As students read, a storyboard can serve as a helpful character reference log. This log (also called a character map) allows students to recall relevant information about important characters. When reading a play, small attributes and details frequently become important as the plot progresses. With character mapping, students will record this information, helping them follow along and catch the subtleties which make reading more enjoyable!
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Student Instructions
Create a character map for the major characters.
Encourage students to find direct quotes that reveal character traits. This deepens understanding and supports analytical thinking.
Select a character trait (e.g., loyalty for Kent) and demonstrate how to scan the text for a moment that illustrates it. Show students how a character’s words or actions reflect that trait.
Ask students to highlight or jot down lines in their scripts that showcase important traits. This habit builds close reading skills and makes later reference easier.
Organize short discussions where students share their chosen traits and quotes. Peer collaboration allows for richer insights and clarifies understanding.
Have students build a chart or use sticky notes on a poster, matching each trait to the corresponding evidence. Visual mapping reinforces connections and aids memory.
A character map for King Lear is a visual organizer that helps students track important characters, their traits, relationships, and notable quotes. It supports comprehension by clarifying connections and making it easier to remember key plot details as the play unfolds.
To create a simple King Lear character map, list major characters in title boxes, add images or drawings, and fill out sections for character traits, allies, foes, and a key quote for each. Encourage students to use colors and backgrounds that reflect each character's role in the story.
Include King Lear, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, Earl of Kent, Earl of Gloucester, Edgar, Edmund, The Fool, Duke of Albany, Duke of Cornwall, and Oswald in a student character map. These are the main figures essential for understanding the play.
Students can identify character traits by observing characters’ speech, actions, and relationships. Encourage them to look for repeated behaviors, notable decisions, and how other characters react to them throughout the play.
Character mapping helps high school students break down complex relationships, track evolving loyalties, and retain subtle plot details, making Shakespeare’s play more engaging and easier to follow.