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Looking at Character Portrayals in
Literature
From Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart”
One of [the old man’s] eyes resembled that of a vulture
-- a pale blue eye with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me my blood
ran cold, and so by degrees, very gradually, I made up my mind to take the
life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for ever.
How is the old man
portrayed by the speaker in this passage?
___________________________________
What words/phrases build
that portrayal? __________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Why might the speaker want
to portray the old man in this way? _________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
From Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”
Bob's voice was tremulous when he told them this, and trembled more when
he said that Tiny Tim was growing strong and hearty.
His active little crutch was heard upon the floor, and back came Tiny Tim
before another word was spoken, escorted by his brother and sister to his
stool before the fire; and while Bob, turning up his cuffs -- as if, poor
fellow, they were capable of being made more shabby -- compounded some hot
mixture in a jug with gin and lemons, and stirred it round and round and put
it on the hob to simmer; Master Peter, and the two ubiquitous young
Cratchits went to fetch the goose, with which they soon returned in high
procession.
Such a bustle ensued that you might have thought a goose the rarest of
all birds; a feathered phenomenon, to which a black swan was a matter of
course; and in truth it was something very like it in that house. Mrs
Cratchit made the gravy (ready beforehand in a little saucepan) hissing hot;
Master Peter mashed the potatoes with incredible vigour; Miss Belinda
sweetened up the apple-sauce; Martha dusted the hot plates; Bob took Tiny
Tim beside him in a tiny corner at the table; the two young Cratchits set
chairs for everybody, not forgetting themselves, and mounting guard upon
their posts, crammed spoons into their mouths, lest they should shriek for
goose before their turn came to be helped. At last the dishes were set on,
and grace was said. It was succeeded by a breathless pause, as Mrs Cratchit,
looking slowly all along the carving-knife, prepared to plunge it in the
breast; but when she did, and when the long expected gush of stuffing issued
forth, one murmur of delight arose all round the board, and even Tiny Tim,
excited by the two young Cratchits, beat on the table with the handle of his
knife, and feebly cried Hurrah!
How are the Cratchits
portrayed in this passage? __________________________________________
What words/phrases help
build that portrayal? ____________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
Why might the narrator
want to portray the Cratchits in this way? ____________________________
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