How does an author develop a character? ORDER OF BUSINESS: REVIEW 5 TECHNIQUES FOR CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT LEARN WHY IT MATTERS TO GOOD READERS

1. SPEECH/DIALOGUE Words spoken by a character can be quite revealing. Example: “‘I never want to have kids.’” (Spoken by Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It reveals what she is thinking about her life’s situation.) Reveals: Katniss is mature, logical, selfless, and unhappy with her world. (pick one to copy)

2. THOUGHTS/INTERIOR MONOLOGUE Sometimes authors reveal information through the inner thoughts of a character. – Example: “Oh well. There’s 24 of us. Odds are someone else will kill him before I do.” (thought by Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.) – Reveals: Katniss is not looking forward to killing anyone, especially Peeta.

3. EFFECT ON OTHERS/RELATIONSHIPS How a character relates to others reveals the type of person they are. – Example: Even though she hates the cat, Katniss lets it stay for her sister. (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.) – Reveals: Katniss puts her sister first.

4. ACTIONS/DECISIONS What a character does or decides is quite revealing. – Example: Katniss volunteers to take her sister’s place in the Hunger Games. (Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.) – Reveals: Katniss is brave and loves her sister.

5. LOOKS/DESCRIPTION Sometimes authors describe a character in order to reveal information to the reader. – Example: Katniss is described as wearing trousers, a cap, boots, and having long, dark hair. (Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.) – Reveals: Katniss is a tomboy.

WHY DOES IT MATTER? GOOD READERS DO THE FOLLOWING: THEY LEARN ABOUT CHARACTERS BASED ON THE 5 TECHNIQUES. THEY KNOW HOW CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT HELPS TO REVEAL THE THEME OF TEXT. THEY KNOW THE THEME IS THE UNDERLYING MESSAGE OF THE TEXT. EXAMPLE: LOYALTY (TO ONES FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND COMMUNITY) IS A THEME IN THE HUNGER GAMES.