What did you expect?
A student is usually very quiet, but one day she volunteers to give a speech to the entire school. What would you expect the student to do?
Stay quiet or avoid speaking in front of everyone.
True or False: A character doing exactly what we expect is always Contrast & Contradiction.
False
When a character does something unexpected, what should you ask?
Why would the character act this way?
At the beginning of the story, how does Lilly feel about Julius?
She is jealous, annoyed, and unhappy about him getting attention.
Make something up:
Complete the sentence:
“I expected ________, but instead ________.”
A character is known for being kind, but suddenly says something very mean to a friend. What should you notice?
The character's behavior is different from what we expect.
Which is an example of C&C?
A. A shy student avoids speaking.
B. A shy student volunteers to speak in front of the class.
C. A student eats lunch.
D. A student walks to class.
B. A shy student volunteers to speak in front of the class.
A character who is normally selfish gives her lunch to a hungry student. What might this reveal?
She may be caring or generous.
What would we expect Lilly to do if she is jealous of Julius?
We might expect her to ignore him, be mean to him, or not care about him.
What is the difference between contrast and contradiction?
Contrast means two things are different.
Contradiction happens when something goes against what we expect or what was previously shown.
A character is afraid of dogs but runs toward a dog to save someone. What is the Contrast & Contradiction?
We expect the character to run away, but instead the character runs toward the dog.
A bully is usually confident, but when someone stands up to him, he becomes nervous. Is this C&C?
Yes. His reaction is different from what we expect.
A character who is usually afraid stands up to a bully. What character trait might this reveal?
Bravery or courage.
What does Lilly do that shows her feelings toward Julius are more complicated than simple dislike?
She defends/protects Julius when someone else is mean to him.
A character says, “I don't care about my little brother,” but then spends all night helping him when he is sick. What does this contradiction suggest?
The character does care about his brother, even though he says otherwise.
A student always follows the rules. One day, she breaks a rule to help her friend. What should a reader ask?
Why would the character act this way?
A character is angry with her brother but secretly saves his favorite toy when it is about to be thrown away.
Is this C&C?
Yes. Her action shows that she cares about him even though she is angry.
A character is jealous of her younger sibling but becomes angry when someone else insults the sibling. What does this reveal?
The character has complicated feelings. She may be jealous but still love and care about her sibling.
Why is Lilly's behavior toward Julius a Contrast & Contradiction?
We expect Lilly to continue being mean to Julius, but she shows that she cares about and loves him.
Why might an author intentionally give a character contradictory behavior?
To show that the character has complex feelings, reveal a hidden trait, show character growth, or help readers understand the character better.
Why is it important to notice when a character acts differently from what we expect?
It can help us understand the character's feelings, personality, motivation, or changes.
A character has always been afraid of water. During an emergency, she jumps into a pool to save someone.
What makes this a strong C&C example?
Her action is the opposite of what we would expect based on what we already know about her.
A character acts like they don't care about someone, but when that person needs help, the character immediately steps in to help.
What does this contradiction reveal about the character, and why is it important?
The character cares about the person more than they admit. This is important because it shows that a character's actions can reveal true feelings that their words may hide.
What does the contrast in Lilly's behavior help readers understand?
*think about someone’s feelings
Lilly can feel jealous and frustrated while still loving her brother. People can have more than one feeling at the same time.
A character is usually confident and brave, but when someone they love is in danger, they become scared.
Is this Contrast & Contradiction? Explain why.
Yes. It is C&C because the character behaves differently from what we expect.
It shows that even brave people can feel scared, especially when someone they care about is in danger.