Name: ______________________________
Character Analysis
Date: _________
Period ____
ESSENTIAL QUESTION TO CONSIDER:
How do the events in the novel affect character development?
What do these events reveal about the character?
DIRECTIONS:
As you continue to read the Devil’s Arithmetic keep track of notes that explain and define
the changes in the character throughout the tumultuous events. When you have completed
your note-taking, you will produce an “I am” poem OR a character triangle. (Both are
attached.)
CHARACTER ACTIONS OR
EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE
CHARACTER RESPONSE:
CHARACTER’S GROWTH:
CHARACTER ACTIONS OR
EVENTS THAT TAKE PLACE
CHARACTER’S GROWTH:
CHARACTER RESPONSE:
Hannah
Rivka/Aunt Eva
Shmuel
Gitl
Fayge
Hannah
Rivka/Aunt Eva
Shmuel
Gitl
Fayge
Hannah
Rivka/Aunt Eva
Shmuel
Gitl
CHARACTER TRIANGLE
1. Write the character’s name.
2. Write two of the character’s personality traits.
3. Write three words that describe the character physically.
4. Write four words that describe the character’s favorite place.
5. Write five words that name the character’s beliefs.
6. Write six words that name the character’s skills, talents, or hobbies.
7. Write seven words about how this character has helped or harmed other characters.
EXAMPLE:
Gitl
motherly caring
strong hardworking energetic
country secluded comforting simple
perseverance respect religion family children
leading supporting organizing caring cooking helping
friend honorable honest sister family model strength
PATTERN FOR “I AM” POEM:
TITLE
I am…(two character traits)
I wonder…
I hear…
I see…
I want…
I am…(repeat first line)
I pretend…
I feel…
I touch…
I worry …
I cry…
I am…(repeat first line)
I understand…
I say…
I dream…
I try…
I hope…
I am…(repeat first line)
FIRST STANZA
I am (two special characteristics your character has)
I wonder (something your character would be
curious about)
I hear (something related to the character/plot)
I see (something your character would see)
I want (an actual desire of your character)
I am (the first line repeated)
SECOND STANZA
I pretend (something your character might pretend
is true)
I feel (an emotion your character would have)
I touch (an object that would be related to your
character’s position)
I worry (something that bothers your character)
I cry (something that makes your character sad)
I am (repeat the first line of the poem)
THIRD STANZA
I understand (something your character knows is
true)
I say (something your character believes in)
I dream (something your character might dream
about)
I try (something your character would really make
an effort for)
I hope (something your character would wish for)
I am (the first line repeated)
SAMPLE 1:
I am Portia.
I am a loving, devoted wife.
I wonder what is keeping my Brutus up at night.
I hear him pacing and sighing for hours.
I see a group of cloaked men arrive to meet with Brutus.
I want my husband to trust me and tell me his secrets.
I am a loving, devoted wife.
SAMPLE 2:
I AM
I am a nutty guy who likes dolphins.
I wonder what I, and the world, will be like in the year 2000.
I hear silence pulsing in the middle of the night.
I see a dolphin flying up to the sky.
I want the adventure of life before it passes me by.
I am a nutty guy who likes dolphins.
I pretend that I'm the ruler of the world.
I feel the weight of the world on my shoulders.
I touch the sky, the stars, the moon, and all the planets as
representatives of mankind.
I worry about the devastation of a nuclear holocaust.
I cry for all the death and poverty in the world
I am a nutty guy who likes dolphins.
I understand the frustration of not being able to do something easily.
I say that we are all equal.
I dream of traveling to other points on the earth.
I try to reach out to poor and starving children.
I hope that mankind will be at peace and not die out.
I am a nutty guy who likes dolphins.
--SANDY MAAS