Common Core Standards
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Concept: Character in Literature
Primary Subject Area: English
Secondary Subject Areas: N/A
Common Core Standards Addressed:
Reading Standards for Literature, 9-12
Grades 9-10
Key Ideas and Details
2. Determine a theme or central idea of a text and
analyze in detail its development over the course
of the text, including how it emerges and is shaped
and refined by specific details; provide an
objective summary of the text.
Craft and Structure
5. Analyze how an author’s choices concerning
how to structure a text, order events within it (e.g.
parallel plots), and manipulate time (e.g. pacing,
flashbacks) create such effects as mystery, tension,
or surprise.
Grades 11-12
3. Analyze the impact of the author’s choices
regarding how to develop and relate elements of a
story or drama (e.g. where a story is set, how the
action is ordered, how the characters are
introduced and developed).
5. Analyze how an author’s choices concerning
how to structure specific parts of a text (e.g. the
choice of where to begin or end a story, the choice
to provide a comedic or traffic resolution)
contribute to its overall structure and meaning as
well as its aesthetic impact.
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
9. Analyze how an author draws on and transforms
source material in a specific work (e.g. how
Shakespeare treats a theme or topic from Ovid or
the Bible or how a later author draws on a play by
Shakespeare).
Grades 9-10
Vocabulary Acquisition and Use
6. Acquire and use accurately general academic and
domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for
reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the
college and career readiness level; demonstrate
independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge
when considering a word or phrase important to
comprehension or expression.
Grades 11-12
6. Acquire and use accurately general academic and
domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for
reading, writing, speaking, and listening at the
college and career readiness level; demonstrate
independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge
when considering a word or phrase important to
comprehension or expression.
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Common Core Standards
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Lesson Plan
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Overview:
Materials:
This class will examine character in Susi Wyss’s short story “A
Modern African Woman”. Students will not only catalog each
characters’ personality traits, but will also examine how
interpersonal relationships impacts character.
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Copies of The Civilized World
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Journals for completing writing
assignments
Objectives:
Students will be able to:
● Identify round and flat characters
● Discuss relationship dynamics in Wyss’s story “A Modern
African Woman”
● Demonstrate an expert understanding of the techniques an
author uses to develop character throughout a narrative.
● Analyze the motivations and intentions of different
characters in the text
● Map some of the cultural miscommunications happening
in Wyss’s story “A Modern African Woman”.
Other Resources:
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Supplementary Materials Chart
Warm-Up Activity:
To begin this lesson, ask your students to reflect on a person they
do not like (real, celebrity or imagined). Failing this, you can ask
your students to imagine a person that has annoyed them in the
past. This is not supposed to encourage name-calling, but instead
this exercise is intended to explore the reasons why a student does
not care for a certain individual. Next, ask your students to write
down a list of five character traits that describes that person.
These characteristics will most certainly be negative. (5 minutes).
Once this is set, have the students write a short narrative told
from that person’s perspective (keeping their identity anonymous
if they’re a real person).
When your students are finished, reconvene as a class and,
together, discuss some of the struggles your students had when
writing this short exercise. Before moving on you can allow a
handful of students to share their stories with the group. After
each story, ask the storyteller what problems they had (if any) in
trying to speak from their character’s point of view.
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Lesson Plan
2
Lesson Plan
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Short Lecture & Partner Activities:
Part I — Round vs. Flat Characters
Write the below definitions on the white board:
Round Character:
Complex in personality and often conflicted as they try to solve
difficult problems. Example: Harry Potter
Flat Character:
Authors typically emphasize one or two major characteristics or
personality traits. Example: Luna Lovegood
Give a short lecture defining what a round character is, and what
a flat character is. You can either pull examples from the text,
from popular characters from TV, or from another source that
might be more accessible to your students.
Next, ask students to think of an example of a round character
and a flat character. Ask them to describe these terms in their own
words. They can reference TV shows, films, other books, etc. Have
students share their examples with the class and, as a group,
discuss whether or not the example given fits the definitions. Feel
free to spend as much time on this activity as you feel is needed.
Part II — Understanding Characters
Next, turn your attention to Susi Wyss’s story “A Modern African
Woman”. After pairing your students off into groups of two, ask
each group to draw character diagrams of Linda and Comfort.
You can use the handout sheet provided below to help your
students keep track of their answers.
