BODY BIOGRAPHY

Students should think about colors and what they represent. Choose colors, graphics, designs
carefully.
Each part of the body represents something:
● The Head: List important thoughts or quotes from the character.
​ The mouth will speak quotes that represent the person’s typical speech as well as any
other spoken aspects that students find important.
​ Ears show what others say about them.
​ Eyes show what they see or want to see. Where is this person’s focus? What does this
person see.
*Text–quotes from historical documents or literary documents–can be integrated in multiple
places on the image, and not just presented near the mouth in speech bubbles. They can be
integrated throughout the body outline and parts.*
● Their brain represents what they are thinking.
● The Spine: This should be represented in a way that visually conveys what motivates the
character most (the person’s values and beliefs)
● The Trunk or Torso: List the most important goals/motivations of the character.
● The Hands: On one hand list at least three adjectives that describe the characters positive
qualities. On the other hand list at least three adjectives that describe the characters
negative qualities. (The hands represent what they literally hold or what they hold dear).
The hands might refer to actions or accomplishments of the character.
● The Heart: What should be placed in the heart to best represent what this character loves
most? The heart represents what they love or what means a lot to them.
● The Arms & Legs: Four important events that occurred in the story. (quotes!)
● Their feet represent where they came from and where they are going. The Feet: On what
is the character standing? This should be a symbolic representation of the character's
most fundamental beliefs about life.
● A stomach to represent worries they have or worries others have about their choices.
● Clothing items that are typical of or symbolically representative of the person’s qualities.
● Any other body parts that help show a detailed understanding of the person and the role
they play in history or in the text.
● The front to back to represent what is behind them and what lies in front of them literal
or figurative objects from the person’s life.
● The Background: what elements make up this person’s environment/background. Any
other information important to understanding the character.
● A mirror can be included to represent how the person sees themselves or how others see
them (a mask can also be used).
● Virtues and Vices: Admirable and unadvisable qualities of this person.
● Backbone: What motivates this person the most? What gives them strength?
● Original Text: Create an original text that helps understand this person and include it
somewhere appropriate on the body biography. Formula poem, paragraph, etc.