Character

CHARACTER: An individual in a story or play CHARACTER: An individual in a story or play. A character always has human traits, even if the character is an animal, as in Aesop’s fables, or a god, as in the Greek and Roman myths.

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character is called characterization. A writer can reveal a character in the following ways: • by telling us directly what the character is like: sneaky, generous, mean to pets, and so on • by describing how the character looks and dresses • by letting us hear the character speak • by revealing the character’s private thoughts and feelings

• by showing the character in action by revealing the character’s effect on other people — showing how other characters feel or behave toward the character • by showing the character in action

Types of Characters: A flat character: (also known as a type, or a two-dimensional character) is defined by a single quality without much individualizing detail. A round character: is a complex individual incapable of being easily defined.

The degree to which characters are given roundness and individual complexity depends upon their function in the plot--some only need to be seen at a distance, like strangers or acquaintances, rather than known intimately.

What Makes a Good Character Description? I: Use of Interesting Adjectives a) b) II: Use of Figurative Language III: Revelation of Character’s Feelings

Be as specific as possible. What is his/her name? Age? Height? Body shape? Hair color, skin color? Job? Favorite saying? Typical outfit to wear? Method of transportation? Immediate plan? Long-range goal? Kind of education? What kind of house/home/apartment? Best friend? Favorite food? Financial situation? Hobby? Skill? Favorite book? Last-read book? Spouse/mate/steady date/significant other? Why/why not? Parents? Siblings? Kids? Does he/she have a pet? What kind? What city/country/location?

What can you tell me about… Billy Buck Let’s read the snap shot about Billy Buck. Make a list of all the details you find about Billy Buck. What does the author tell you and what does he let you infer?

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck Examine EVERY word of this description. Steinbeck is a master and his 270 words are filled not only with Billy’s physical description but also his personality, philosophy, occupation, rank in society, attitudes to life and work, competence at his job, among other things. If you try, you can find at least 35 separate aspects that relate to Billy Buck.

At daybreak Billy Buck emerged from the bunkhouse and stood for a moment on the porch looking up at the sky. He was a broad, bandy-legged little man with a walrus mustache, with square hands, puffed and muscled on the palms. His eyes were a contemplative, watery grey and the hair which protruded from under his Stetson hat was spiky and weathered. Billy was still stuffing his shirt into his blue jeans as he stood on the porch.

He unbuckled his belt and tightened it again He unbuckled his belt and tightened it again. The belt showed, by the worn shiny places opposite each hole, the gradual increase in Billy’s middle over a period of years. When he had seen to the weather, Billy cleared each nostril by holding its mate closed with his forefinger and blowing fiercely. Then he walked down to the barn, rubbing his hands together. He curried and brushed two saddle horses in the stalls, talking quietly to them all the time; and he had hardly finished when the iron triangle started ringing at the ranch house.

Billy stuck the brush and currycomb together and laid them on the rail, and went up to breakfast. His action had been so deliberate and yet so wasteless of time that he came to the house while Mrs. Tiflin was still ringing the triangle. She nodded her grey head to him and withdrew into the kitchen. Billy Buck sat down on the steps, because he was a cow-hand, and it wouldn’t be fitting that he should go first into the dining room. He heard Mr. Tiflin in the house, stamping into his boots.

What can you tell me about Billy Buck? Why are Billy’s eyes “contemplative, watery grey” and his hair “spiky and weathered”? When do you find out Billy’s occupation? How do we know how well he can do his job?

Now it is your turn…. In about as many words, write a description of a person, real or fictional. You will ideally have this person either finishing or beginning something, such as getting ready to go to work or leaving work at the end of the day. Be sure to use a short time frame to enclose your description and give it an ending and a beginning. Use vivid words and let me (the reader) know everything about the person. Don’t tell me everything– imply as many things as Steinbeck does about Billy.