On the sheet have students pick out passages from the text that
provide the most insight into Comfort and Linda’s characters.
What are their fears, quirks, cultural differences and insecurities?
How does the text support those things? Make sure that students
use specific examples from Wyss’s story.
Once students have finished their character diagrams, come back
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
together as a group to share responses. On the board you can
write “Linda” in one column and “Comfort” in another. Spend
the next few minutes filling the board up with the characteristics
that define each woman.
Does the class agree on the characteristic traits of Linda and
Comfort? If there is time, make sure to investigate any and all
disagreements.
Discussion Wrap-Up:
To conclude this activity, ask your students the following questions.
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Which character do you identify with more?
Whose side do you take in the story’s central conflict, Linda or Comfort? Why?
What would Susi Wyss say? Do you think that she would take a side in this conflict?
Finally, what, in your opinion, makes a character compelling?
Discuss your students’ answers collectively. At the end posit explanations for why we connect with certain
characters from fiction, and why others do not resonate. Are there any fundamental elements that these
memorable characters share?
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Lesson Plan
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Lesson Plan
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Writing Activities: Analytical:
Is Linda a “round character” or a “flat character” in Susi Wyss’s story “A Modern African Woman”? Why or
why not? Defend your answer citing specific examples from the text. Make sure that in the introduction to
your essay you define what a “round character” is and what a “flat character” is. Use these definitions to then
guide your following analysis. Student responses should range between 500-700 words.
Note: There is not a right or a wrong answer to this question.
Creative:
In Susi Wyss’ story “A Modern African Woman”, conflict arises between Linda and Comfort, a mother-in-law
and a daughter-in-law. From Linda’s perspective, write a new scene where she gets into an argument with
Comfort. This argument can be big and dramatic or small and petty. After you are finished, write the same
scene, but from Comfort’s perspective. After you are finished with both assignments, in a small paragraph
reflect on how your story changed as you switched perspectives? How did your characterization of Linda
and Comfort change? Student responses should range between 600-900 words.
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Lesson Plan
5
Discussion & Comprehension Questions
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Discussion & Comprehension Questions
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“A Modern African Woman” is a story of a Ghanaian mother visiting her son, daughter-in-law
and their new baby in America. How does the setting of the story (America) bring out the
personality of Wyss’s characters?
Would we have a different view of the characters in Wyss’s story if the story took place
somewhere else?
How does Ghana factor in to the personality of Comfort? Does where Comfort come from
suggest certain character traits?
Do names play a role in determining character? For example, would Comfort be the same
woman if she had a different name? If yes, explain.
Name some differences in how Comfort and Linda treat the baby? Do their actions suggest
anything about their personality? Their upbringing? Their culture?
At one point in the story, Comfort says about Linda, “Linda…well, it’s complicated. And it’s
not just what Ekow said about her worrying too much. The problem is I can never tell what
she’s thinking, and people like that are always full of unpleasant surprises.” Explain what you
think Comfort is saying in this sentence?
How does race factor in to a person’s personality?
Define the term “flat character”. Give an example from the text.
Define the term “round character”. Give an example from the text.
What category does Ekow fall in to – is he a “flat character” or a “round character”.
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Discussion & Comprehension Questions
6
Key Vocabulary
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Word:
Definition:
Characterization
How an author presents of describes a character.
Round Characters
Complex in personality and often conflicted as they try to solve difficult
problems. Example: Harry Potter
Flat Characters
Authors typically emphasize one or two major characteristics or
personality traits. Example: Luna Lovegood
SIDS
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Thursday’s child
According to an old English nursery rhyme, child personalities can be
categorized by the day of the week that they were born. Thursday’s
child “has long to go,” meaning they have a long and successful life
ahead of them.
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Key Vocabulary
7
Text References
Round and Flat Characters in “A
Modern African Woman”
Book: The Civilized World
Author: Susi Wyss
Grade Level: 9-12
Lesson Type: Character Analysis
Textual References
“Comfort looked out at the scenery and noticed the trees. Although a few of them were still healthy and
green, most were leafless and gray. She asked Ekow why he hadn’t mentioned on the phone that there was
a drought.
‘A drought, Mum?’
‘The trees, Ekow. Most of them are quite dead.’
Comfort heard a chuckle from Linda in the backseat.
‘The trees aren’t dead,’ Ekow explained. ‘This is winter. They lose their leaves with the cold, but as soon as
the air warms up in a few months, the leaves will come back again.” (p.34).
