During our study of The Lord of The Rings, we are going to refer to the film.
This will be an ongoing study throughout the week, of a character you choose to track their development/changes as the story progresses.
This will be an ongoing study throughout the week, of a character you choose to track their development/changes as the story progresses.
Organise yourself a workbook that you can use to write in. You will not be using a computer for this task.
Step 1: Choose one of the main characters from the text:
Gandalf - A grandfatherly wizard. Gandalf selects quiet Frodo to carry the ring and the bumbling Sam to be Frodo’s protector. Here and elsewhere, Gandalf exhibits a remarkable wisdom and insight into hobbits and men alike, and he seems to see potential and ability where others do not. Gandalf is affable, slow, and deliberate, but he is also a skilled fighter. Though this wizard seems human, he has always been a little different and a little better than any man could possibly be.
Aragorn - The heir to the throne of Gondor. He is a ranger, known as Strider. Aragorn shows himself to be a noble leader with a pure heart. He is relatively unaffected by desire for the ring and routinely throws himself in harm’s way to ensure the fellowship’s survival. In love with the elf princess Arwen, he fights for her survival and for the successful return of the ring to Mordor.
Frodo - The ring-bearer and protagonist of the trilogy. A young hobbit, Frodo is chosen by the wizard Gandalf to return the ring to Mordor. The ring has a great effect on Frodo, changing him from an ordinary hobbit of exceptional qualities into someone extraordinary.
Sam - Frodo’s best friend and constant companion. Sam is Frodo’s loyal friend, as committed as Frodo is to returning the ring and keeping the Shire safe.
Step 2: As we read/watch The Lord of the Rings it will be your responsibility to track your particular character. You need to pay attention to the way they change and develop throughout the story. You need to write down this information. There are many ways to do this:
-A timeline
-Table (At the beginning, middle, end)
-A map
-A timeline
-Table (At the beginning, middle, end)
-A map
There are 4 different things i would like you to document:
1. Keep track of what motivates a character—A character has to want something. They have to be motivated to do what they do. Usually this is pretty clear to the reader. Either it’s spelled out obviously or it’s more subtle, but it’s always there. Figuring out WHY the character does certain things is a great way to track him/her. Ask yourself, does what motivates them change ever? Do they get what they want? How does this affect them?
2. Keep track of character decisions—Analyzing what the character does, which often goes right along with why the character does it (motivation), gives new insights into the characters we read. Jotting down the decisions of a character will help you to see what type of character he/she may be, and may help you predict what the character might do in the future. This makes you more of an active participant of the story, instead of someone watching from the outside.
3. Keep track of the character’s interactions with others—Knowing how other characters react to a character can often tell you more about the character than anything else. When a character is narrating their own story, they may not be giving you all the facts. In these cases, seeing what others say and do around that character can become essential. This will give you new insights to the story and what may really be going on.
4. Keep track of any physical/emotional/thought changes—It’s no secret that people change. They grow, they make mistakes, they get mad. Keeping track of these changes within a character will help you to get to know the character on a more personal level and relate to that character a bit more. It may also help you see when a character is just not authentic. Seeing a character react in a strange way can throw you off as a reader and ruin the story.
1. Keep track of what motivates a character—A character has to want something. They have to be motivated to do what they do. Usually this is pretty clear to the reader. Either it’s spelled out obviously or it’s more subtle, but it’s always there. Figuring out WHY the character does certain things is a great way to track him/her. Ask yourself, does what motivates them change ever? Do they get what they want? How does this affect them?
2. Keep track of character decisions—Analyzing what the character does, which often goes right along with why the character does it (motivation), gives new insights into the characters we read. Jotting down the decisions of a character will help you to see what type of character he/she may be, and may help you predict what the character might do in the future. This makes you more of an active participant of the story, instead of someone watching from the outside.
3. Keep track of the character’s interactions with others—Knowing how other characters react to a character can often tell you more about the character than anything else. When a character is narrating their own story, they may not be giving you all the facts. In these cases, seeing what others say and do around that character can become essential. This will give you new insights to the story and what may really be going on.
4. Keep track of any physical/emotional/thought changes—It’s no secret that people change. They grow, they make mistakes, they get mad. Keeping track of these changes within a character will help you to get to know the character on a more personal level and relate to that character a bit more. It may also help you see when a character is just not authentic. Seeing a character react in a strange way can throw you off as a reader and ruin the story.