CharacterizationCharacterization

CharacterizationCharacterization

Characterization is revealed both Characterization is revealed both directly and indirectly.directly and indirectly.

Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization

Direct:Direct: writers make writers make direct statements direct statements about the character’s about the character’s appearance, habits, appearance, habits, goals, values, beliefs. goals, values, beliefs. (They “tell”).(They “tell”).

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

Indirect:Indirect: writers report a writers report a characters’ words, characters’ words, thoughts, actions, and thoughts, actions, and interactions without interactions without commenting on them. commenting on them. (They “show”- you need to (They “show”- you need to infer).infer).

““STEAL”STEAL” with Indirect with Indirect CharacterizationCharacterization

‘‘STEAL’ stands for:STEAL’ stands for:SSpeechpeechTThoughtshoughtsEEffects on Othersffects on OthersAActionsctionsLLooksooks

STEALSTEAL

SSpeech:peech: What does the character’s What does the character’s speech reveal about them? speech reveal about them? Ex. “Like Oh, My God!!”Ex. “Like Oh, My God!!”

‘‘I don’t care that I slammed his face in pie; I don’t care that I slammed his face in pie; he deserved it.” he deserved it.”

STEALSTEAL

Thoughts:Thoughts: What does the What does the character’s inner thoughts tell character’s inner thoughts tell about their motives? Who they about their motives? Who they are? are? Monologue or soliloquy Monologue or soliloquy

STEALSTEAL

Effects Effects on Others:on Others: How does How does the character interact with the character interact with others? What does it reveal others? What does it reveal about them?about them?How they speak to people, how How they speak to people, how

they treat people. they treat people.

STEALSTEAL

Actions:Actions: What does the What does the character’s actions reveal about character’s actions reveal about them? Their motives?them? Their motives?TalkativeTalkativeRelaxedRelaxedSpasticSpasticTemper Tantrum Temper Tantrum

STEALSTEAL

Looks:Looks: How does the How does the character’s looks reflect who character’s looks reflect who they are? What image are they are? What image are they presenting? they presenting?

The process of showing how a The process of showing how a character changes or revealing character changes or revealing different sides of the different sides of the character’s personality is called character’s personality is called character development.character development.