“The next day, Comfort watched her American daughter-in-law bathe the baby, Amanda, in a yellow
plastic tub set inside the kitchen sink. It seemed awkward, standing in front of the tub to hold Amanda with
one hand, using the other to dab at her tiny body with a washcloth. Comfort had always bathed her
children — and now her grandchildren — the Ghanaian way: seated on a low stool, the baby balanced
across her legs stretched over a large flat basin of water. She massaged their joints and ankles before giving
them a thorough sponge bath with soap and water. More often than not the babies cried out in protest —
otherwise, they weren’t getting clean; she might just as well have dipped them in water and dried them
off.” (p. 35)
“Comfort paused. She could see that Linda’s mind was set, but she also knew that her daughter-in-law’s
thinking was contrary to Amanda’s well being. ‘But children are supposed to learn that life is hard,’ she
finally explained. ‘It’s a parent’s duty to teach them that suffering and happiness are twins.
Linda carefully placed her napkin on the table. ‘I think I know what my duty is,’ she replied, pushing her
chair back and scraping it against the wood floor. Holding Amanda in one arm, she stood up, used her free
hand to collect her dishes, and disappeared into the kitchen.” (p. 47)
“Look, Comfort, maybe people don’t know about SIDS in Ghana,” Linda answered, the tendons in her nect
forming taut lines, ‘but that’s exactly why you need to listen to my instructions.
Instructions? Never had she felt so offended, not just at her daughter-in-law’s condescending tone but at
four months of being treated like a child, as if she were the one who needed to be taught how to take care of
children. The words came out of her mouth in a breathless rush.
“You think you know everything, but you don’t have even the smallest idea of how to take care of a
household or a husband, never mind a baby.’
Linda tried to interrupt, but Comfort persisted.
‘Just because you work in an office doesn’t make you smarter than me. I worked in an office, too, before you
were even born. But I never let that get in the way of cooking for my husband, and I learned to put my
feelings aside for the greater peace in the house.” (p. 54).
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Text References
8
Class Handout
Name:
Directions: Under each of the six main literary tools of characterization, write three facts that
you find important about a character with textual evidence (a page number and/or a short
passage). Then analyze what these facts reveal about the character in question.
Character:_____________________
1. Physical Features: What do they look like?
a) Fact, Evidence:
b) Fact, Evidence:
c) Fact, Evidence:
d) Analysis: What do these physical features reveal about the character in question?
2. Actions: What do they do?
a) Fact, Evidence:
b) Fact, Evidence:
c) Fact, Evidence:
d) Analysis: What do these actions reveal about the character in question?
3. Speech: What do they say, and how?
a) Fact, Evidence:
b) Fact, Evidence:
c) Fact, Evidence:
d) Analysis: What does this speech reveal about the character in question?
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Class Handout
Class Handout
Name:
4. Thoughts: What do they think about?
a) Fact, Evidence:
b) Fact, Evidence:
c) Fact, Evidence:
d) Analysis: What do these thoughts reveal about the character in question?
5. Attitudes towards others: What do other characters think and/or say about this
character?
a) Fact, Evidence:
b) Fact, Evidence:
c) Fact, Evidence:
d) Analysis: What do these impressions reveal about the character in question?
6. Attitudes towards self: What does the character think about him/herself?
a) Fact, Evidence:
b) Fact, Evidence:
c) Fact, Evidence:
d) Analysis: What do these impressions reveal about how the character feels about him/herself?
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Class Handout
Supplementary Materials Chart
Category of
Resource
Video
Description of
Resource
Potential Educational Uses of
Resource
Link to Resource
“Characterization:
Character Roles &
Dialogue in Fiction”
This video could be an excellent http://study.com/academy/lesson/characterizationsupplement to this lesson if the character-roles-dialogue-in-fiction.html
students do not have much
prior exposure to literary
This five-minute video characterization. If this is the
discusses the concept of case, the video can be shown at
the character and
the beginning of the lesson—
characterization in
after the warm up activity but
fiction. The short lesson prior to the short lecture and
is comprehensive and
partner activities—so that
concise.
students can understand what a
literary character is before
applying it to the text.
The students could also be
assigned to watch the video for
homework the night before this
lesson takes place if there is a
time constraint.
Round and Flat Characters in “A Modern African Woman”: Supplementary Materials Chart