ELA GRADE 9 CHARACTERIZATION

the manner in which an author develops and displays characters and their traits consists of a character’s appearance, behavior, way of speaking, interests, thoughts, personality

CHARACTERIZATION CONT’D Direct Characterization The author, narrator, or other characters will tell the reader what a character is really like, directly Telling Indirect Characterization The author, narrator or other characters will reveal information about a character through thought, action, or dialogue, indirectly Showing

CHARACTERIZATION CONT’D EXAMPLES Direct Characterization Bob is the class clown The first man was small and quick, dark of face, with restless eyes and sharp, strong features. Every part of him was defined: small, strong hands, slender arms, a thin and bony nose. Indirect Characterization The class roared as Bob entered the class, walking on his hands rather than his feet. [Lennie] drank with long gulps, snorting into the water like a horse.

Label each as either direct characterization or indirect characterization. 1.Jane chewed on her lower lip and paced as she waited for the airplane to arrive. 2.Jane is nervous about the arrival of the airplane. 3.Jane is happy that the airplane is arriving. 4.Jane does not want the plane to arrive.

CHARACTERIZATION

INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION THROUGH WORDS (DIALOGUE) …and the butler left the porch Daisy seized upon the momentary interruption and leaned toward me. “I’ll tell you a family secret,” she whispered enthusiastically. “It’s about the butler’s nose. Do you want to hear about the butler’s nose?” What can we say about Daisy’s personality based on what she says? F. Scott Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby

a. Round –many traits b. Flat -few traits c. Dynamic –changes d. Static – stays the same e. Protagonist -main character f. Antagonist -character in opposition to the protagonist CHARACTER TYPES