Character Reading Response
Sample “4” Response
(Lead Sentence) In the book, Fox, by Margaret Wild, the main character, Magpie goes through the ups
and downs to learn and grow as a character!
(Character Traits) Magpie, a bird in the story, exhibits many characteristic throughout the text. To
begin, Magpie is insecure. For example, Magpie instantaneously feels uneasy and worried about Fox’s
presence because she knows that Fox has a “leg up on her”. This is because she knows that foxes eat birds,
and with Magpie’s burnt wing, she has no way to escape if Fox attacks. Also, she shows signs of being
insecure when she agrees to go off with Fox to the desert, even when she knows she can’t trust him. This
shows that Magpie has still not accepted that she can no longer fly, as Fox has convinced and promised her
that together as a team, Magpie will fly again.
Additionally, Magpie is an emotional character. Magpie is definitely a dramatic character and feels
deeply based on each situation that she is in! She does not take things lightly, especially when she becomes
“land-bound”. Magpie goes into a deep depression for several days or weeks, until Dog brings her to the river
to see Magpie on Dog’s back. This helps to brighten her spirits to show her that they are a team together.
Another way that Magpie is emotional is when she first meets Fox. She innately knows that Fox is “bad” and
cannot be trusted. She “shrinks away” and feels “Fox staring at her burnt wing”. Magpie is perceptive to know
that Fox could easily eat her for dinner which makes her uneasy around him.
Finally, Magpie’s character takes risks. Despite knowing that she can’t fly, she learns how to fly in a
new way. This is on Dog and Fox’s back. This is risky because she cannot control where Dog and/or Fox take
her. Magpie also shows that she is a risk taker when she leaves the forest that she knows and has come to
love with Dog to go away with Fox to “fly”.
(Problem) In the story, Fox, Magpie faces the problem of learning to accept the fact that she can no
longer fly, since one of her flying wings is burnt. This life-changing event puts Magpie into a depression, which
she eventually comes out of with the help of her loyal friend, Dog. Additionally, Magpie faces the dilemma of
remaining true to her loyal friend, Dog, or leaving Dog for the opportunity to “fly again” with a less appealing
and intimidating acquaintance, Fox.
(Character Change) Magpie is certainly a complex character that leaves the reader on the edge of
his/her seat! She starts out being depressed and even angry at the fact that she will no longer be able to fly
due to the injury of her burnt wing. With the help of Dog’s encouragement and unending friendship, Magpie
learns that, together as a team, Dog and her, can be each other’s “...missing eye, and you will be my wings.”
Her life returns to her new normal and she is joyful again with her new friend. Magpie drastically changes when
the new character, Fox, is introduced. Magpie immediately feels insecure and threatened by Fox, as she
knows Fox sees her weakness of being unable to fly. Magpie’s usually trusting attitude disappears when Fox is
around. Once again, Magpie changes when Fox shows her that she could “fly” with him. Magpie throws the
reader for a loop when Magpie finally agrees to go off with sneaky Fox to the desert, leaving Dog all alone.
This was unexpected, but shows the reader how much Magpie misses her ability to fly and will do “anything” to
get it back. The ending of the text shows the theme of loyalty and friendship that Magpie is working to learn
throughout the text. This is seen when Fox tricks Magpie and leaves her to die, alone in the desert, without
Dog. Fox tells Magpie that he wants Dog and Magpie to, “know what it is like to be truly alone.” This is when
Magpie remembers Dog and his loyalty to her when she was hurt and down. She realizes that Dog was her
one true friend and starts her journey back to the forest to be with him.
