There is no question that the protagonist of this story is Miss Brill. The story is told in third-person and is all about what she is seeing and thinking.
2. Make a quick list of the character's physical, mental, moral or behavioral traits. Which seem especially significant to the action of the story?
Miss Brill is an elderly woman. One hint at this is when she thinks about when she bought her ermine toque "when her hair was yellow" (73). This easily implies that her hair color is no longer yellow or blond. She is quite observant of her surroundings and doesn't see her self as being old. She expects that younger men will still approach her as they would a young beautiful woman. She does not she herself as one of the elderly, saying that they look like they live in cupboards. She imagines herself as being an actress in the giant play that going on. She is living in her fantasy world. Her detachment from reality is crucial to the story because it basically is the story. It's not until she is brought back to reality that we return with her.
3. Does the main character have an antagonist in the story? How do they differ?
I would say that Miss Brill's antagonist is the rest of the world. She is so happy and optimistic. Everyone else around her is the opposite. The other elderly folks around don't speak to one another and the younger generation make fun of Miss Brill. Perhaps, reality is Miss Brill's antagonist.
4. Does the way the protagonist speaks reveal anything about his or her personality?
In this story, most of what Miss Brill says is in her head. We know almost nothing about her interaction with her surroundings except for what she thinks about her surroundings. In any case, how she thinks does reveal much about her character. As I said, she is quite optimistic. She even catches herself being on the negative side and corrects herself. The whole first paragraph, as she is getting ready to go out she corrects her attitude several times.
5. If the story is told in the first person, what is revealed about his or her personality?
This story was not told in first-person, but it might as well have been. Even though the narration is in third-person, almost the whole story is told using Miss Brill's thoughts and feelings. I think having the story narrated in the style adds to the detachment we and Miss Brill feel.
6. What is the character's primary motivation? Does this motivation seem reasonable?
I'm not sure what Miss Brill's motivation is. Perhaps, it is to simply be happy. Enjoy the little things in life and such. Perhaps, she wishes to avoid feeling old or refuses to accept that she already is old. Either way, I think motivation is reasonable. I'm not sure anybody wishes to get old. Or, at least, nobody who is already wishes to be old.
7. Does the protagonist fully understand his or her motivations?
I think Miss Brill does understand her motivation. She knows what she is doing when she gets up on Sundays to go the park. Unfortunately, she has convinced herself that her act is reality. And when she starts to think about the true reality she rejects the thought and continues with her own imagined reality. I'd say she knows what she's doing, even if her actions are futile.
8. In what ways is the protagonist changed or tested by the events of the story?
Sadly, Miss Brill is tested. There is part where she imagines the young man will come and possibly talk to her, but her does not. And, of course, there is the end where the young couple talk about Miss Brill. After hearing what the couple say about her, Miss Brill's spirit is broken. She breaks her cheerful Sunday routine and simply goes home to "her room like a cupboard" (75).
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