Characterization

How do we know things about people? Sometimes they tell us directly. I am very interested in history. I love to read. I am easily embarrassed. Sometimes we learn things about people by observing them, listening to them, and listening to what others have to say about them.

What is Characterization? Characterization is the method an author uses to tell the reader about the characters. Can be either direct or indirect.

Direct Characterization Sometimes an author makes direct statements about a character's personality and tells us what the character is like. This is called direct characterization. Lanie was a very impatient girl. She didn't want to wait for her sister to finish her phone call. Her call had to be made right away. Sisters

Direct Characterization Jack had been in basic training in Florida and Dottie was there on vacation with her parents. They’d met on the beach and struck up a conversation. Dottie was the talker; the outgoing one– the extrovert. Jack was too shy around girls to say much at all. Furlough—1944 by Harry Mazer Matilda

Indirect Characterization When an author shows things that reveal a character's personality. Character's physical description Character's thoughts/feelings Character's actions Other character's thoughts about the character

Indirect Characterization Character's physical description What the character looks like How the character dresses Mrs. Thomas has green eyes and light brown colored hair. Miss Kinney was young and blond and bouncy and had a boyfriend who picked her up after school in a blue Camaro. Here There Be Tygers by Stephen King

Character's Physical Description I stared at his face because it was so devastatingly, so inhumanely, beautiful. I noticed that his eyes were coal black. His skin was pale and his copper hair shone like flecks of gold.- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Character's Thoughts and Feelings The author tells you the character's thoughts and feelings to let you know about their personality. Moonbeam closed his eyes and pretended to sleep the rest of the way to Bamfield. He couldn’t believe what he’d gotten himself into. How had this happened? He’d never held a gun in his life, much less gone hunting for animals. Moonbeam Dawson and the Killer Bear by Jean Okimoto

Character's Thoughts and Feelings I can hoop. Case closed. You can take my game to the bank and wait around for the interest. Basketball for me is like the only time I'm being for real. Slam by Walter Dean Myers Jan's Voices Vampire Diaries- Elena

Character's Actions The Grinch What the character does/says. How the character behaves. The boy held his breath; he wondered whether his father would hear his heart beating... Through a crack in the counter he could see his father where he stood, one hand held to his high stiff collar... I Spy by Graham Greene The Grinch

Other Character's Thoughts about the Character How the character affects those around him or her. How the other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character. Forbes said, “Mrs. Thomas is such an awesome person. She is so smart.”

Other Character's Thoughts about a Character “That's Edward. He's gorgeous, of course. But don't waste your time on him. He doesn't date. Apparently none of the girls here are good enough for him. Whatever.” Jessica Stanley, Twilight Introducing Regina George