Getting to Know Characters: Personality and Behaviour

Welcome! When we read stories, we meet all sorts of interesting people, animals, and creatures. These are called characters. Just like your friends and family, characters have their own unique ways of thinking and acting. In this chapter, we are going to learn how to be "character detectives" by looking at their personality and their behaviour.

Understanding characters helps us enjoy stories more because we can start to guess what they might do next!

1. What is Personality?

A character’s personality is what they are like on the inside. These are the qualities that make them who they are. You can’t always see personality just by looking at a picture, but you can find it by reading the words carefully.

Examples of Personality Traits:

  • Brave: A character who faces their fears.
  • Kind: A character who thinks about others' feelings.
  • Curious: A character who wants to learn and explore everything.
  • Grumpy: A character who gets annoyed easily.
  • Honest: A character who tells the truth.

Quick Tip: Think of personality like the flavor of an ice cream. Even if two scoops of ice cream look the same, one might be spicy and one might be sweet! Personality is the "flavor" of the character.

2. What is Behaviour?

Behaviour is what a character does on the outside. It is their actions and the things they say. While personality is "who they are," behaviour is "how they act."

Examples of Behaviour:

  • Sharing a snack with a friend (this shows a kind behaviour).
  • Hiding behind a tree when a giant walks past (this shows a scared or cautious behaviour).
  • Shouting loudly when they don't get their way (this shows an angry behaviour).
  • Reading a book under the covers at night (this shows a curious or book-loving behaviour).

Key Takeaway: Personality and behaviour are linked. Usually, a character's personality (the inside) causes their behaviour (the outside action).

3. How to Spot Personality and Behaviour

Don't worry if this seems tricky at first! You can find clues about characters by looking at three things:

A. What they say (Dialogue)
If a character says, "Don't worry, I will help you fix your broken toy," we can tell they have a helpful personality.

B. What they do (Actions)
If a character runs into a dark cave to save a puppy, we can tell their behaviour is courageous.

C. What they think (Thoughts)
Sometimes the author tells us what is happening inside a character's head. If a character thinks, "I hope I didn't hurt my sister's feelings," we know they are caring.

Did You Know?

Characters can change! Just like you might be shy on your first day of school but very talkative by the end of the year, characters can grow and change their behaviour as the story moves from the beginning to the middle and the end.

4. Comparing Different Characters

In most stories, characters have different personalities to make the story exciting. Imagine a story where every single character was exactly the same—it would be very boring!

  • The Hero: Often has a determined personality and helpful behaviour.
  • The Sidekick: Might have a funny personality and loyal behaviour.
  • The Villain: Might have a selfish personality and mean behaviour.

Common Mistake: Don't confuse appearance with personality. A character might look scary (like a big green ogre) but actually have a very gentle and sweet personality!

5. Why Does it Matter?

When you understand a character's personality and behaviour, you can:

  • Make Predictions: If you know a character is brave, you can predict they will try to solve a problem rather than run away. (To learn more about this, see the chapter on Predicting, confirming and revising meaning).
  • Feel Empathy: You can understand why a character feels sad, happy, or scared.
  • Understand the Story: You can see how a character’s choices lead to the middle and end of the story.

Quick Review

Personality is the "Inside" (Who they are, like shy or bold).
Behaviour is the "Outside" (What they do, like whispering or shouting).
We find clues in their words, actions, and thoughts.

Next time you pick up a book, ask yourself: "What is this character's personality, and why are they behaving this way?" Happy reading!