Class: Senior Secondary School 1 (SS1, SS 1, SSS1, SSS 1)
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 3
Age: 15 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Subject: Literature-in-English
Curriculum Theme: Literature-in-English
Previous Lesson: Theme.
Topic: Character Analysis
Subject Matter: Identification of major characters in “Lonely Days”, analysis of roles of major characters, significance of major characters in the novel

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:

Cognitive Domain:

Define character and character analysis.
Identify major characters in “Lonely Days”.
Describe the roles of major characters in the plot development.
Explain the significance of major characters to the themes and message of the novel.

Affective Domain:

Show empathy when discussing characters facing hardship and unfair treatment.
Respect different views during discussion of characters’ actions and choices.
Demonstrate fairness in judging characters based on evidence from the text.

Psychomotor Domain:

Complete a character chart showing traits, roles, and evidence from key chapters.
Underline lines in an extract that reveal a character’s traits or motivation.

Work in groups to present character roles and evidence from the text.
Participate in class discussion by listening and building on other pupils’ points.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

9 Years Basic Education Curriculum
State Unified Scheme of Work
“Lonely Days” by Bayo Adebowale (recommended class text)
Literature-in-English textbook for SSS 1 (Prose: Character and Characterisation)
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Character
Encyclopaedia Britannica: Characterisation
BBC Bitesize: Characters and Characterisation

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

Character chart template (Name, Traits, Role, Evidence, Significance)
Copies of key chapters/extracts from “Lonely Days”
Marker board and markers
Cardboard/chart paper for group presentation

Rationale for the Lesson

Character analysis helps pupils understand why events happen in a novel and how people’s choices shape the story. It also helps pupils answer examination questions that require traits, roles, and evidence from the text.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils can summarize key events and identify the setting and themes introduced in the novel.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Character Analysis in “Lonely Days” by Bayo Adebowale

Meaning of Character

A character is a person presented in a story who takes part in the events of the narrative.

Meaning of Character Analysis

Character analysis is the study of a character’s traits, actions, roles, relationships, and how the character influences events and themes in a literary work.

Major Characters in Lonely Days

The following are the major characters in Lonely Days:

Yaremi

The protagonist of the novel.
A widow whose experiences form the centre of the story.

Ajumobi

Yaremi’s late husband.
His death triggers the conflict and suffering faced by Yaremi.

Woye

Yaremi’s grandson.
Provides companionship and emotional support to Yaremi.

Dedewe

One of the widows in the village.
Represents women who submit to traditional widowhood practices.

Fayoyin

A widow who reflects communal pressure and conformity.

Radeke

Another widow used to show different responses to widowhood and tradition.

Suitors (Ayanwale, Olonade, Lanwa)

Men who propose marriage to Yaremi.
Their presence highlights social pressure and male dominance.

Roles of Major Characters

The roles of major characters in the novel include:

Protagonist:
- Yaremi, around whom the story revolves.
Catalyst for conflict:
- Ajumobi, whose death begins the central struggle.
Supportive character:
- Woye, who softens Yaremi’s loneliness.
Community voices:
- Dedewe, Fayoyin, Radeke, and the suitors, who represent societal expectations and traditional beliefs.
Conflict drivers:
- Suitors and community pressure that challenge Yaremi’s independence.

Significance of Major Characters

The following show the significance of major characters in “Lonely Days”:

They reveal major themes such as loneliness, social pressure, and gender inequality.
They influence key events through decisions, advice, conflict, or resistance.
They help the reader understand community values and traditional practices.
They contribute to the message of the novel by showing consequences of actions and customs.

How to Support Character Analysis with Evidence

The following are ways to support character analysis with evidence from the text:

Quote or paraphrase a character’s words that show attitude or belief.
Refer to an action or decision that changes events in the plot.
Point out how other characters react to the character.
Link the character’s behavior to a theme in the novel.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Lecture, Demonstration, Question and Answer, Visual Aids

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Set Induction
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher writes the names of two characters on the board and asks pupils to mention what they remember about their actions, then introduces the topic as character analysis.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention traits or actions they remember and give brief reasons.
Learning Point: Characters can be studied through their actions, words, and influence on events.

Step 2: Meaning of Character and Character Analysis

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher defines character and character analysis and writes the definitions on the board with a simple example from the novel.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils copy the definitions and state one thing to look for when analysing a character.
Learning Point: Character analysis focuses on traits, roles, and significance supported by evidence.

Step 3: Identification of Major Characters

Time: 10 minutes
Teaching Skill: Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to list major characters and records them on the board, linking each to where the character appears in the novel.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils mention character names and give one brief fact about each character.
Learning Point: Major characters are central to the plot and appear in important events.

Step 4: Roles of Major Characters

Time: 7 minutes
Teaching Skill: Explanation/Questioning
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains roles such as protagonist, supporting character, and conflict driver and asks pupils to match characters to roles using examples from the text.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils match characters to roles and justify with one event from the novel.
Learning Point: Character roles explain how each character contributes to the plot.

Step 5: Significance of Major Characters

Time: 6 minutes
Teaching Skill: Guided Discussion
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils to connect characters to themes and message, using key extracts to show how characters reveal social issues.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils state how a character supports one theme and give a brief example from the text.
Learning Point: Characters are significant because they reveal themes and support the message of the novel.

Step 6: Class Activity (Character Chart)

Time: 5 minutes
Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Practice
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher shares a character chart template and assigns groups to fill it for one major character using the provided extract.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils complete the chart (traits, role, evidence, significance) and present one key point each.
Learning Point: Character analysis can be presented clearly using a structured chart and evidence.

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

Define character analysis.
List four major characters in “Lonely Days”.
State three roles of major characters in a novel.
Explain two ways a character can be significant to the themes of a novel.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Pupils demonstrate understanding of the lesson.

Step 8: Conclusion

Time: 0 minutes
Teaching Skill: Closure
Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarizes the lesson and gives an assignment: pupils choose one major character and write (i) two traits, (ii) one role, and (iii) two evidence points from the text.
Pupils’ Activity: Pupils note the assignment and submit classwork where required.
Learning Point: Major characters can be identified, analysed, and supported with evidence from the text.

Lesson Keywords

Character – a person in a story or novel.
Character analysis – study of traits, roles, and significance of a character.
Trait – a quality or behavior that describes a character.
Protagonist – the main character in a story.
Supporting character – a character who helps develop the plot and main character.
Evidence – a quotation or event used to support an analysis.

Differentiation

Fast learners analyse two characters and link each to one theme with evidence; average learners complete one character chart accurately with two evidence points; learners who need support use a guided chart with prompts (traits, role, one event) and select evidence from marked lines in the extract.

Note for teachers using this lesson plan

Focus on evidence-based answers and discourage vague descriptions without text support. Use short, clear extracts for analysis and ensure pupils separate traits, roles, and significance in their responses.