CHARACTER ANALYSIS
WORKSHEET
Play
title ______________________________________
Date
__________________________________________
Actor
_________________________________________
Character
______________________________________
DRAMATIC
ACTION for the play
Remember that a character is determined ONLY
AFTER his actions, not before.
First, analyze the character’s wants and desires. What is
the character’s THROUGH LINE OF ACTION for the entire play. Looking over the course of the script, what
is the through line for each character?
OBJECTIVE (Desire or Victory)
This is a statement of what a character wants most; power,
dominance over others, love for another, elf-integrity, dominance over fear,
etc.
Answer these
questions:
What do I really
want? Why? When do I want it? Why?
OBSTACLE (Other)
This is the person or thing that is preventing him from getting what he
wants. What or who is standing in his
way? From whom (in the play) does he
want it? Who in the play can help
him? Who in the play can hurt him?
Answer these
questions:
From whom (in the
play) do I want it? Why? Who in the play can help me? Why?
Who in the play
can hurt me? Why? What are my deepest
fears? Why?
TACTIC (Will)
This is a character’s relative strength in attaining his wants or
desires. How can he get what he
wants? How (and whom) can he
threaten? How (and whom) can he induce?
How strong or weak is his inner strength?
Is it strong enough to push him the full limit, or will he
compromise? Does he have any sense of
moral responsibility to others? How honest is he with others and with
himself?
(a character’s moral stance will affect the attainment of his
wants and desires)
Answer these
questions:
How can I get it? Why? How (and whom) can I threaten? Why?
How (and whom) can I induce? Why?
EXPECTATION (Resolution)
Every character has 5 basic
Human Needs. These, in one way or
another, ultimately become what the character expects to get. What does the character expect in the
end? Why does he expect to get it? Why does it excite him? What will he do when
he gets it?
1) Winning 2) Survival 3) Validation 4)
Love 5) Happiness
Answer these questions:
Why do I expect to get it?
Why does it excite me? What will
I do when I get it?
DRAMATIC
ACTION within a scene
1. What do others say about this character?
2. What does this character say about others?
3. What discoveries does this character make?
4. How does this information affect each
character? Does it change their
behavior, way of thinking, needs?
5. Does this information signal a victory? a defeat?
a reason for reevaluation?
6. Character’s objective, obstacle and tactic
7. What is the character’s subtext
8. Character-mood-intensity upon entering the
scene (this is the physical or
body-state of the character)
*
heartbeat: rate *
perspiration: heavy, light, etc. *
stomach condition
* muscle
tension * breathing:
rate, depth
CHARACTERIZATION
INTERNALS
1. Background
(culture, childhood, upbringing, special memories)
2. Mental
(intellect/common sense,
right/left brain…)
3. Spiritual
(religion, beliefs and values)
4. Emotional
(calm, angry, gentle, .. when and why)
EXTERNALS
1. Dress
(casual/formal, day/night…)
2. Movement
(bounce, sway, swagger, …)
3. Posture
(slouched, straight, leads with head/hips/chest….)
4. Voice
(pitch, rate, volume, inflection, quality)
5. Mannerisms (habits the
character does without a prop)
CHARACTER
PROFILE QUESTIONS
1. What is your full
name?
2. What does your name
mean? origin?
3. When & where were you born? current age?
4. What is your astrological sign? explain.
5. What is your occupation?
6. What is your Chinese zodiac sign? explain.
7. Who
is your greatest role model?
8. What excites you?
9. What secrets do you have?
10. What are your deepest fears?
11. Who do you hate? love?
12. List 10 adjectives to describe you.
13. What are your hobbies?
14. What food best describes you?
15. What discoveries have you made in the last
year?
16. What animal would best describe you? why?
17. What is your favorite :
color?
animal?
food? book?
movie?
music?
ANYTHING ELSE..........
PREVIOUS
ACTION
This is specific information from the script,
which details the events and action which occurred prior to the play
beginning. Note specifically YOUR
CHARACTER’S previous action. It is not
necessary to know others’ previous action.
