Pick one character and discuss the methods Enger uses to characterize him or her in Peace Like a River.Consider the following methods of...

The fact that the question contains the words "thus far" I
will assume that you have not read the entire book yet.  This means you only have to
look as far as you have read to find examples.  In order to complete this assignment I
encourage you to follow these simple steps in
order:

1. Choose a
   character. (The easiest, in my opinion, are either Reuben or Swede,
   though Jeremiah would also be fun.)


2. Make a
   list of examples for your character following the characterization
   guidelines above (speech, action, reaction, etc.)  If you found just one example (a
   quote or paraphrased idea) for each, you would have a great
   start.


3. Examine your list. 
   From it, try to draw a one-sentence conclusion about your character.  This is where you
   will include a few pointed adjectives to describe who he or she really
   is.


4. Your one-sentence character "summary" will become
   your thesis statement.  Then, you can prove the thesis using the
   examples you brainstormed in step #2.

A couple
of things to consider:

Reuben is the narrator.  Most of the
insight you will glean from him comes from his easy way of speaking and story-telling,
the personal connection he has to each member of his family, and his imagination. 
Consider that he is young when he experiences the story, but tells much of it from a
grown up perspective.  You might also want to include the fact that he should have died
as a baby, but didn't, and thus believes his father works miracles, and his life has a
purpose.

If you choose Swede, her writing and poetry
throughout the story should not be ignored.  Much like her brother Reuben, she is
imaginative, intelligent, and acts much older than her age.  Also consider that she is
the only female, being raised by a father and two older
brothers.