american literature: character analysis “those merciless savages.”
TRANSCRIPT
AMERICAN LITERATURE: CHARACTER ANALYSIS
“Those merciless savages.”
CONTROLLING PURPOSE
Review: Start with a controlling purpose.The controlling purpose is similar to a thesis
statement.It serves as somewhat of a blueprint for the
entire paper by telling the reader what position the writer is taking; or what will be
discussed in the paper; or what will be revealed; what will be argued, etc.
A well-written essay has a clearly defined controlling purpose, with evidence to support
it.An effective conclusion reasserts the controlling
purpose, but it also leaves the reader with a unique thought to take away from the paper.
CONTROLLING PURPOSE
The Scarlet Letter essays revisited:
The effects of sin and guilt depend entirely on the psychology of their sufferer, a dynamic manifested in the three main characters in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter. Hester Prynne, Arthur Dimmesdale and Roger Chillingworth show that sin and guilt can transform a person’s soul – to a tortured extent for Dimmesdale and Chillingworth, but to a redemptive degree for Hester. Through these characters’
changes, Hawthorne’s message manifests: People must accept responsibility for their actions or pay the consequences.
This lack of accountability is the virus that devours Dimmesdale emotionally. Unwilling to publicly confess his sin – and unable to persuade Hester to do it for him – Dimmesdale
slowly descends into a hellish pit of self-loathing.
And then go on to cite quoted evidence to support this point and continue to do this throughout the essay.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Methods of characterization
•Character’s appearance
• Character’s words
• Character’s actions
•Author’s direct words about the character
•Others’ words to or about the character
•How others treat the character
•How others think about the character
•The thoughts and fears of the character.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Other questions:•What is the importance of the
character to the story?•When and where does the
character live?•What are the character’s strengths and weaknesses?
•What does the character do?•What are some of the character’s qualities?
•Does the character develop or change as the story
progresses?•How are issues of gender,
race, and social class important?
So how do we start organizing our thoughts and information?
We have already done that with our pre-writing work.
That’s the character analysis packet.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
So where do we start writing?
We can look at some of Little Crow’s predominant traits:
PRAGMATIC: He recognizes that the Dakota have little chance of defeating the white army; tries to co-exist in both worlds; seeks (often unsuccessfully) to cut the best deal for the Dakota in land negotiations; attends missionary schools to sharpen math and
English skills.
BRAVE/LEADER: “I am not afraid of death”; “dignified, determined, and ambitious”; to settlers and U.S. Army he emerges as a “fearsome leader”; doesn’t skirt responsibility for the war.
PRIDEFUL: Taunts of being a coward push him toward his destiny; replaced by Traveling Hail, “Little Crow is stung by the defeat.”
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
What else do we know about Little Crow?•His mother recognized his greatness when he
was born.• He takes pride in his heritage and native customs: He maintains native speech and
attends functions “dressed in beautifully beaded trousers, a silk shirt, and red belt and
neckerchief.”•Described as “dignified, very determined, and
ambitious.”•Was a womanizer and gambler in his young
adulthood.•He does not want to get “caught and hung,” but he also does not skirt responsibility for the war.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
•Now, we ask: Do these character traits line up with the
stereotypes? Is here merely:•A “savage”?
•A “noble warrior”?•A “spiritual person”?• A “drunken Indian”?
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
How do we start formulating this portrait?A good attention-getter is always a good strategy,
followed by the thesis statement:
A murdering savage or a people’s savior. Depending on different historical perspectives, Chief Little Crow can seen as both, neither, or someone in between. However, it is clear that Minnesota’s most
famous Native American leader is more than the Indian of Hollywood lore or the mythical figure of Dakota
legend. He is a complex man whose ambition, leadership and flaws force a contemporary reexamination of Native
American stereotypes.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Notice what we have done here right away:•We have identified Little Crow.
•We have established the controlling purpose: that this is going to be a paper discussing Little Crow and stereotypes.
•We have introduced three general points/characteristics that will help address
both of those discussion points: his ambition, leadership and flaws.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Now, we build on the introduction with specific details in paragraph 2:
Little Crow is arguably the most compelling figure in the 1862 war between Minnesota Dakota and the U.S. Army. He is a
reluctant leader whose pragmatic outlook on his people’s prospects in the battle do not prevent him from engaging in the bloodiest battles in U.S.-Dakota war history, according to Star Tribune writer Curt Brown in his six-part series “A Man Lost in
History.” Let’s stop here to see what we have accomplished.
• We have put Little Crow in his time period.•We have included a critical component of the series: that this
takes place in Minnesota and is one of the historically worst battles.
•We have also identified the author of the series (Curt Brown).
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Refer to the packet this way:A six-part series titled “A Man Lost
in History,” written in 2012 by Minneapolis Star Tribune writer
Curt Brown.Then your in-text citations should refer to the specific articles in the
series.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Let’s continue:Estimates put the eventual toll of soldiers
and settlers at 600, many buried where they fell in unmarked graves. As Brown notes, if the same
percentage of Minnesota’s population were killed today, 15,000 people would be dead. Little
Crow believed there was great honor in his soldiers fighting U.S. soldiers and his warriors
were responsible for horrific attacks on settlers, according to Brown.
Yet, Little Crow is hardly the stereotypical “savage” Native American portrayed in
Hollywood films.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
What have we accomplished? We have set up the contrast that will drive the paper:
•He was a fearsome warrior who participated in some bloody warfare.
•Yet, we now can add some balance to that portrait, which will help offset the stereotype:
•He remained unconvinced that war is the Dakota’s best option.•He is furious that his warriors have scattered and targeted
immigrant families.•He is not motivated by bloodlust alone: He (and the Dakota) are responding to years of broken promises, insults, and the horrific
reality of watching their children starve to death on the reservations.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Establishing the other important source of information: “Reel Injun.”
Cite it as: The 2009 Neil Diamond film documentary, “Reel Injun”
examines Hollywood’s depiction of Native Americans through a century
of cinema.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Now, we establish more contrasts in the paper, pointing out that:
While an inspirational leader, Little Crow is also ambitious, and in his younger years, was a womanizer and gambler.
While remaining true to his native customs and heritage, he also adopts white ways, including education, religion and
culture.While looked at by many as a fearsome and shrewd leader,
he is also criticized by his own people for negotiating dubious land deals that hurt the Dakota long term.So, what should emerge is a portrait of a man who
counteracts the stereotypes in both good and bad ways.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Reminders:•Write in present tense(except when directly
quoting a source. In other words, do not change past tense in a quote to present
tense).•Write in third person (this includes avoiding
second-person “you” when possible).•Cite passages from the text to support your
points.•Double-space throughout.
•12-point type.•About 2 ½ to 3 pages ought to do it, but
that’s just a guideline.•Format in MLA style
CHARACTER ANALYSIS
Your last name 1
Your first and last name
American Literature
Mr. Johnston
4 March 2013
TITLE IS CENTERED
Every page after this will have your last name and the page number in the upper right hand corner.
CHARACTER ANALYSIS