SUMMER READING ANALYSIS – ENGLISH IV AP
The House of the Spirits
Name: ________________________________________________Due Date: ______________
Title of Book: __________________________________ Author: ________________________
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As you read, tab your book where you locate responses to questions, and identify these page
numbers in your responses.
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Write your answers neatly and legibly in complete sentences.
When required, copy exact words from the text to support your answer.
A. Character - The main character of a book is the protagonist. Some books have multiple protagonists. The
character or condition that creates a conflict for the protagonist is the antagonist. Character development refers
to the way a writer reveals a character to the reader.
1. Identify the main protagonist. Describe this character’s role or position (example: “Ponyboy is a
fourteen-year-old gang member.” or “George is a traveling farm worker.”).
2. Identify the main antagonist. Describe this character’s role or position.
Characterister traits - External characteristics include physical appearance, abilities or talents. Some
writers use external traits to reflect a character’s personality or identity. Internal characteristics—
personality, emotions, beliefs, attitudes, or fears—are what make a main character unique.
3. If possible, identify an important external trait of the protagonist.
4. Why is this trait important to the protagonist’s character development?
5. Copy sentences or a passage from the novel (give page numbers) that reveal this trait:
6. Identify one of the protagonist’s important internal traits.
7. Why is this trait important in the novel?
8. Copy sentences or a passage from the novel (give page numbers) that reveal this trait:
B. Setting - This is defined as when (time of day, year, season, historical period) or where (location/s) the story
takes place. Setting can be integral to the story (example: survival, fantasy, history genres).
9. Where does the story take place?
10. When does the story take place?
11. Why is the setting important to the story?
12. Copy sentences or a passage from the novel (give page numbers) that reveal the setting:
C. Plot/Conflict - Most protagonists have a main conflict--an enemy, obstacle, or problem that stops the
protagonist from reaching a goal. This conflict can be external (m v. m) or internal (m v. himself).
13. Identify the main conflict of this novel. Is this conflict external or internal?
14. Copy sentences or a passage from the novel (give page numbers) that reveal this conflict:
15. How does this conflict stop the protagonist from reaching his or her goal?
Resolution – This is the outcome of the story, where the conflict is settled (or not settled). By the end of the story,
the protagonist usually experiences, or should have experienced, an internal change.
16. What is the resolution of the story? It is a positive or negative resolution?
17. Describe how the protagonist changes from the beginning to the end of the story.
18. Copy sentences from the novel (give page numbers) that reveal the resolution:
D. Theme - The theme of the story is a broad statement about life or human nature. The theme is not
what happens in the story (that’s the plot) – the theme is why it matters. A story can have more than
one theme, but most stories have one main theme. What are you supposed to learn? It is not just one
word (theme topic), like love or trust, but what the story says about those things (Love cures all
problems; Trust is necessary in relationships).
19. What do you think is the main theme of this novel?
20. Copy sentences or a passage from the novel that reveals this theme:
E. Evaluation/Critique – To evaluate is to determine the worthiness of a literary work – was it worth
reading or not and why? Evaluation must include specific references to the effectiveness of
character development (Did you feel like you knew the characters? Did their actions ring true?),
plot development (Did the plot make sense? Was the plot confusing, boring or silly?) Evaluation
must include details from the book to support your position. Write a six to ten sentence
evaluation/critique of the book.