Boot Camp A.P. Literature Part 2- Characterization

Character Defined A character is presumably an imagined person who inhabits a story, though there are exceptions to this simple definition. Characters require motivation, sufficient reason to behave as they do if we are to believe they are realistic. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an exception to the “rule.”

Types of Characters Flat Round Static Dynamic Protagonist Antagonist Hero Anti hero Stock Archetype

Stock Characters Stereotypical characters that require little detail from the author since audiences know them so well. Examples: Prince Charming, the mad scientist, the greedy explorer, the reckless police detective. Sampson and Gregory from Romeo and Juliet fit the stock definition of “the bragging solider” from Roman comedy.

The Archetype Common Archetype examples The hero The mother The innocent youth The mentor The lover The rebel The creator The magician The jester The sage The ruler The explorer The temptress The villain The psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung, used the concept of archetype in his theory of the human psyche. He believed that universal, mythic characters—archetypes—reside within the collective unconscious of people the world over. Archetypes represent fundamental human motifs of our experience as we evolved; consequentially, they evoke deep emotions. **You can have archetypal situations too, like the journey.

Stock vs Archetype If an archetype is a standard character that appears in may works of literature, what makes it different from the stock character? A stock character although recognizable is also flat or cliché and can have a negative connotation A stock character can be dependent upon its time period and may go out of date Archetypes help establish more than just a superficial understanding of the character, they supply an undercurrent of theme, plot, or understanding which that time honored figure brings to the subconscious mind.

Properly Using the Word Archetype Here are sentences showing when to use archetype vs archetypal Prometheus is an archetypal hero. The Garden of Eden is an archetype for settings of paradise and innocence. The coming-of-age story featured a loss of innocence, including an archetypal garden setting and snake figure. The archetype of the “hero’s journey” is featured in many adventure films today.

Practice with All The Pretty Horses The novel as an archetypal plot: the coming of age tale or the hero’s journey? Both Does it contain an archetypal character? The hero, the villain, maybe more If it is a coming of age tale, what would be the garden setting and the snake? …

Round/Flat Flat characters may be minor characters with a single unique role or physical attribute. One way that round characters come to life is when we get differing perspectives from multiple other characters about them. Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim is a memorable flat character. He serves to remind others of their Christian duties and blessings.

Dynamic/Static Dynamic characters change over the course of a work. Static characters remain largely the same. Major characters tend to be round and dynamic. It is difficult to avoid making minor characters flat and static. Ebenezer Scrooge is an obviously dynamic character. John Grady and Rawlins in the film version of All the Pretty Horses

Hero / Anti-Hero Heroic characters assume typical aspects of a hero. He or she is noble, brave, and lives a purposeful life. Anti-heroes have become popular in modern literature. They are protagonists who lack heroic qualities, often to the point of irony. John Grady Cole is noble and moral Jay Gatsby lies, cheats, breaks the law, obsesses over a married woman. He’s a classic anti-hero.

Hero? Anti-Hero? Homer’s Odysseus is a hero in the classical sense. Joyce’s Leopold Bloom is an ironic anti-hero for the 20th century. Gulliver is an anti-hero used for comic effect by Swift.

Characterization Methods Direct Characterization Author tells the audience what the character is like. Indirect Characterization Author shows the audience what the character is like through description. Stronger method as it causes the characters to “come alive.”

5 Methods of Indirect Characterization Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it. Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of view. Effects on others toward the character= 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 the character does Looks= what does the character look like? How does the character dress?

A Character’s Purpose Main Character Supporting Character To make a story rich and interesting Used to develop a theme Can reveal commentary on a society Serves to advance the plot Provides needed information To reveal things about the main character Helps to develop theme

Annotating Indirect Characterization ACT Actions = what the character does APP Appearance = what the character looks like THO Private Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of view. SPE Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it. OTH What Others Say = public and private opinion of the character by others in the work.

Directions for “Who’s Irish” and “Miss Brill” Follow the handouts directions for Part 1 or Task 1 on identifying characterization and distinguishing between main and supporting characters. Have your annotations with character chart ready for class on announced due date. Use the indirect characterization annotation abbreviations or STEAL letters

Getting Started Select a character Think about how your character is being used in the story: For Sympathy? Catalyst for plot development? Reflection of a theme? Symbolic? Social commentary? Other? Find examples of characterization that reflect your idea about the character. Be very detailed in your ideas and specific with examples in order to build careful analysis.

Character Analysis “Who’s Irish” by Gish Jen Identify the type of characters. Explain why. For each character, provide one quote that exemplifies a method of indirect characterization. Discuss what effect the characterization has on the story. Use the task /part 3 prompts as guides. Select a character from one of the following stories: “Who’s Irish” by Gish Jen “Miss Brill” by Catherine Mansfield ***To be completed in class when assigned but feel free to consider your options ahead of time.

Creating a Character based Thesis Your thesis should mention both author and title by name. Your thesis should directly address the prompt and name the element(s) you have chosen to address. Your thesis should address the meaning of the work as a whole Today, Effect might be to support a theme, or create a social commentary. Practice your writing your thesis