Role on the Wall

A life-size outline of a character is drawn on a large sheet of paper. Inside the outline, the class writes what the character is — their known facts, thoughts, feelings. Outside the outline, what others say about them — their reputation, others' judgements. The gap between inside and outside drives discussion.

Procedure

1. Pin a large piece of paper (flipchart size or bigger) on the wall. Draw a rough body outline on it. Label with the character's name.
2. Inside (10 min): students come up and write words or phrases inside the outline:
   • What the character thinks, fears, hopes.
   • Their private traits (secret ambitions, buried resentments).
   • Facts from the text about their internal world.
3. Outside (10 min): students write around the outline:
   • Others' descriptions of the character.
   • Their reputation, role, label.
   • What characters in the text say about them.
4. Discussion: the class stands around the wall and examines the gap.
   • Is the reputation accurate? Where does inside and outside contradict?
   • What's the most surprising thing inside? Outside?
   • If we could add one item on each side, what would it be?

Why It Works

• Visual character analysis: abstract traits become concrete marks on paper.
• Distinguishes self-perception from public perception: a sophisticated literary move made tangible.
• Collaborative text interpretation: every contribution is visible; disagreements trigger re-reading.
• Accessible for all levels: A2 learners contribute single-word notes; C1 learners add complex phrases.

Good Characters

• Complex protagonists: Jay Gatsby, Holden Caulfield, Elizabeth Bennet.
• Ambiguous antagonists: Lady Macbeth, Inspector Javert.
• Real people: a historical figure, a biographical subject, a case study from a textbook.
• Invented from prompt: Role on the Wall for "the perfect boss" — no text required, pure discussion.

Variations

• Before/after: do a Role on the Wall at the start of a text, redo it at the end. Compare what's changed.
• Two characters side by side: two outlines. What's shared? What's contrasted?
• Colour-coded contributions: each group uses a different colour. Visible who contributed what.
• Digital version: replace the paper with a Padlet canvas board. Students type directly.

Tips

• Don't write on the outline first. Let the class fill it; your job is to prompt, not populate.
• Save photos of the final outline — becomes a permanent reference for future lessons about the character.
• Great entry point to longer literary analysis or essay writing. The outline becomes raw material for a character essay.

Source

Drama Resource (dramaresource.com); core convention in UK drama education curriculum; Heathcote's process drama tradition.