20-minute plan
- List each main character and their most defining action in the story
- Match each action to a theme (courage, loyalty, moral duty)
- Write one sentence starter for a discussion or essay using a character’s action
Keyword Guide · character-analysis
Number the Stars Main Characters: Analysis for Class, Essays, and Exams
High school and college lit students need clear, actionable character breakdowns for Number the Stars. This guide focuses on the core figures driving the story’s tension and themes. Use it to prep for discussions, quiz reviews, or essay drafts.
The main characters in Number the Stars are Annemarie Johansen, a 10-year-old Danish girl navigating the Nazi occupation; Ellen Rosen, Annemarie’s Jewish practical friend in hiding; and Annemarie’s parents, who risk their lives to help the Rosen family escape. Each character’s choices tie directly to the story’s themes of courage and moral duty.
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Answer Block
Number the Stars main characters are the central figures who advance the plot and embody the story’s core themes. Annemarie is the relatable, brave protagonist. Ellen is the vulnerable friend whose safety drives key conflicts. Annemarie’s parents are quiet, determined resisters.
Next step: Jot down one specific action each main character takes that ties to courage, then label the action with a corresponding theme.
Key Takeaways
- Annemarie’s growth from a ordinary child to a brave helper is the story’s emotional core
- Ellen’s presence forces readers to confront the fear and uncertainty of persecution
- Annemarie’s parents model quiet, consistent moral action in a crisis
- Each main character’s choices reflect a different form of courage
20-Minute Plan and 60-Minute Plan
60-minute plan
- Create a 3-column chart for each main character: Name, Core Motivation, Key Conflict
- Add two specific story events to each character’s row to support their motivation and conflict
- Draft a 3-sentence thesis that links two main characters’ arcs to a central theme
- Outline three body paragraphs to support the thesis with evidence from your chart
3-Step Study Plan
Action: Draw a simple diagram linking each main character to their key relationships and story actions
Output: A visual map showing character connections and plot drivers
Action: For each main character, write one quote-free example of how they embody a core story theme
Output: A 4-item list of character-theme pairs with concrete evidence
Action: Combine two character-theme pairs into a working thesis statement
Output: A polished thesis ready for an analytical essay draft
Discussion Kit
- What is one action Annemarie takes that shows she’s mature beyond her age? Explain your answer
- How does Ellen’s presence change Annemarie’s understanding of her own safety?
- What choice do Annemarie’s parents make that reveals their long-term commitment to helping others?
- Which main character faces the most internal conflict? Use story events to support your claim
- How do the main characters’ different forms of courage work together to drive the plot?
- If you were in Annemarie’s position, would you make the same choices she does? Why or why not?
- How do the main characters’ relationships shape their moral decisions?
- What does the story reveal about courage through the actions of its main characters?
Essay Kit
Thesis Templates
- In Number the Stars, Annemarie’s journey from a sheltered child to a brave helper mirrors her parents’ quiet resistance, showing that courage takes many forms
- Ellen’s vulnerability and Annemarie’s growing resolve work together to highlight the story’s core theme of loyalty in the face of oppression
Outline Skeletons
- I. Introduction: Hook about childhood courage, thesis linking Annemarie’s arc to her parents’ actions, roadmap of body paragraphs
- II. Body 1: Annemarie’s initial fear and ordinary childhood, supporting story event, analysis of her starting point
Sentence Starters
- Annemarie’s choice to [action] reveals that courage is not the absence of fear, but [explanation]
- Ellen’s experience as [description] forces readers to confront the [theme] of [story context]
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Exam Kit
Checklist
- I can name all four main characters in Number the Stars
- I can link each main character to a specific story action that drives conflict
- I can connect each main character to at least one core story theme
- I can explain how Annemarie’s character develops over the course of the story
- I can describe the key relationship between Annemarie and Ellen
- I can identify one way Annemarie’s parents model moral courage
- I can write a clear thesis linking two main characters to a theme
- I can support a character analysis with quote-free story evidence
- I can avoid inventing fake quotes or page numbers about the characters
- I can explain how the main characters’ choices reflect the story’s historical context
Common Mistakes
- Confusing minor characters with main characters, leading to off-topic analysis
- Claiming characters act without motivation, alongside linking actions to their core traits
- Using vague statements like 'Annemarie is brave' without concrete story evidence
- Ignoring the historical context of the Nazi occupation when analyzing character choices
