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Characters?

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Making Inferences About Characters

Making Inferences About Motivation
Comparing and Contrasting
Characters
Understanding Historical Context
Your Turn
 Making Inferences About Characters

An inference is an intelligent guess.

Inferences are based on two things: current
evidence and prior knowledge.

current evidence:
information that’s in
front of you right now

+ inference

prior knowledge:
things you already
know
 Making Inferences About Characters
Based on what you already know and the information
in front of you . . .
If your friend looks like this when she sees this,

what might you infer about her feelings about roller

coasters?
 Making Inferences About Characters
In a story, the author gives you current evidence— clues
about the characters.
As you read, pay attention to how characters

think
act

look speak respond to others

 Making Inferences About Characters
Combine your observations of the characters in the
story with your prior knowledge—your own past
experiences and what you already know about
human nature.

That woman The woman scowled.

reminds me of “Come here, young
my neighbor, lady,” she said. “I’ve
Mrs. Ames. I got something to say
bet she’s really to you.”
nice, even
though she Rachel’s stomach
seems mean. hurt as she trudged
up the porch steps.
 Making Inferences About Characters
As you read the following passage, pay attention to
Tia’s speech,
speech, thoughts,
thoughts,and
andactions.
actions.
Tia
Tia was lacingup
was lacing upher
hercleats
cleats when
when Emily
Emily entered
entered thethe locker
locker room.
room.
“Some
“Some of
of us
us are
are going
going to
to the
the mall,”
mall,” Emily
Emily said.
said. “You
“You want
want toto come?”
come?”
Tia lookedat
Tia looked ather
herfriend.
friend.
SheShe wanted
wanted to hang
to hang out Emily
out with with Emily
and the
and thebut
others, others, but was
tomorrow tomorrow was an
an important important
game. game.
“I can’t,” “I
she said,
can’t,”
“I’ve gotshe said, “I’ve got practice.”
practice.”
“So what?” said
“So what?” said Emily.
Emily. “You’re
“You’re the
the star
star of
of the
the team.
team. Coach
Coach will
will let
let
you
you play
play if
if you
you skip
skip a
a practice.
practice. You
You can
can say
say you
you were
were sick.”
sick.”
“It’s tempting,”
“It’s tempting,” TiaTia thought.
thought. “It“It would
would be to
be fun fungototogo
thetomall.”
the
mall.”
Then she Then sheher
shook shook her
head. head.
“The “The
team team ison
is counting counting
me.” on
me.”
How do these clues help you infer that Tia is
dedicated to her team?
 Making Inferences About Characters
As you read the following passage, notice how other
characters respond to Matt.
Matt helped his parents carry their suitcases to the car.
“Thank you,” said his mother as Matt closed the trunk.
“You’ve got the hotel’s phone number, right?”
Matt nodded. For the first time, his parents were going
away for a weekend, leaving him alone at home.
His mother hugged him, then got in the car. His father put
his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “You know we trust you.” A
minute later, they were gone. Matt had the house all to
himself.
What can you infer about Matt by the way his
parents respond to him? [End of Section]
 Making Inferences About Motivation
Motivation is what makes characters do the things
they do. Motivation causes characters to speak or
act in certain ways.
For example, someone who performs in a band
might be motivated by

a love of a desire for

music, fame,

or both.
 Making Inferences About Motivation

Writers rarely state a character’s motivation

directly. Instead, they plant clues about why
characters act as they do.

greed

heroism

love jealousy
 Making Inferences About Motivation
One way to infer why a character behaves in a
certain way is to work backward. Start with
something the character does.
Then, ask yourself, “What did the character want
(or want to avoid)?”

Motivation Action

(Cause) (Effect)

By looking at the character’s action and answering

that question, you can work backward to find the
character’s motivation.
 Making Inferences About Motivation
Nick loved skiing. In fact, with better equipment,
he thought he could compete.
Lately, instead of hitting the slopes,
Nick has been working at a pizzeria.
What might his motivation be?

to buy better ski because he wants to Nick gets a job . . .

equipment. earn money . . . [End of Section]
 Comparing and Contrasting Characters
When you read a story, you may notice that
some characters have similar traits, problems, or
motivations . . .

while others are

very different.
 Comparing and Contrasting Characters

To find similarities and differences among characters,

create a chart to keep track of characters’ traits.

Characters and Their Traits

Character Character Traits

Tia dedicated to her team, honest

Matt trustworthy, responsible

[End of Section]
 Understanding Historical Context

Imagine that you lived in a time when there were no

cars, computers, or televisions.

How might your life be different?

The Granger Collection, New York
 Understanding Historical Context
Historical context, made up of social, political, and
cultural forces, affects your life. In the same way,
historical factors affect the lives of characters in stories.

As you work to understand

characters’ motivations,
remember that historical
context affects their
actions.
Often, characters behave a
certain way because of
their situation in a specific
place and time.
[End of Section]
 Apply Reading Skills

Quick Check
The little boy stood in the cereal aisle Which words
of the grocery store. He raised a hand show you how
to his red, tear-streaked face and put this character
his thumb in his mouth. looks?
With wide eyes, he looked left, then
right, then behind him. Then he closed
his eyes and whimpered. Which words
show you how
this character
acts?
 Apply Reading Skills

Quick Check
Based on current
The little boy stood in the cereal aisle evidence and your
of the grocery store. He raised a hand own prior
to his red, tear-streaked face and put
knowledge, what
his thumb in his mouth.
inferences can you
With wide eyes, he looked left, then make about why
right, then behind him. Then he closed this character is
his eyes and whimpered. crying?
 Apply Reading Skills

Your Turn
In the passage that follows, Paul, a young soldier, is
experiencing his first night in Vietnam.
The Vietnam War involved terrifying guerrilla combat,
and the jungle may be full of enemy fighters.
“You’re the new guy?”
“Yes.” He did not want to admit it, being new to the war.
The soldier grunted and handed him a stick of gum. “Chew it
quiet—OK? Don’t blow no bubbles or nothing.”
From “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (slightly adapted) from Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien. Copyright © 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 by
Tim O’Brien. Reproduced by permission Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. and electronic format by permission of the author.
 Apply Reading Skills

Your Turn
1. Why might Paul not want to admit that he’s new?

2. Why does the other soldier not want Paul to blow

bubbles?
“You’re the new guy?”
“Yes.” He did not want to admit it, being new to the war.
The soldier grunted and handed him a stick of gum. “Chew it
quiet—OK? Don’t blow no bubbles or nothing.”
From “Where Have You Gone, Charming Billy?” (slightly adapted) from Going After Cacciato by Tim O’Brien. Copyright © 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 by
Tim O’Brien. Reproduced by permission Dell Publishing, a division of Random House, Inc. and electronic format by permission of the author.
The End