http://www.mrsjudyaraujo.com/character-traits/

Genre

To determine character traits, students should ask themselves these questions. They should take notes as they read:

• What does the character say and do?

• What does the character think and feel?

• How does the character look?

• What do the other characters think of the character?

• How does the character make me feel?

Notice that:

• Character traits are descriptive adjectives.

• Authors may not directly state the trait; you need to infer it!

Understanding character traits helps us to understand the story! We understand. . .

• Why characters say the things they say, and act the way they do!

• Why the characters think the way they think, or why they have certain beliefs.

• Why the characters interact with the other characters the way they do.

• We can better predict what the character may do next!

• We can make inferences and draw conclusions about events in the story while we read.