Use actions and dialogue to understand the characters
key notes:
In a story, the characters’ actions and dialogue can tell you what they are like and how they feel.
Maya’s face turned as red as a beetroot. ‘Did—did anyone see that?’ she stuttered.
Maya is embarrassed. You can tell because people often blush and stutter when they’re embarrassed.
Andrew was so scared he was shaking. Still, he held his head high and walked onto the stage.
Andrew is brave. You can tell because he goes onstage even though he’s scared.
Learn with an example
🐵Read the sentence.
Emma hummed a tune to herself as she skipped down the pavement.
🐵Based on this sentence,
how is Emma probably feeling?
pleased shy
The sentence shows that Emma is pleased. You can tell because when people are pleased, they are more likely to skip or sing.
🐵Read the sentences.
For a year, Ms King woke up an hour early and wrote every morning before going to work. At the end of the year, she had finished a book.
🐵Based on these sentences,
what is Ms King probably like?
friendly hardworking
The sentences show that Ms King is hardworking. You can tell because she works on her book every day and even gets up early to do so.
🐵Read the sentences.
Jasper pushed his glasses up his nose. Then he crouched down so that he could look more closely at the insect.
🐵Based on these sentences,
how is Jasper probably feeling?
content curious
The sentences show that Jasper is curious. You can tell because a person feeling curious would want to get a closer look at something.
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