Determining Character Motive or Why did they do that

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Determining Character Motiveor Why did they do
that?!!

• Using Agatha Christies
• Then There Were None
• otherwise known as Ten Little Indians

Communication Arts Grades 7-10
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This activity covers the MAP Test, Communication
Arts Grade 7 objectives on details, literal
comprehension, deductive and inductive reasoning,
analyzing character motive from read text.
Created by Yvonne Bradley at Martin City Middle
School CSD 4
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Steps for Determining Character Motive
(Click to see steps)

• Determine the basic problem or issue.
• Determine who or what is involved.
• List the facts of the issue/problem and
  background .
• Determine what the character decides.
• List what the character has to gain or lose by
  the decision. What other choices did the
  character have?
• Tell why you think the character did what they
  did using the preceding evidence.

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Lets Do It!

• In the book Then There Were None by Agatha
  Christie the character, Vera, Claythorne is
  accused of letting her charge, Cyril Ogilvie
  Hamilton, drown. Read the following passages to
  answer the following questions pages 60, and
  79-81.

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Determine the basic problem or issue

• What is the problem here?
• Have students write out their ideas, then click
  to see possible answers.

The basic problem should include that Vera is in
charge of a boy, Cyril, that drowns while she is
supposed to be watching him.
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Determine who or what is involved?
Have students write out their ideas on this, then
click.

• The people involved in this should include Vera,
  Hugo and Cyril.

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List the facts of the issue/problem and background

• Have students write out their ideas, then click
  to see possible answers.

• The facts should include that
• Vera was in charge of Cyril as his governess. He
  was a weak and whiney child.
• Cyril drowned by swimming out too far, Vera swam
  out to save him too late.
• Vera was in love with Cyrils uncle, Hugo.
• Hugo couldnt marry Vera because he was
  penniless.
• Hugo would have inherited a fortune if Cyril
  hadnt been born.
• Hugo was fond of Cyril.

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Determine what the character decides

• Have students write out their ideas, then click
  for further questions.

What exactly does Vera do? What does she not
do? What happens?

• Answers should include
• Vera was in charge Cyril
• Cyril swims out too far and starts drowning
• Vera swims out to save Cyril, too late, and Cyril
  drowns

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List what the character has to gain or lose by
what they do. What other choices did the
character have?

Possibility 1

• Vera could have watched Cyril more closely,
  preventing him from drowning. Doing this would
  keep Veras job (gain) but make it so she still
  couldnt marry Hugo (lose).

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Possibility 2

• Vera could have truly been distracted and lost
  track of Cyril. She tries to save him and fails.
  He drowns and the family blames her (lose) or
  they appreciate her efforts and is forgiven, she
  marries Hugo (gain).

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Possibility 3

• Vera could ignore Cyril and allow him to drown.
  She might lose her job because of this (lose), or
  it would possibly enable her to marry Hugo (gain).

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Now, what do you think Vera did and why? Back up
your answers with reasoning and textual evidence!
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Extension Activity

• Have student groups go through the same process
  on the following characters/situations, and
  report back to the class
• Phillip Lombard and members of the East African
  tribe (page 61)
• Anthony Marston and John and Lucy Combes (page
  61-62)
• Mr. and Mrs. Rogers and Miss Brady (page 62-63)
• Mr. Blore and Mr. Landor (page 63-64)