"The Lottery" Character Analysis Paragraph Skill: Explain the function of a character.
1. Choose one character to focus on and create a plan for writing. First, list quotations
that contain the five sources for characterization (actions, thoughts, dialogue,
narrator's description, other characters' description). Second, jot down your ideas as
far as the function of this character (their purpose). And lastly, write a sentence
claiming how the character contributes to the story as a whole. In other words, what
do they do for the story thematically?
2 When your "plan" is complete and you've thought it out write a paragraph
analyzing the importance of one character to the story
3. Highlight your claim in yellow (this should be your first sentence). Highlight your
evidence (quotations with quotation marks) in green. Highlight your commentary in
blue. Avoid including plot summary unless you need it to transition. Do not highlight
plot summary
Claim: [Type here third.]
Evidence:
[Type here first]
Commentary
• [Type here second]
Prompt Write a paragraph analyzing the importance of one character in Shirley Jackson's
short story "The lottery