Writer's ModelHOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTON

Writing a Character Analysis

INTRODUCTION

Character and setting

Author and title

Summary statement

Thesis

BODY

Character trait #1

Evidence (thoughts and actions)

Character trait #2

Evidence (words)

Evidence (action)

Evidence (words and thoughts)

Character trait #3

Martin's Pride

The main character in Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve's "The

Medicine Bag" is a young boy named Martin, who lives in a city

away from his ancestors' Sioux reservation. He struggles with

feelings of shame and pride about his great-grandfather. At first,

Martin makes up wild fantasies to brag about his great-grandfather

even though he is ashamed of him. However, by the end of the story,

his boasting has changed to a true pride in his heritage.

The story begins with Martin admitting that he and his sister

often tell glamorous stories about their Sioux "grandpa." Martin

boasts to make himself look important to his friends. He leads them

to believe that his great-grandfather is like the Indians seen in movies

or on TV.

However, when Grandpa shows up in Martin's

neighborhood, Martk; is embarrassed. He says, "I wanted to sink right

through the pavement." When Martin won't look up at Grandpa, he

shows that he is ashamed of his great-grandfather.

How Martin feels about the medicine bag also shows his

shame. His great-grandfather wants to give the bag to Martin, but

Vtartin doesn't want it. He nearly blurts out "I could never wear such

a thing."

Nor does Martin want his friends to meet Grandpa. His

friends repeatedly ask to come for a visit, but Martin is afraid they

ill laugh when they see that Grandpa isn't the brave Indian from

vlartin's stories.

One day, however, Martin's friends follow Martin home

myway. Grandpa puts on his best beaded vest and moccasins. When

vlartin realizes that his friends are impressed with his

Teat-grandfather, Martin is ashamed of himself. Martin begins to

nderstand that Grandpa is a great man even though he doesn't look

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HOLT, RINEHART AND WINSTONWriter's Model

Writing a Character Analysis

Evidence (actions)

CONCLUSION

Restatement of main idea

or act the way Martin described him.

The next day, Martin learns the history of the medicine bag.

Grandpa explains how his father passed it on to him. Then, he

explains that Martin must find a piece of sacred sage from the

reservation, add it to the medicine bag, and one day pass the bag

down to his own son. As Martin listens to the story, he begins to

understand and take pride in his heritage. Soon after that, Grandpa

dies. At the end of the story, Martin stands alone on the reservation

and puts the sacred sage into the medicine bag.

At first, Martin's boastful pride is used to hide his shame.

However, as he comes to see his great-grandfather in a different light

and as he learns more about his own history, Martin's boasting

changes to a strong but quiet pride in his heritage.

page 2Copyright ©2009 Holt, Rinehart and Winston. All rights reserved.