- Author:
- Tamara Hughson
- Subject:
- English Language Arts
- Material Type:
- Activity/Lab, Assessment, Homework/Assignment, Lesson, Lesson Plan
- Level:
- Middle School
- Tags:
- License:
- Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial Share Alike
- Language:
- English
- Media Formats:
- Downloadable docs, Video
Education Standards
traits-list
The Hobbit: Analyzing Character
Overview
This Remote Learning Plan was created by Tami Hughson in collaboration with Dorann Avey as part of the 2020 ESU-NDE Remote Learning Plan Project. Educators worked with coaches to create Remote Learning Plans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The attached Remote Learning Plan is designed for Grade 7 English Language Arts students. Students will analyze and evaluate the elements of literary text, build background knowledge to clarify text and deepen understanding, and use relevant evidence from a variety of sources to assist in analysis and reflection of complex text. This Remote Learning Plan addresses the following NDE Standard: NE LA 7.1.6B, NE LA 7.4.1A, NE LA 7.2.1B, NE LA 7.3.2C
It is expected that this Remote Learning Plan will take students 90 minutes to complete.
The Hobbit: Analyzing Character-Warm Up
Assign the students the video and then assign them this quiz or play live with them:
This quiz is meant to engage students in processing the informaiton from the video. It is not a formal assessment.
Learning Objectives:
- Explore strategies to analyze a character.
- Apply strategies to analyze a character.
- Write a character analysis and make predictions based on analysis.
The Hobbit: Chapter 1
- Take notes! What are four things we can use to analyze a character?
- Take a short warm up quiz to get your brain going. Your teacher will send you the link!
The Hobbit: Analyzing Character-First Read
You may make a copy of the graphic organizer document from Google and assign from your LMS.
First Read:
Read The Hobbit: Chapter 1: Paragraph 1 to 24. This is to where Gandalf scratches something on Bilbo's door. Then STOP.
Use the four strategies talked about in the video for analyzing character to jot down notes as you read. Use this graphic organizer online if you wish, or write in your own notebook. Your choice!
Pay attention to:
- What the character says.
- What the character does.
- What other characters say
- What other characters do.
**Remember that you do NOT need to write EVERYTHING down. Only jot down things you think will be important in helping you analyze your character.
The Hobbit: Analyzing Character: Write
The writing can be assessed using this rubric: Analyzing Characters Bilbo Baggins
Close Read:
As you re-read the first five paragraphs of the story, think about this question:
- What does the narrator tell us about Bilbo (his home, belongings, and family)?
Make notes about these things while you read.
Write: Paragraph 1
Consider what you learn about Bilbo from the narrator, from Bilbo's own words and actions, and from Gandalf's words and actions, then write a paragraph describing Bilbo Baggins. Besides the obvious physical descriptions, pick two or three character traits from this list that you can support with evidence from the text and discuss why you think Bilbo has these traits.
Make sure to include your evidence and discuss how the evidence supports your choice of traits.
Write: Paragraph 2
Make a prediction about what might happen next to Bilbo in this story. How do you think Bilbo might handle things based on his character traits?
Resource Citations
"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, Cover Art 1937, George Allen & Unwin *Artwork by Tolkien, the author, depiction of the dragon, Smaug
"The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien, Harper Collins, Excerpt used under the fair use guidelines for educational use.
"Character Traits" by Read Write Think
"Character Analysis" by ELA Hacks
"Character Analysis" by Tami Hughson
"Character Analysis Quiz" by Tami Hughson