Characterization Chapter 2

Characterization Characterization: various literary means by which characters are presented/revealed The revelations that fiction offers lie largely in characterization What is more difficult in your opinion, creating a plot or a character? Why? Direct Presentation: Authors tells readers simply, what the characters are like. Miss Stephanie Crawford is "a neighborhood scold" Boo Radley is "a malevolent phantom” Mrs. Dubose is "plain hell" (1.14).  Indirect Presentation: the author shows us the characters subtly through their names, looks, thoughts, actions, dialogue and others perceptions. “He was a tall, lean, dark-haired young man in a pullover sweater, who looked as if he played not football, probably, but basketball in college.” “Behind him walked his opposite, a huge man, shapeless of face, with large, pale eyes, with wide, sloping shoulders; and he walked heavily dragging his feet a little, the way a bear drags his paws.”

Indirect Characterization Pyramid Names Looks Thoughts Actions Dialogues Other’s Perceptions

Indirect Characterization Activity Come up with a name that could possibly reveal more than just gender Mr. Johnson, Dr. Kim, Grandma Judy, Sgt. Stewart, Stevie, Spot, Patches etc. PASS!!! Create this character’s physical appearance by drawing him/her/it Give them a clear emotion, physique, age and fashion sense Give the character thoughts with bubble above their head These should be related to any of the appearance/name already conveyed Add action to the character by giving them an accessory or two to show something that they are either doing or have already accomplished You could even draw other people to insinuate how the character affected them

Indirect Characterization Activity Add some dialogue by creating a word bubble from the main character and a word bubble from someone else either in the picture or from outside the picture who is communicating with them. Try include powerful words/context to emphasize the character’s internal personality PASS!!! Add at least two other figures looking on and give them either thought or word bubbles making their own perceptions about what they are witnessing. Make sure these thoughts clearly show the what others think about the main character PASS and return to original owner Take you completed image and read all indirect characterization for you new and improved character. Now write a paragraph of narration for this character as if you were directly characterizing them based on the information you have just received. Feel free to follow the pyramid’s order. Keep this piece of paper as we will be using the other side next week.

The Final Product

Types of Characters Flat: usually have only one or two predominant traits. They can be summed up in a sentence or two Stock: kind of a flat character that are stereotyped figures who have reoccurred so often in fiction that we recognized them. Static: remains essentially the same person from the beginning to this end. Round: complex and many-sided They have the three-dimensional quality of real people. Developing (dynamic): endures a distinct change of character, personality or outlook This change can be defined by something known as an epiphany (moment of spiritual insight to life or into character's own circumstances.

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

What type of character are they?

Character Interaction Protagonist - main character who is the focus of the reader’s attention No always a “good” guy but simply the character who is encountering most of the conflict Usually a complicated being with just enough strengths, weaknesses and contradictions to remind us of ourselves. Who is this person’s opposite? Antagonist- the character or force that blocks the protagonist from achieving their desire or goal. Not always the “bad” guy but simply the character/force who opposes the protagonist