Name ______________________________________________ Date ________________
"Hearts and Hands" by O. Henry (text page 264)
"The Fish" by Elizabeth Bishop (text page 266)
Literary Analysis: Characterization
Characterization is the way writers develop their characters. In most stories, writers
develop their characters in straightforward ways. Sometimes writers simply tell the reader
about the characters. Or writers let readers figure out the characters for themselves, based on
their looks, actions, and interactions with other characters.
However, in a story or a poem that has a surprise ending, a writer must work a little magic
with characterization. The writer must deliberately mislead the readers so they believe things
about the characters that aren't true. Then the truth can be a surprise in the end.
In the first chart, identify the misleading details each writers uses when characterizing the different characters in "Hearts and Hands" and "The Fish." In the second chart.
identify clues each writer provides to set up the surprise ending.
DIRECTIONS:
Misleading Details in
"Hearts and Hands"
1. Mr. Easton easily fit the mold of a
"profeSSional" type of person, as a
marshal might be.
Misleading Details in
"The Fish"
6. The speaker was holding the fish half
out of the water. as if in the process of
pulling it into the boat.
2.
7.
3.
8.
4.
9.
5.
10.
Clues to the Surprise Ending in
"Hearts and Hands"
11. Mr. Easton was embarrassed when
Miss Fairchild recognized him.
Clues to the Surprise Ending in
"The Fish"
14. The speaker describes the fish in a
way that's respectful.
12.
15.
13.
16.
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Literary Analysis Activity Book
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