The most
common analysis is character analysis, which requires you to draw on significant
details of characterization in order to reach a conclusion about a specific figure.
When doing a character analysis, discuss who the character really is. Explain what
makes him/her tick. What motivates him/her? Who is he/she? What are his/her
dominant traits?
STEPS TO WRITING A CHARACTER ANALYSIS:
1. Examine the character by looking at how the character is presented and how the
character behaves throughout important events of the story.
2. Based on the information, create one sentence which gives the reader a strong
overall view of the character. This is your topic sentence.
3. The analysis should then proceed in a logical order to examine the character’s
presentation and behaviour throughout the important events of the story.
4. The analysis is not a plot summary. Events of the story should only be
summarized if the purpose is to apply the summary as evidence to prove your
claim about the character. Use quotations to support your claim.
Your analysis should reach a judgment about the character.
Assignment:
Write a multi-paragraph composition analyzing Miss Strangeworth.
Thesis:
In Shirley Jackson’s “The Possibility of Evil”, Miss Adela Strangeworth’s lack of integrity
is revealed through her duplicitous nature.
Outline for Character Analysis of Miss Strangeworth
I.
Introduction
Lead:
Thesis Statement:
In Shirley Jackson’s “The Possibility of Evil”, Miss Adela
Strangeworth’s lack of integrity is revealed through her duplicitous
nature.
Hints at arguments (main ideas):
II.
Body
Main Idea 1 Public life
Topic Sentence:
a. Trait 1:
Quote:
So What?
b. Trait 2:
Quote:
So What?
c. Trait 3:
Quote:
So What?
Main Idea 2 Private life
Topic Sentence:
a. Trait 1:
Quote:
So What?
b. Trait 2:
Quote:
So What?
c. Trait 3:
Quote:
So What?
Conclusion
Note: This is a summative assignment, so it must be typed!
Remember to incorporate quotes and include transitions in and
between paragraphs, and edit carefully for spelling, punctuation,
capitalization, and grammar.