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Learn how to look at two different characters and find how they are the same and how they are different.
Have you ever noticed that a hero and a villain might actually want the exact same thing, even if they act completely differently?
When we read a story, we become character detectives! To understand a story deeply, we look at two things: comparing and contrasting. When you compare, you look for how two characters are the same. When you contrast, you look for how they are different. We look at their traits, which are words that describe their personality (like brave or shy), and their motivations, which are the reasons why they do things. For example, two characters might both be 'brave' (a shared trait), but one might be brave to save a friend, while the other is brave to win a prize (different motivations).
Quick Check
If you are looking for ways two characters are different, are you comparing or contrasting?
Answer
Contrasting.
How do we keep all these clues organized? We use a Venn diagram! Imagine two large circles that overlap in the middle.
1. The Left Circle is for things only found in Character . 2. The Right Circle is for things only found in Character . 3. The Middle Section is the most important part! This is where you write things that are the same for both characters.
If Character is a cat and Character is a dog, 'has fur' would go in the middle because they both have it!
Let's look at the famous fable: 1. The Ant: Works hard, saves food for winter, is very serious. 2. The Grasshopper: Plays music, enjoys the sun, is very relaxed. 3. The Showdown: - Difference: The Ant is hard-working while the Grasshopper is lazy. - Similarity: Both characters live in the same field and both need food to survive winter.
Quick Check
In a Venn diagram, where would you write that both the Ant and the Grasshopper live in the same field?
Answer
In the middle section where the circles overlap.
To be a master detective, you must tell the difference between a trait and a motivation. A trait is who the character is on the inside (kind, mean, smart). A motivation is why they act.
Think about a race. Two runners might have the same motivation: they both want to win the gold medal! However, they might have different traits: one runner is confident and cheers, while the other runner is nervous and stays quiet. Even if they are different people, their 'why' (motivation) is the same.
Imagine a Knight and a Squire entering a dark cave. 1. Traits: The Knight is fearless. The Squire is shaking with fear. 2. Motivations: Both characters want to find the lost treasure to help their village. 3. Venn Diagram: - Left (Knight): Fearless. - Right (Squire): Scared. - Middle: Wants to help the village.
Two inventors, Sara and Leo, both build flying cars. 1. Sara's Trait: She is organized and draws plans. 2. Leo's Trait: He is messy and just starts building. 3. Sara's Motivation: She wants to make travel faster for everyone. 4. Leo's Motivation: He wants to make travel cheaper for everyone. 5. The Comparison: They are both creative (trait) and both want to change how people travel (motivation), but their specific goals and ways of working are different.
Which part of a Venn diagram shows how two characters are the same?
If a character wants to win a trophy, is that a trait or a motivation?
Two characters can have different traits but the same motivation.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow, try to explain to a friend what the middle part of a Venn diagram represents and give one example using two animals.
Practice Activity
Pick two characters from your favorite movie. Draw a Venn diagram and find one way they are the same and one way they are different!