What Is Characterization? Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization Motivation Practice
Characterization
description
Transcript of Characterization
CharacterizationUnit Two: Fiction & The Hobbit
Who or what qualifies as a character?
• A character will: • Be a person or animal in the story• Takes part in the action• They are not usually described all at one time-
information is given to the reader in pieces throughout the story.
• Ex: Ponyboy• Ex: Bilbo
How do characters become real? • Two ways:
• Direct Characterization:• The author or narrator gives the reader information about
the character(s)
• Indirect Characterization:• The reader must examine the thoughts, actions, and
feelings of a character for himself and make a decision
Characters can be: • Major OR Minor
• Major characters LEAD the story, while MINOR characters help add to th ekey elements and plot
• Protagonists or Antagonist• A PROTAGONIST is normally the main character, & the focus of the
reader’s attention• A antagonist is usually in conflict with the protagonist, or the bad guy
• Round OR Flat• Round characters have a background and different/ many sides to
their personality• Flat characters give you little to no personal history or personal
information, and have only 1-2 obvious personality traits• Static OR Dynamic
• Static characters remain the same throughout the story• Dynamic characters change throughout the course of the story-
normally dramatic changes
Physical Description• Describes anything physical about the character• Can include: Height, Weight, Clothing, short/ tall,
skinny/ fat, Unusual qualities… anything you can see on the outside
Name Analysis• Analyzing a characters name is looking more
closely at the name and it’s relation to the characters traits and characteristics.
• Not all characters name will have a meaning…
• What is an example of this?
Attitude/ Appearance• The reader’s description of the characters
attitude.• How does the character feel about what is
happening to him/her in the story?
Dialogue• Dialogue is the way a character talks.• Includes the characters choice of words and the
tone he/she speaks in.• Is the character: serious? Sarcastic? Ignorant?
Obnoxious?
Thoughts…• What is the character thinking?• What type of narrator must we have to know a
characters thoughts?