Characterization Oh, and Point of View!

Characterization the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

Direct vs. Indirect Direct: tells the audience what the personality of the character is. Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”

Direct vs. Indirect Indirect: shows things that reveal the personality of a character. When looking for indirect characterization, you should S.T.E.A.L. a character Speech Thoughts Effect on other characters Actions Looks Example: “Mom, I will wait right here,” said the little Tom.

Protagonist Central character Person on whom action centers Character who pushes the action forward Character who attempts to accomplish something Usually seen as “good” by not necessarily “good” Sometimes referred to as the hero

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Antagonist Gives rise to the conflict of the story Character who wants something in opposition to the protagonist Usually seen as a bad person/force or villain

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foil Character who is a contrast or opposite to the protagonist A character whose behavior and values contrast starkly with another character in order to highlight the distinctive temperament of that character Character who is a contrast or opposite to the protagonist Ie: a foolish character is set up next to a wise character, thereby making the contrast between foolish and wise greater

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Stereotyped Character that is instantly recognizable because of the stereotype

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Round These characters are more complex than flat characters They display inconsistencies and internal conflicts found in real people Because they are more complex, they are harder to summarize "The test of a round character is whether it is capable of surprising in a convincing way. If it never surprises, it is flat." E. M. Forster

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Flat Not well-developed This character has 1-2 traits or qualities that can be readily described Easily defined in a single sentence because we know little about the character Sometimes stereotyped Most minor characters are flat

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Dynamic Undergoes an important change in personality in the story Comes to some sort of realization that permanently changes the character A change occurs within the character because of the events of the story The protagonist is usually dynamic, but not always

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static Remains the same throughout the story Although something may happen to the character, it does not cause the character to change Minor characters are usually static

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Point of view 1st person: "I" or "we" serves as the narrator of a piece of fiction. 2nd person: the narrator tells the story to another character using "you"; the story is being told through the addressee's point of view. 3rd person: narrator relates all action from an “outside” perspective, using third person pronouns such as "he" or "she.“ Limited: the narrator knows only the thoughts and feelings of a single character, while other characters are presented only externally Omniscient: the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story; completely removed

Works cited "Characterization." Kim's Korner for Teacher Talk. Web. 06 May 2010. <http://www.kimskorner4teachertalk.com/readin gliterature/literary_elements_devices/characteriz ation.htm>.