Character Study: Self-Awareness

The following exercise helps students learn self-awareness (which is one of the categories of social and emotional learning) and apply it by analyzing characters in a play that they are currently studying. Seeing fictional character examples will help students gain a deeper understanding of the concept of self-awareness.

This exercise can be done as a class, individually, in partners, or in small groups. It can be done in person, virtually via distance learning, or as a written homework assignment.

1. Introduction: What does it mean to be self-aware? What traits does a person who is self-aware possess? As a group, have students suggest various attitudes or characteristics that people who are self-aware display. These might include:

• Identifying the emotions you’re feeling
• Understanding the emotions you’re feeling and the thoughts you’re thinking
• Understanding the connection between your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours
• Having a realistic perception of yourself
• Knowing your strengths and weaknesses
• Knowing your limits
• Having self-worth
• Demonstrating a growth mindset and willingness to learn
• Being able to reflect on your experiences and identify what you’ve learned
• Believing that you’re capable of doing what it takes to achieve a goal
• Recognizing your own coping mechanisms
• Defining your own beliefs without being influenced by others

Optional discussion: Do you or someone you know have these traits? How does self-awareness affect you in your everyday life? How can you improve your own self-awareness? Give examples.

2. Using a play your class is currently studying, have students identify one character who displays self-awareness. Give proof from the text. Answer the following: How does this character’s self-awareness benefit them?

If students are having trouble finding a character that is self-aware, remind them that it’s a rare person who is fully self-aware all the time. Look for moments of self-awareness in the character to start.

3. Next, have students identify one character that lacks self-awareness. Give proof from the text. Answer the following: How does this character’s lack of self-awareness hinder or harm them?

4. Bonus Question: Are there any instances in which a character’s self-awareness hinders or harms them, or a character’s lack of self-awareness benefits them? Give proof from the text.

5. Students will complete and submit a final reflection (click below).

Kerry Hishon is a director, actor, writer and stage combatant from London, Ontario, Canada. She blogs at www.kerryhishon.com.