Character’s Motives

1. Character’s Motives Lesson 4

2. You have learned that a character’s motives are the reasons why a character acts as he or she does. • In fiction stories, a character’s traits (personality), thoughts,words, and actions are clues to the character’s motives. • You can also use these clues to understand the motives of real people in nonfiction texts.

3. Tip: A character’s motives are often related to the character’s traits. For example, a kind person may be motivated by the desire to help others.

4. Let’s read this paragraph and see how Dolley Madison’s traits and actions are clues to her motives. Dolley Madison was the fourth First Lady of the United States. She made everyone who visited the White House feel welcome—from foreign leaders to the poor farmers. She understood that the White House was an important symbol for the young nation. When the British attacked the capital during the War of 1812, Dolley Madison refused to leave the White House until important documents and special portraits were safe.

5. Dolley Madison was the fourth First Lady of the United States. She made everyone who visited the White House feel welcome—from foreign leaders to the poor farmers. She understood that the White House was an important symbol for the young nation. When the British attacked the capital during the War of 1812, Dolley Madison refused to leave the White House until important documents and special portraits were safe Hospitality, courage Dolley Madison wanted to keep the White House documents and portraits safe because they were important symbols for the nation. She refused to leave the White House until important papers and special portraits were safe.