Characterization

E.Q. How do writers characterize their characters?

What is characterization?

• Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.• Characterization is revealed

through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

Direct Characterization• Direct characterization tells the audience what

the personality of the character is.• Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were

both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”

• Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”

• Straight forward

Indirect Characterization

• Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character.• Writers use five different methods of

indirect characterization: thoughts, words, feelings, choices, and actions.

Thoughts

• An author allows the reader to become better acquainted with a character by getting inside the head of that character.• For example, in the story, “The Secret Life

of Walter Mitty,” by James Thurber, the reader experiences the daydreams of the main character.

Words

• Authors typically give their characters unique “voices.” That is, the way in which a character “talks” is unique to that character. The reader doesn’t have to question who is “speaking” because of the author’s word choice, syntax, tone, and diction.

Feelings

• A writer allows the reader to know the heart of a character through the expression of his feelings. • For example, in the story, “The Great Rat

Hunt,” by Laurence Yep, the reader comes to understand that, as a boy, Laurence felt incompetent when it came to playing sports.

Choices

• Very often, an author will characterize a character based an incident in the character’s life, how the incident shapes them as a character, and the choices the character makes in dealing with the incident.

• For example, in the story, “Charles,” by Shirley Jackson, the main character makes certain choices that give the reader keen insight into the personality of that character.

Actions

• A character can be analyzed by an action he or she takes when confronted with a certain situation.

• For example, when Tom Sawyer is given the job of whitewashing a fence (a job about which he is less than enthused), he doesn’t sit around griping and complaining about it. Instead, he puts a plan into action that benefits all parties concerned.

To Sum it All Up

• A writer reveals the personality of a character through direct and indirect characterization. • Authors include more in-depth

characterizations to give readers a greater understanding of, and personal connection with, the characters in their stories.