Final answer:
Character depiction involves examining their actions and motivations as portrayed by the author. Masks and first impressions play a role in shaping the reader's views. Reader-Response Criticism explores personal connections and how a story's portrayal of groups and power dynamics affects the reader.
Step-by-step explanation:
When evaluating adult characters in a given story for their sympathetic depiction, it is important to consider their actions, motivations, and the context in which the author places them. For example, a character who demonstrates kindness, selflessness, or overcomes personal challenges may be seen as sympathetic. Those who are abusive, deceitful, or act out of selfishness tend to be viewed as unsympathetic. Authors can portray shifts in a character's nature from sympathetic to unsympathetic, or vice versa, by showing changes in behavior or revelations about the character's past.
Characters who may not be what they seem often wear masks to hide their true intentions or feelings, creating suspense or a shift in the reader's perception as the story unfolds. First impressions from the title and opening lines can also change as a reader learns more about the characters and the plot. The nature of these characters, whether likable, trustworthy, or otherwise, contributes to their complexity (dynamic, round, flat, static) and how readers relate to them.
On the subject of representation, it is critical to analyze how different groups of people are depicted and whether the story perpetuates stereotypes or presents a fair critique. Similarly, understanding the political context and the lines between conquerors and conquered in a story can offer insights into the author's intentions and the portrayal of power dynamics.
Reader-Response Criticism focuses on how a text resonates with the reader, considering how it aligns with their experiences, values, and ethics. This approach reflects on how the reader's engagement with the story might evolve throughout the text, leading to surprises or personal connections.