Freak the Mighty
Name: ____________________
Date: ____________________
Character Analysis
Character Analysis
To understand a character's role in a story, it helps to look at the character from several angles. When you're
asked to describe or analyze a character, think "SADDR," which stands for four of these ways of looking at a
character: Speech, Action, Description, Drawing, and Reaction of others.
If you only look at one of these aspects, you might come to the wrong conclusion. For example, if you only
pay attention to Kevin's physical description, you might think he sat in a wheelchair and never did much. His
speech, action, and the reaction of others tell a different story though. By looking at all of these items, you
can figure out a character's personality and reasons behind what he or she does.
S
peech:
What does the character say? What does this tell you about the character?
Example:
Max often says “Huh?”
- This tells you that he sometimes gets confused by what people say.
Kevin says things like, “Grim, would be, I suppose, a sobriquet for your grandfather,
based on his demeanor” (15).
What could this tell you about Kevin?
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A
ction:
What does the character do? What does this tell you about the character?
Example:
Max gets Kevin's fragile flying toy from the tree and gives it back to him.
- This is a clue that he doesn't pick on people, even though he looks big and mean.
When Kevin goes to see where Max lives, he gets out of the wagon and "humps" down
the steps, and he's wheezing by the time he gets to the bottom.
What does this tell you about him?
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D
escription:
What does the author say about the character?
What does that description tell you about the character?
Example:
Kevin's mom is described as if she, “Looks like some kind of movie star. Wearing
these old jeans and a baggy T-shirt, and her long hair is tied back and she's
probably sweating, but she still looks like a movie star. Like she has this glow, a
secret spotlight that follows her around and makes her eyes light up" (7).
- This gives you a picture of Kevin's mother
Max describes himself as, "My brain is vacant, okay? I'm just this critter hiding out
in the basement, drooling in my comic books or whatever. All right, I never
actually drool, but you get the picture" (6).
What does this tell you about what he thinks of himself?
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D
rawing:
Draw a scene that shows this individual making a significant choice
that greatly impacts their relationship(s) with others.
eactions of Others:
How do other characters in the story react to this character?
R
Example:
The men helping Kevin's mother move say "Hey, Gwen, can you give this kid a
pill or something? He's driving us nuts" (8).
- This tells you that Kevin can be annoying
- Some view him as being hyper and needing a pill to calm down
At the end of chapter four, Gwen takes one look at Max and "it's like somebody
shot her. Like she's scared out of her mind" (20).
What does this tell you about Max?
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Number # _______
Now, in your RN, complete a SADDR for
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Speech
What is a good example of what this character says?
What does this tell you about the character?
Action:
What does this character do?
What does this tell you about the character?
Description:
What does the author say about the character?
What does that description tell you about the character?
Drawing:
What is an important scene for this character?
Choose a scene that shows this individual making a significant
choice that greatly impacts their relationship(s) with others.
Reaction of Others:
How do other characters in the story react to the character?
If you are describing Iggy, how does Loretta react to him?
If you are describing Loretta, how does Iggy react to her?
How do Freak and Kevin react to either of them?