- Focusing only on one main character alongside connecting their actions to other key figures
Self-Test
- Name the four main characters in Number the Stars and one key action each takes
- Explain how Annemarie’s character changes from the beginning to the end of the story
- Link one main character’s action to the theme of moral courage
How-To Block
Action: For each main character, list three observable traits based on their story actions (not just feelings)
Output: A 4-item list of character traits with supporting action examples
Action: Match each character’s core trait to a story theme (courage, loyalty, moral duty)
Output: A chart of trait-theme pairs with clear connections
Action: Write one paragraph per character explaining how their traits and actions reinforce the linked theme
Output: Three polished analytical paragraphs ready for class discussion or essay use
Rubric Block
Character Identification & Accuracy
Teacher looks for: Correct identification of main characters and accurate, specific references to their story actions
How to meet it: Cross-check your character list against a reliable study guide, and use only confirmed story events to support your claims
Thematic Connection
Teacher looks for: Clear links between character actions and the story’s core themes, with no vague statements
How to meet it: For each character action, explicitly write how it ties to a theme (e.g., 'Annemarie’s choice to [action] shows loyalty by [explanation]')
Critical Analysis
Teacher looks for: Explanation of why character choices matter, not just what the characters do
How to meet it: After describing a character’s action, add one sentence explaining its impact on the plot, other characters, or the story’s message
Annemarie Johansen: The Protagonist’s Growth
Annemarie starts as a typical 10-year-old girl focused on ordinary childhood concerns. As the story progresses, she faces increasingly dangerous situations that force her to grow into a brave, responsible helper. Use this before class to lead a discussion on coming-of-age in times of crisis. Write one paragraph explaining how Annemarie’s final act of courage reflects her full character growth.
Ellen Rosen: The Vulnerable Friend
Ellen is Annemarie’s practical friend, and her need for protection drives many of the story’s key conflicts. She represents the fear and uncertainty faced by Jewish families during the Nazi occupation. Use this before an essay draft to frame a paragraph on how vulnerable characters highlight acts of courage. List three story events where Ellen’s presence tests Annemarie’s loyalty.
Mr. and Mrs. Johansen: Quiet Resisters
Annemarie’s parents are not flashy heroes, but their consistent, quiet choices to help others embody moral courage. They model how ordinary people can make a difference in a crisis. Use this before a quiz to review how adult characters influence the protagonist’s growth. Note two specific ways Annemarie’s parents’ actions shape her own choices.
Character Relationships: Driving the Plot
The bond between Annemarie and Ellen is the emotional core of the story. Annemarie’s relationship with her parents provides her with the strength and guidance to act bravely. Circle one key relationship and explain how it drives a major story event. Create a quick diagram showing how each main character’s relationships impact the plot.
Character Themes: Courage in All Forms
Each main character embodies a different form of courage—Annemarie’s youthful bravery, Ellen’s quiet resilience, and the Johansens’ steady moral action. These different forms work together to create a nuanced portrayal of courage in a crisis. Use this before a class presentation to organize your points by character and theme. Write one sentence for each character explaining their unique form of courage.
Using Character Analysis in Essays
Strong character analysis essays link character actions to broader themes and historical context. Avoid focusing only on one character; instead, show how their actions connect to other main characters. Use this before an essay draft to refine your thesis statement. Rewrite a draft thesis to include two main characters and their linked themes.
Who are the main characters in Number the Stars?
The main characters are Annemarie Johansen, a 10-year-old Danish girl; Ellen Rosen, her Jewish practical friend; and Annemarie’s parents, who help the Rosen family escape Nazi persecution.
How does Annemarie change throughout Number the Stars?
Annemarie grows from a sheltered child focused on everyday concerns to a brave, responsible helper who takes dangerous actions to protect her friend and support the resistance.
What is the role of Annemarie’s parents in Number the Stars?
Annemarie’s parents model quiet, consistent moral courage. They risk their lives to help Jewish families escape, and their actions teach Annemarie the importance of standing up for others.
How does Ellen drive the plot in Number the Stars?
Ellen’s need for protection from the Nazis drives many of the story’s key conflicts and actions, forcing Annemarie and her family to make difficult, brave choices.
Editorial note: This page is independently written for educational support. Verify specifics with assigned class materials and the original text.
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