A character's motive is the reason behind what they do. In a story about a girl hiding on a ferry, her motive is to visit her ill grandfather. Understanding motives helps you understand the whole story.
Writers reveal motives through dialogue, thoughts and actions, and sometimes through a character's memories. When a boy decides to help because he remembers his own grandfather, the memory explains his choice.
Themes grow from these choices. Ask what the characters learn and what the writer wants readers to think about, such as kindness, responsibility or courage.
Worked example
Sana stays behind when her ball breaks a neighbour's window, even though her friends run away. What is her motive?
- Look for clues: the ball was a present, and she had broken something.
- She feels responsible and wants to put things right.
Answer:She feels responsible for the damage and wants her ball back.
Key words
- motive
- the reason a character does something
- dialogue
- conversation between characters
- theme
- the big idea a story explores
New questions every time.
Common Core-referenced: RL.5.2, RL.5.3