Characters are an essential part of any story. Characters drive plot forward and help create and resolve conflicts. Characters are also the main reason a story exists. However, as a story is told, characters often change or evolve with the plot. Whether being hit by forces outside their control or due to figurative internal battles, many of a character's attributes are a result of the events that occur.
For students, it is important to track the evolution of a character so they can fully understand what effects and influences can change a person. Engage your students with a character evolution map!
Using Tom Walker, ask students to compare his traits before and after he makes his deal with the Devil. Students can track his beliefs, they way he acts, and what he says to illustrate their understanding.
As Tom gets older, he begins to worry about his actions, but does he actually change? Support your opinion with examples from the text.
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Student Instructions
Engage students in a lively discussion by hosting a debate on whether Tom Walker truly evolves after his deal with the Devil. This encourages evidence-based thinking and deeper text analysis.
Divide students into two groups: one argues Tom changed, the other argues he stayed the same. Assign roles like speaker, note-taker, and rebuttal leader to keep everyone involved.
Instruct each team to find specific quotes or scenes showing Tom's beliefs, words, and actions before and after the deal. Emphasize using direct evidence to support their arguments.
Moderate the debate, ensuring students listen to each other and respond thoughtfully. Highlight strong arguments and model respectful disagreement.
Lead a follow-up discussion on what the debate revealed about Tom Walker’s character. Encourage students to reflect on how analyzing character change deepens story understanding.
Character evolution refers to the way a character changes or grows throughout a story, influenced by events and conflicts. These changes help readers understand motives, themes, and lessons in literature.
After making a deal with the Devil, Tom Walker becomes wealthier but also more anxious and fearful about his fate. While his outward behavior changes, the story encourages students to consider if he truly transforms inside or just responds to guilt and fear.
Students can use a character evolution map to compare Tom Walker's traits, actions, and beliefs before and after his fateful deal. This visual organizer helps students analyze his changing attitudes and choices with supporting evidence from the text.
Studying character evolution helps students understand how external events or internal struggles influence behavior. It encourages critical thinking about human nature, motivation, and the consequences of choices in stories and real life.
Effective activities include character evolution maps, group discussions, role-play, and analyzing key scenes for character shifts. Visual and collaborative activities support deeper understanding of how and why characters change.