Analyzing Character in Literature

Analyzing Character in Literature

Read each question carefully and provide thoughtful answers. Use complete sentences and provide textual evidence where requested.

Read the following excerpt from 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald and answer the questions that follow.

"He was still a young man, but his voice was already a little hoarse, a little harsh, as though he had been shouting for years. There was an almost imperceptible swagger about him, a confidence that bordered on arrogance. He spoke quickly, with a slight impatience, and his eyes, though often smiling, held a distant, almost melancholic gaze. He seemed to be constantly searching for something, or perhaps, constantly avoiding something. His clothes were impeccable, always the finest materials, yet they seemed to hang on him with a kind of weary resignation, as if even his wealth couldn't quite bring him comfort. He was a man of contradictions, a puzzle wrapped in an enigma, and he fascinated me from the moment I met him."

1. Based on the passage, what are three distinct character traits of the man described?

2. What words or phrases does the narrator use to suggest the man's inner conflict or mystery?

3. Which of the following best describes the man's initial impression on the narrator?

4. The man's voice was described as a little   and a little  , suggesting a history of frequent or strained speaking.

5. Despite his   clothes, the man seemed to possess a sense of weary  , indicating a lack of true contentment.

6. The narrator found the man uninteresting and easy to understand.

7. Analyze how the author uses both direct and indirect characterization to develop the man's persona in the excerpt. Provide specific examples from the text to support your analysis.