Grade 7 Reading | FL B.E.S.T. Standard: ELA.7.R.1.1
Great stories are built on characters - not just WHO they are, but HOW they interact with each other. Today you'll learn to analyze character relationships, understand what dialogue reveals about characters, and identify character foils. These skills help you understand stories on a deeper level!
Character interactions are the ways characters communicate, relate to, and affect each other. When we analyze character interactions, we look at:
Dialogue (what characters say) is one of the most important tools authors use to reveal character. Ask yourself:
| Question | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| 1. WHAT do they say? | The actual words and content of their speech |
| 2. HOW do they say it? | Tone, word choice, hesitation, interruptions |
| 3. WHAT does it reveal? | Character traits, emotions, motivations |
| 4. WHY does it matter? | How it affects relationships or the plot |
Maria took a deep breath. "I... I guess I could help you study," she said, not meeting James's eyes. "If you really need it."
"Really?" James's face lit up. "That would be amazing! You're like, the smartest person I know!"
Maria felt her cheeks warm. "I'm not that smart," she mumbled, but a small smile crept onto her face.
| Maria's Dialogue | Hesitant ("I... I guess"), deflects compliment ("I'm not that smart") |
| What It Reveals | Maria is shy, modest, and possibly nervous around James. She wants to help but struggles to show confidence. |
| James's Dialogue | Enthusiastic ("Really?" "Amazing!"), gives genuine compliment |
| What It Reveals | James is appreciative, expressive, and values Maria. He's open with his emotions. |
A character foil is a character who contrasts with another character to highlight their differences. Foils help us understand characters better by comparison!
Cautious, thinks before acting, follows rules
Impulsive, acts on instinct, breaks rules
By seeing how different Character B is, we understand Character A's caution even better!
Conflict develops characters and relationships. Know these four types:
Struggle between two people
Example: Two friends competing for team captain
Internal struggle within oneself
Example: Deciding whether to tell a difficult truth
Struggle against rules or expectations
Example: Challenging an unfair school policy
Struggle against natural forces
Example: Surviving a hurricane
Character relationships often change throughout a story. Look for:
"Whatever, it's fine," Marcus said, staring at his phone. "Do what you want. It's not like my opinion matters anyway."
What does this dialogue reveal about how Marcus feels?
Lily: Spends weeks planning her science fair project, triple-checks every calculation, worried about any mistake.
Jake: Starts his project the night before, improvises when things go wrong, confident everything will work out.
How do Lily and Jake contrast as foils?
Aiden knew he should tell Coach about what he saw in the locker room. But Tyler was his best friend. Every time Aiden opened his mouth to speak, the words stuck in his throat. What kind of person would he be if he told? What kind of person would he be if he didn't?
For months, Devon had tried to join Ben's friend group. But Ben always made excuses when Devon asked to hang out. One day during gym, Devon noticed Ben sitting alone, looking upset. Without thinking, Devon walked over and sat next to him. "Rough day?" Devon asked. Ben looked up, surprised, then nodded. For the first time, they actually talked.
Turning point:
How the relationship changed: