CHARACTERIZATIONCHARACTERIZATION

The process of revealing The process of revealing the personality of a the personality of a charactercharacter

DIRECT DIRECT CHARACTERIZATIONCHARACTERIZATION

The author tells us The author tells us directly what kind of directly what kind of personality the character personality the character has; whether the has; whether the character is cruel, kind, character is cruel, kind, etc.etc.

We donWe don’’t have to decide t have to decide for ourselves!for ourselves!

This requires no This requires no interpretation!interpretation!

““The Necklace”The Necklace”

““She dressed plainly She dressed plainly because she could not because she could not afford fine clothes, but was afford fine clothes, but was as unhappy as a woman as unhappy as a woman who has come down in the who has come down in the world” (p. 208). world” (p. 208).

INDIRECT INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATIONCHARACTERIZATION

The reader has to use his or her The reader has to use his or her own judgment to decide what a own judgment to decide what a character is like based on the character is like based on the evidence the writer gives usevidence the writer gives us

There are 5 ways an author can There are 5 ways an author can reveal things about a characterreveal things about a character’’s s personality . . . S-T-E-A-Lpersonality . . . S-T-E-A-L

S . . . SPEECHS . . . SPEECH

The author allows us to hear the The author allows us to hear the character speak and through character speak and through those conversations we learn those conversations we learn about the characterabout the character’’s personalitys personality

How would you describe How would you describe a character who says…a character who says…

““I stole the money from my I stole the money from my Grandmother.Grandmother.””

““Loneliness seems to be Loneliness seems to be taking over my life.taking over my life.””

““I canI can’’t wait to go to school t wait to go to school tomorrow!tomorrow!””

T . . . THOUGHTST . . . THOUGHTS

The author The author allows us to allows us to listen to the listen to the charactercharacter’’s inner s inner thoughts and thoughts and feelingsfeelings

What if a character What if a character thinks…thinks…

Should I go talk to the boy? No. Should I go talk to the boy? No. Well…maybe I should. Maybe not…Well…maybe I should. Maybe not…

I wish I never said that in class. I I wish I never said that in class. I feel so stupid right now. I bet feel so stupid right now. I bet everyone is staring at me. everyone is staring at me.

E . . . EFFECT on OthersE . . . EFFECT on Others

The author may The author may reveal what reveal what other people in other people in the story think the story think or say about the or say about the charactercharacter

A . . . ACTIONSA . . . ACTIONS

The author may The author may show us what the show us what the character does—character does—how he or she acts how he or she acts in certain in certain situationssituations

What if a character…What if a character…

Pushes an elderly lady to Pushes an elderly lady to the groundthe ground

Feeds a homeless person Feeds a homeless person foodfood

Cries continuously in every Cries continuously in every situation. situation.

L . . . LOOKSL . . . LOOKS

The author The author may describe may describe how the how the character character looks and looks and dressesdresses

What if a character…What if a character…

Dresses like a bag lady?Dresses like a bag lady? Wears curlers in her hair and Wears curlers in her hair and

talks to herself?talks to herself? Has hair down to his ankles and Has hair down to his ankles and

carries a guitar everywhere?carries a guitar everywhere?

STATIC vs. DYNAMICSTATIC vs. DYNAMIC A STATIC character A STATIC character

does not change much does not change much throughout the storythroughout the story

A DYNAMIC character A DYNAMIC character changes as a result of changes as a result of the storythe story’’s eventss events

Static vs. DynamicStatic vs. Dynamic

Give an example of a Give an example of a static character.static character.

Give an example of a Give an example of a dynamic character from dynamic character from the same storyline. the same storyline.

ROUND vs. FLATROUND vs. FLAT

A FLAT character has only one or A FLAT character has only one or two traits; there is no depth to two traits; there is no depth to their character.their character.

A ROUND character is one who is A ROUND character is one who is fully developed, like a real person fully developed, like a real person with many character traitswith many character traits

Round vs. FlatRound vs. Flat

Give an example of a Give an example of a round vs. flat character round vs. flat character from the same story. from the same story.

MOTIVATIONMOTIVATION

The fears, The fears, conflicts or conflicts or needs that drive needs that drive a charactera character

MOTIVESMOTIVES What is Madame Loisel’s motive for What is Madame Loisel’s motive for

borrowing jewels from Madame Forestier?borrowing jewels from Madame Forestier? What is Madame Forestier’s motive in not What is Madame Forestier’s motive in not

telling Madame Loisel the truth about the telling Madame Loisel the truth about the jewels?jewels?

What is Madame Loisel’s motive in not What is Madame Loisel’s motive in not telling Madame Forestier she lost the telling Madame Forestier she lost the jewels? jewels?

Character FoilsCharacter Foils

A character who provides a striking A character who provides a striking contrast to another character; he or contrast to another character; he or she draws attention to the traits she draws attention to the traits possessed by the main character possessed by the main character through contrast.through contrast.

Who is a FOIL for Madame Loisel?Who is a FOIL for Madame Loisel?

Describe the following Describe the following characters with your characters with your knowledge of knowledge of characterizationcharacterization