Sympathetic Characters

Definition a character in a story whom the writer expects the reader to identify with and care about, and in some cases admire.

How do we make sympathetic characters? Method #1: A similarity between us and the character They don’t like school! Cool, neither do we! They like fire! I am a pyromaniac! Their father is exceptionally dorky! So is mine! Harry Potter has a crush on Cho Chang—I’ve had a crush before! Peter Parker fell asleep in class because he was up too late—I have done that too!

#2 Problems: The character has conflicts and issues. There is nothing more boring than a character who does not go through anything that is difficult. In fact, the more difficult things are for them… the better. Hazel, The Fault in Our Stars Aladdin is poor and loves a princess Mowgli is trying not to be eaten by Shere Khan

Method #3 #3- Make them an underdog of some sort David and Goliath Frodo Baggins—none of the other characters expected much out of the Hobbits Ender in Ender’s Game—unwanted third child, small, picked on by others Mulan ends up being the best warrior an saving China

Method #4 Consistency! Our character can change or evolve, but we can’t get to know a character if they’re ALL over the place. Exceptions: the “wild” character (but even this character is PREDICTABLE, because they always do the UNPREDICTABLE thing… By the end of the novel we say, “Of course Alaska would say that.”

Method #5 Have a depth in interests or in what they think about. Your character should be interested in how the world works, or how to defeat the evil conqueror… THINGS OF SUBSTANCE. If your character thinks about bubble gum (or that hot boy) all day, they’ll bore us to tears.

Method #6 EVERYMAN vs. SUPERMAN Make your character “just like one of us” or make your character someone that WE WANT TO BE. They can sing like we always wanted to, or they always stand up for people, or they are always kind to others. Ex: Nick and Gatsby in The Great Gatsby

Method #7 Make your character PROACTIVE. If you show your character DOING something in the beginning of a scene, we’re going to like them… SHOW don’t TELL Characters who always just have things happen TO them are very boring. Ex: Iron Man—First scene of any of his movies is fighting a bad guy

Method #8 We like people who are nice. (Your character doesn’t have to be nice to everyone… but there should be a person, or group of people that they care about and treat nicely) Hunger Games

Method #9 Friends/Other characters who talk about them and think highly of them. If characters like them or respect them, it gives us a reason to think highly of them. Ex: Peeta liking Katniss, Alfred caring for Bruce Wayne, Sherlock and Watson!

Method #10 Quirks: Give your character little things that set them apart. Monica on Friends is obsessed with cleaning, “The first time we meet Hermione Granger (in the Harry Potter series), she starts off her mostly one-sided conversation with Ron and Harry by informing them that she’s learned all the course books by heart and that all the spells she’s practiced have worked perfectly. Her bragging is a quirk that she exhibits fairly consistently; it’s a sign of both her intelligence and competitiveness but also of her insecurity.” –Becca Puglisi

Method #11 Avoid DEPLORABLE/INEXCUSABLE actions. If your main character kicks a dog for no reason… we will hate him forever. If your main character has to put their dog down because it has been infected by a zombie virus… that’s more ok. But we’re still sad

Method #12 Strong motivations. Give your character REAL reasons for action. Angelfall: protecting her family Hunger Games: staying alive The Hobbit: to have an adventure for the first time. What do you think would be some WEAK motivations for action? Can you think of any examples?

Method #13 Imperfections. Maybe ONE imperfection that always creeps up. Back to the Future: Marty and the word “chicken” A character who keeps secrets in order to “protect” another (Ex. Supernatural, etc)

Method #14 Make them misunderstood. Ex:

Method #15 Humor—If your character is willing to look at, and laugh at, the goings on around them, they will be more likeable. HOWEVER, you must be careful that this is not overdone or done maliciously, as you can lose your reader’s sympathy.

Clips What methods do these stories utilize to make the characters sympathetic? Frozen Opening Scene Aladdin Balcony Scene

ASSIGNMENT Add to your character. Utilize at least 5 of the methods we discussed in this presentation to further develop your character. First, let’s revisit our class character.