1. Characters: The Actors in a Story
Feature Menu
What Are Characters?
Qualities Count
Characters in Conflict
Practice

2. What Are Characters?
Characters are the people or animals in a story. Their qualities make them come to life.
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3. Qualities Count
In real life, a person’s qualities often determine what will happen to him or her.
Paul’s mother asks him to come directly home from school because she needs his help.
But after school, Paul is tempted by friends.

4. Qualities Count Paul’s qualities will determine his actions.
If Paul is responsible and honest, what might he do?
If Paul is rebellious, what might he do?
Paul will go home right after school and help his mother.
Paul will ignore his mother’s wishes and play with his friends.

5. Qualities Count If Paul is sneaky and deceitful, what might he do?
Paul will tell his mother he has to work on a school project and then play basketball with his friends.

6. Qualities Count
Just like real people, characters in stories have qualities. Can you think of a character from a story who is
courageous?
kind?
lazy?
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7. Characters in Conflict
The qualities of a character have a major influence on the plot. The plot is what happens in the story.
Cinderella is kind, obedient, and innocent.
The stepmother is cruel, hateful, and selfish.
How might the story of Cinderella be different if the stepmother were kind and loving?

8. Characters in Conflict
The conflict in “Cinderella” starts when the mean stepmother becomes Cinderella’s guardian.
The character traits of the stepmother and the stepsisters create complications in the plot.

9. Characters in Conflict
The prince’s quality of determination leads to the story’s climax.
The conflict between Cinderella and the stepmother is resolved. Cinderella is the winner!
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10. Practice Do you remember the story of “The Three Little Pigs”?
Let’s Try It
1. Two of the pigs have similar qualities. What are those qualities?
Do you remember the story of “The Three Little Pigs”?
2. Describe how the third pig is different.
3. What qualities does the villain—the wolf—have?

11. Practice Do you remember the story of “The Three Little Pigs”?
Let’s Try It
Do you remember the story of “The Three Little Pigs”?
4. What is the conflict of the story?
5. How do the character traits of the first two pigs create complications in the plot?
6. The qualities of the third pig help the story reach its climax. Explain.

12. Practice
On Your Own
Think about a story you’ve read or seen on TV or at the movies. Try to pick a story that involves a conflict between two strong characters and that has a clear winner. On a piece of paper, draw two circles. In each circle, list three or four important traits of each character. Then complete the sentence below the circles.
foolish wicked self-centered generous mean tricky
tough smart brave hardworking generous
________won the conflict because _______________ ____________________________________________.

13. Characters: The Actors in a Story
The End