In stories, characters grow and change just as people do in real life. Authors develop their characters to make them believable and bring them to life for readers. Authors use descriptions and dialogue to develop their characters and give them personality.
Read this excerpt from From Scratch. Look at how the author develops the character of Priya.
From Scratch
As they worked in silence, Priya’s mother glanced at her. “Maybe your class would like to try Indian food sometime?”
Priya swallowed thickly. “Maybe,” she said. She tried to picture blue-eyed Lindsay biting into a golden, sticky gulabjamun. What if she spit it out? What if everyone laughed? The thought made Priya sick to her stomach.
The descriptions and dialogue shows that Priya hides her feelings. She does not tell her mother what she actually thinks about sharing Indian food with her class. Priya is worried that her classmates will not like the food from her culture.
Read this excerpt from Amy’s Metaphor. Look at how the author develops the character of Amy.
Amy’s Metaphor
. . . For example, I got angry when a woman in the grocery store asked me where I was from, and I said, “Right here in Greenfield.”
“No, where are you from from, originally?” she asked.
“Right here in Greenfield. Since I was born,” I told her.
“Are you sure? Because you look just like a Japanese girl I knew once,” she said. I said I was sure and then I had to explain the whole Korean-German thing to her, even though she was a total stranger. It’s not fair that people I don’t know can ask me questions about my race and heritage, but it’s not polite for me to ask them, “So why do your ears stick out like jug handles?”
The descriptions and dialogue show that Amy is upset by people who assume that she is not American. Amy does not tell the people how their words make her feel.
To compare the development of characters, see how the authors describe the main characters in the beginning, middle, and end of each story. Then, compare the texts. Identify similarities and differences in the way that the characters are developed.
When authors write stories, they decide how the story will be told. Sometimes authors have a character narrate the story. At other times, authors tell the story through a narrator who is not in the story. The perspective from which a story is told is called the story’s point of view. Authors often write their stories from either a first-person or a third-person point of view.
First-person point of view includes the following characteristics:
The story is told by a character in the story.
The pronouns I, me, or we show that the narrator is a part of the story.
Third-person point of view includes the following characteristics:
The story is told from a narrator that is not in the story.
The pronouns he, she, it, or they show that the narrator is outside of the story.
When you compare stories, you can compare their point of view. You can tell whether each story has a first-person or a third-person narrator. You also can compare how the authors use point of view to express ideas and meaning in the story.
Read this excerpt from From Scratch.
From Scratch
Mummy wanted so much for her to be happy here. “Do you want this for your lunch or this?” she would ask, offering Priya packaged snacks in colorful, cartoon boxes with big letters that shouted “New!” “Great Taste!” and “Quick and Easy!” In India, Priya might have traded all the bangles in the world for a box of the sweet, brightly colored treats. Now they just reminded her of the kids at school, the ones who stared as she unpacked channa dal and chapatis from her lunch bag in the cafeteria.
Read this excerpt from Amy’s Metaphor.
Amy’s Metaphor
Both sides of my family love me a lot, and we all get along. But I am not the same as either group of my relatives. My German cousins don’t know about playing yut or making special dumplings for the lunar new year, but I do. And my Korean cousins don’t know about singing “O Tannenbaum” and “Stille Nacht” at Christmastime, but I do. I go through life with two worlds in me, and no one in my family—not even Mom and Dad—know what it’s like.
The stories have different points of view. However, both authors use point of view to express ideas and convey meaning. In both excerpts, the point of view conveys the love within each character’s family. It also expresses the loneliness that both Priya and Amy feel.
Portfolio: Comparing Texts Apply and Reflect
Apply
Demonstrate Understanding
Read the sentences that compare Amy’s Metaphor by Elisa Oh and From Scratch by Susie Castellano. Complete each sentence with the term that tells what story element the sentences compare.
style tone plot structure character development point of view
Both authors have a serious attitude or feeling about the topic of identity.
These sentences compare the _____ of the stories.
In Amy’s Metaphor, the story is told by the main character, Amy. In From Scratch, the story is told by a narrator who is not in the story.
These sentences tell how the stories’ _____ is different.
As the stories go on, both Priya and Amy change. They become more positive about the way they view themselves and others.
These sentences compare the stories’ _____.
Castellano uses formal language and long sentences. In contrast, Oh uses informal language and a mix of long and short sentences.
These sentences tell how the authors differ in their _____.
Both stories organize events in time order, mixed with events that happened in the past.
These sentences compare the stories’ _____.
Reveal Answer
Write Comparative Paragraphs
Write three paragraphs that compare From Scratch and Amy’s Metaphor.
Write a paragraph that summarizes the stories and describes the similarities and differences in the plot structures of the stories.
Write a paragraph that compares the point of view and main characters of the stories.
Write a paragraph that explains which story you liked more based on the comparisons you made in this portfolio of the stories’ style, tone, plot structure, character development, or point of view.
Use details from the stories to support your ideas in each paragraph.
Amy’s Metaphor
From Scratch
Use the rubric as a guide in writing your paragraphs and to understand how your writing will be graded
In both From Scratch and Amy's Metaphor, the stories revolve around the theme of identity and belonging. Both stories follow a similar plot structure, organizing events in time order and mixing in events that happened in the past to provide context for the characters' current struggles. However, From Scratch focuses more on Priya's internal conflict with her cultural identity, while Amy's Metaphor explores Amy's external interactions with others regarding her identity. The plot structures of the stories differ in terms of where the emphasis lies, with From Scratch delving deeper into Priya's personal journey, while Amy's Metaphor highlights the challenges that Amy faces from external sources.
In terms of point of view and main characters, From Scratch is told from a third-person perspective, creating a more objective view of Priya's experiences. On the other hand, Amy's Metaphor is narrated by the main character, Amy, giving readers a more personal and intimate look into her thoughts and feelings. Both Priya and Amy struggle with their sense of self and feeling of not fully belonging in either of their cultural backgrounds. However, Priya's internal conflict is more pronounced, while Amy's external interactions shape her understanding of her identity. The point of view and main characters in the stories contribute to the depth of their character development and the readers' connection to the protagonists' struggles.
Overall, I found From Scratch to be more engaging and relatable based on the comparisons made in this portfolio. The formal language and long sentences used by Castellano in From Scratch created a sense of depth and introspection that resonated with me. Additionally, the focus on Priya's internal struggles and growth throughout the story was compelling and left a lasting impact. While I appreciated the informal language and mix of sentence structures in Oh's Amy's Metaphor, I found myself drawn more to the character development and emotional journey portrayed in From Scratch. The depth of Priya's personal growth and the exploration of her cultural identity made From Scratch a more captivating and meaningful read for me.