Single Shard Character Analysis

Why are characters important to a story? Characters are important because they drive the story as a whole. Characters are usually the main focus in a story and contribute to the plot. The main character in Single Shard is a boy from Ch'ulp'o named Tree-ear.Tree-ear is a very important character who contributes to the plot because he is perserverant, clever, and likes to spy. Tree ear is perseverant in the story Single Shard. “The second vase, its fall cushioned however slightly by the sand, had broken into bigger pieces. The largest shard was the size of his palm. Tree-ear picked up this piece and swished it through the water to rinse of the sand...he would journey to Songdo and show the emissary the single shard”(129-130). This makes Tree-ear perserverant because everyone thought the vase was broken into a hundred pieces, yet he kept going. He continued his journey to Songdo. Another example that shows that Tree-ear is perseverant is “...Min’s voice was cross and he didn’t look up ’It has been nine days and …show more content…
On the other side of the stream not far from the path,two huge boulders stood. Tree-ear splashed across the stream and examined them. Between them was a little hollow. It was too small to sleep in, but Tree-ear liked the look of huge rocks.”(110-111). This is an example of Tree-ear being clever for the reason that he found a way to search for shelter, a place to stay the night. Another example of Tree-ear’s cleverness is “Tree-ear struck two flint stones together (11). A shower of sparks leapt to the pine needles. it took a few tries before a wisp of smoke curled up to signal the birth of a flame.” This is an example of Tree-ear being clever because he figured out how to make his own fire in the wilderness with nothing but two rocks. These are all examples of how Tree-ear is