“Character is the sum and total of a person’s choices.”

 Characterization:  Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality traits of a character.  Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization. * Before you move forward to view the difference between direct characterization and indirect characterization, think about the differences between speaking in a direct manner versus an indirect manner.

 Direct Characterization:  Tells the audience DIRECTLY what the personality trait of the character is exactly. ▪ 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,” the girl is “quiet,” and both children are “well- mannered.”

 Indirect Characterization:  Shows the audience the personality of a character through the character’s: ▪ Speech (words) ▪ Thoughts ▪ Effects (on others) ▪ Actions ▪ Looks (appearance). You can remember the above by calling it the STEAL method

 SPEECH - What does the character say? How does the character speak?  THOUGHTS - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?  EFFECTS - What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?  ACTIONS - What does the character do? How does the character behave?  LOOKS - What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

“When Jane walked in the room, nobody could help but look at her stunning, gorgeous face. She commanded attention wherever she went due to her good looks.” ▪ Jane is beautiful. (LOOKS) Jim was very unlike any other businessman. He made sure that all his clients got what they had paid for. ▪ Jim is honest and hardworking. (ACTIONS/EFFECTS)

Quick Check “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Which methods of character development are being used? A)Direct B)Indirect

Quick Check “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Which methods of character development are being used? A)Direct B)Indirect

Quick Check “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Speech Description Actions Which methods of character development are being used?

Work through the below thought process to effectively determine an author’s characterization. 1. Direct or Indirect? 2. Text Evidence 3. Inferential Evidence 4. Draw Conclusions Identify the type of characterization the author uses to reveal the character’s personality traits. Find the information from the text that will help you determine the character’s personality traits. Think about what you have been able to determine about the character as a whole. Combine what the text says with what you know to draw a conclusion about the character’s personality. Definition: conclusion based on inferred (speculated) evidence

 Examine the following picture and the person (character) displayed. Characterize the individual using the previous slide’s thought process.

1. Direct or Indirect? Indirect characterization because the audience must characterize based on inferred assumptions.

1. Direct or Indirect? 2. Text Evidence Indirect characterization because the audience must characterize based on inferred assumptions. In the picture, we see a man working on two computers, he has four books open that he is using as references, and he is drinking what appears to be coffee.

1. Direct or Indirect? 2. Text Evidence 3. Inferential Evidence Indirect characterization because the audience must characterize based on inferred assumptions. In the picture, we see a man working on two computers, he has four books open that he is using as references, and he is drinking coffee. I can see that the man prepares. I can see that the man uses multiple references to find the best information. I know that people drink coffee when they are tired, need more energy to complete a task, or try to stay focused.

1. Direct or Indirect? 2. Text Evidence 3. Inferential Evidence 4. Draw Conclusions Indirect characterization because the audience must characterize based on inferred assumptions. In the picture, we see a man working on two computers, he has four books open that he is using as references, and he is drinking coffee. I can see that the man prepares. I can see that the man uses multiple references to find the best information. I know that people drink coffee when they are tired, need more energy to complete a task, or try to stay focused. Based on the information provided from the picture and my own background knowledge, I can draw the conclusion that the man is hard-working, studious, and determined.