Character Evolution of Tom Walker

Activity Overview

Characters are an essential part of any story. Characters drive plot forward and help create and resolve conflicts. Characters are also the main reason a story exists. However, as a story is told, characters often change or evolve with the plot. Whether being hit by forces outside their control or due to figurative internal battles, many of a character's attributes are a result of the events that occur.

For students, it is important to track the evolution of a character so they can fully understand what effects and influences can change a person. Engage your students with a character evolution map!

Using Tom Walker, ask students to compare his traits before and after he makes his deal with the Devil. Students can track his beliefs, they way he acts, and what he says to illustrate their understanding.

As Tom gets older, he begins to worry about his actions, but does he actually change? Support your opinion with examples from the text.