CharacterizationCharacterization

Date:__________Title: Characterization

EQ: How do we know the difference between characters

in a story?

CharacterizatioCharacterizationn

• Definition:Definition: Several methods used by an author to make a character real and believable.

1. Inner Thoughts and Feelings• The reader gets to see and hear the character’s

thoughts and feelings in reaction to different situations.

• First Person NarrativeFirst Person Narrative – Thoughts and feelings are revealed by the main character

(I wonder…)• Third Person NarrativeThird Person Narrative – The narrator describes the

inner thoughts and feelings of the character.

(She wondered…)• Inner thoughts and feelings are divulged (revealed)

about a major character by how he or she tells the story or by how the narrator tells the story.

Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization2. Speech2. Speech

The words a character says. • For example, “Whatever…” or “OMG!” may make

us think the character is a teenage girl.• Words like “ya’ll” and “ain’t” make us think of

someone from the country. • Phrases like “dude,” “surfs up,” or “hang ten” may

be phrases we would associate with a surfer.

A character’s “speech” may or may not agree with the character’s true inner thoughts and feelings, but the dialogue dialogue may reveal more about the character.

Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

3.3. Actions – Actions – • What a character

does (verb) walk, run, or stomp

• Actions reveal the character’s willingness or unwillingness to participate in the events of the story.

Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

4. What others say:4. What others say:• A character’s response or

actions may tell the reader something about another character.

• For example, how a character talks about another character or the facial expressions one character shows about another character “say” something about a character.

Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

5.5. AppearanceAppearance

How a character looks are described by the narrator, by other characters, or in the character’s own words.

Physical Traits Physical Traits includeinclude: hair color/length, facial description, body type, and clothing etc.

Review the 55Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

II – inner thoughts and feelings

SS – speech

A A – actions

WW – what others say

AA – appearance

……CHARACTERCHARACTER

Type of CharactersCharactersAntagonist:Antagonist:This character always opposes

the protagonist.

(an evil adversary)

Sometimes the adversary is truly evil or a bully.

The “bad guy”.

Protagonist:Protagonist:This character is

usually the hero of the story.

He/She may not be perfect, but the reader or audience “cheers” him/her on.

The “good guy”.

Dynamic:Dynamic:A dynamic character

changes during the story.

The change is usually a result of solving the conflict.

The dynamic character is usually one of the main characters.

Static:Static:A static character does not

change in a story.

Usually the static characters are minor characters.

Or possibly the story’s or novel’s antagonist.

Type of CharactersCharacters

Round:Round:A character who we

know a lot about. The reader learns many details about this character. They are “well rounded” like a 3-D person.

Flat:Flat:A character who we

don’t know well. The reader learns little about this character. They are “flat” like a paper doll, only 2-D.

Types of CharactersCharacters