The Swimmer

Paper # 2 Central Idea and Character—Minimum 350 words
Write an essay analyzing your chosen short story (any of the stories in this course so far).
• Your first sentence should identify the author, title, and subject of the story.
• Directly identify the central character (the protagonist)
o Additionally analyze and unpack the characteristics and motivations of the main character
o Short stories are intended to illustrate to the reader a rather limited observation on human nature. Edgar Allan Poe suggested that a short story should focus on a single character in a single episode (conflict) to produce a single effect (central idea). As a result, in most short stories, very focused characters have very concise conflicts that yield very specific central ideas. So, a thorough understanding of the mechanics of character and conflict is a key to good analysis.
o At this point, you should be aware that the central character generally has a series of problems to overcome in the story. Usually, the biggest problem is inside the character her/himself (their interior life).
o If the character is dynamic/round, trace the development of the change that occurs. Specify the point at which the dynamic change occurs and the nature of the change. If the central character is static/flat, show how the character, despite the central conflict and its outcome, could be motivated to continue without change. For your argument, use solid evidence from the end of the story and always rely first and foremost on textual evidence.

What Is a Character?
• Character refers to the individuals or entities that inhabit a story. Characters are usually humans, but they can also be animals, other creatures, or even forces, such as nature.

• Characters differ from real people. Though characters may seem lifelike, they are less complex, less thoughtful, and less emotionally deep than real people. For the purpose of illustrating a central idea, authors make their characters more shallow and more focused than real people. Limited details about characters are presented, and these details are usually linked to conflict and central idea. In addition, the central character generally has a beginning key trait or value that motivates him or her throughout the middle of the story. This beginning key trait may or may not change as a result of the outcome of the story.
For logical consistency in your analysis:
• The central character must be primarily involved in the central conflict.
• The central character must perform the critical action or make the crucial decision at the climax that leads to the resolution of the conflict.
• The central idea of the story must pertain to the central character.
Requirements
• Once again type the central idea in CAPITAL LETTERS.
• Enclose short story titles in quotation marks. Do not underline short story titles.
• Do not use first-person or second-person pronouns to write your essay.
• In ALL assignments and exams, limit your use of direct quotes to no more than 10% of your total word count. Quote accurately and use the correct punctuation.