Use the RAD method to identify the main characters in both story excerpts. Describe the characters. What similarities and differences exist between them? Use details from the stories to compare and contrast the character traits of the two main characters.
Excerpt 1:
As I walked through the dark, narrow alleyway, the wind howling, the clouds thundering over my bowed head, I felt a chill that had nothing to do with the icy rain lashing against my face. My name is John, and I am a detective. I was born with an innate sense of justice, a strong moral compass that had never been swayed by the simplest temptations. My mind, always sharp, focused, and determined, was a veritable fortress of logic and reason. I was on the trail of a serial killer who had plagued the city for years, a shadowy figure who slipped through the darkness like raindrops in the night. My burning desire was to bring the elusive killer to justice.
Excerpt 2:
Amelia sat at her kitchen table, her spirited red hair framing her pale but heavily freckled face. Her icy gaze reflected her years spent watching her peers walk away from her. For she was a ghostwriter with a secret, an unseen mastermind behind a plethora of critically acclaimed novels. Feisty, independent, and quick-witted, Amelia was undeniably gifted, but she found the spotlight of fame too heavy to bear. Her publicist knew of this curse and demanded to keep Amelia's secret to herself, leaving Amelia to ponder in the shadows. Little did they know that Amelia had another burning secret within her - the secret of her own best-selling novel, waiting for its day in the sun.
Using the RAD method (Role, Action, Desire), let's identify and describe the main characters:
Excerpt 1:
Role: John, a detective
Action: Investigating a serial killer
Desire: To bring the killer to justice
John is a focused, determined, and morally strong individual with an inborn sense of justice. His mind works like a fortress of logic and reason.
Excerpt 2:
Role: Amelia, a ghostwriter
Action: Writes critically acclaimed novels for others
Desire: Keep her identity secret and eventually publish her own best-selling novel
Amelia is feisty, independent, and quick-witted, torn between fame and anonymity. She has a pale freckled face and spirited red hair. She also hides a secret about her own novel.
Similarities and Differences:
Both main characters, John and Amelia, are highly skilled and gifted in their respective fields. They are both determined in their own ways - John in his pursuit of justice and Amelia in maintaining her anonymity and eventually publishing her own work.
In terms of differences, their personalities and motivations are quite distinct. While John is morally driven and dedicated to solving crimes, Amelia is more focused on her self-preservation and her own creativity. Additionally, their professional roles differ significantly, with John being a prominent detective and Amelia working in secrecy as a ghostwriter.
Another key difference is the social aspects of their lives. John's job requires him to constantly interact with others and work within a team, whereas Amelia's ghostwriting means she spends the majority of her time in solitude, distanced from the people who benefit from her talents.
In conclusion, John and Amelia are two complex and interesting main characters, each driven by their own specific desires and strengths. Although they share a gift for their respective trades, their personal lives and motivations make them distinct from one another.