Question

a - characterization chart for \the man in the well\insert format tools extensions help accessibility100% normal text open - 20 + b i u acharacterization chartcharacter:|indirect characterization|example|explanation|| ---- | ---- | ---- ||s speech| | ||t thoughts| | ||e effect on others| | ||a actions| | ||l looks| | |the man in the well - originalwe could hear him moving around down there. after a few minutes, he asked us,\when are they coming? what did your parents say?\we all looked at each other, aware that he couldnt address anyone in particular.he must have understood this, because he called out in his thin, groping voice,\what are your names?
o one answered until aaron, who was the oldest, said, \my father said hescoming, with the police. and he knows what to do.\ we admired aaron very muchfor coming up with this, on the spot.\are they on their way?\ the man in the well asked. we could hear that he waseating.\my father said dont worry, because hes coming with the police.\little jason came up next to aaron, and asked, \whats your name?\ because westill didnt know what to call him. when we talked among ourselves, he had simplybecome \the man.\he didnt answer, so jason asked him how old he was, and then grace came uptoo and asked him something, i dont remember. we all asked such stupidquestions, and he wouldnt answer anyone. finally, we all stopped talking, and welay down on the cement.it was a hot day, so after a while, grace got up, and then little jason and anotheryoung boy, robert i think, and went to town to sit in the cool movie theater. thatwas what we did most afternoons back then. after an hour everyone had left exceptwendy and myself, and i was beginning to think i would go, too.he called up to us all of a sudden. \are they coming now?\yes,\ wendy said, looking at me, and i nodded my head. she sounded certain: \ithink theyre almost here. aaron said his dad is almost here.\as soon as she said it she was sorry, because shed broken one of the rules. icould see it on her face, eyes filling with space as she moved back from the well.now he had one of our names. she said \theyre going to come\ to cover up themistake, but there it was, and there was nothing to do about it.

Explanation:

This is a STEAL (Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, Looks) characterization chart for "The Man in the Well," using the provided text excerpt. We analyze the man in the well and the children (Aaron, Grace, etc.) through the indirect characterization categories:

1. Speech: Capture direct dialogue from the characters.
2. Thoughts: Infer internal thoughts from their words and actions.
3. Effect on others: Note how characters impact those around them.
4. Actions: Document observable behaviors.
5. Looks: Reference physical descriptions from the text.

Answer:

Character: The Man in the Well

Indirect Characterization	Example	Explanation
Thoughts	(Inferred) He fears abandonment and is confused by the children's evasiveness.	His repeated questions and refusal to answer the children's trivial questions reveal his focus on his own crisis.
Effect on others	Makes the children nervous (they avoid direct eye contact initially) and later leads Grace to accidentally reveal a name, breaking their unspoken rule.	His presence and pleas create tension and guilt among the group.
Actions	Moves around in the well, calls up to the children, refuses to answer the children's pointless questions.	Demonstrates his restlessness and prioritization of his own need for rescue over engaging with the children's distractions.
Looks	Described as having a "thin, groping voice" (implies physical weakness from being trapped).	No direct visual description, but his voice suggests he is disoriented and physically strained.

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Character: Aaron

Indirect Characterization	Example	Explanation
Thoughts	(Inferred) He wants to assert control over the group and maintain the lie about getting help.	He fabricates updates to keep the man calm and solidify his role as the oldest, "responsible" child.
Effect on others	The other children "admired Aaron very much for coming up with this, on the spot."	His quick lie earns him respect and authority among the younger kids.
Actions	Steps forward to answer the man's questions first, maintains the lie about his father's arrival.	Takes charge of the interaction with the man to guide the group's deception.
Looks	No physical description provided in the excerpt.	N/A

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Character: Grace

Indirect Characterization	Example	Explanation
Thoughts	(Inferred) She feels guilty after breaking the group's rule, and is conflicted about the deception.	Her apology and "eyes filling with space" reveal her distress over her mistake.
Effect on others	Her slip-up forces the group to confront the fact they've revealed a name, changing their dynamic of secrecy.	Her mistake breaks the group's unspoken agreement to hide their identities.
Actions	Asks the man a "stupid" question, leaves to go to the movie theater, accidentally reveals a name.	Her actions show her shifting focus from distracting the man to escaping the situation, then her moment of carelessness.
Looks	"eyes filling with space as she moved back from the well"	Shows her guilt and panic after her mistake.