Analyzing the characters in our stories Characterization Analyzing the characters in our stories

Characterization Characterization—The process by which the author reveals the personality of the characters in the story. Sometimes the author tells the reader what they should know and sometimes the author shows, or hints, this.

Direct Characterization Direct characterization--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.” Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”

Indirect Characterization Indirect Characterization--Shows the personality of a character, usually through a slow reveal. Requires the reader to make inferences. There are four different methods of indirect characterization: S—What a character says A—How a character acts (behavior) L—How a character looks T—What a character thinks (important!)

Dynamic vs. Static Characters Characters experience varying amounts of change over the course of a story. Two types of characters are…

Static Characters Static characters do not experience basic character changes during the course of the story. Static characters are usually minor characters, but sometimes the main character does not (or refuses) to change.

Dynamic Characters Dynamic characters experience changes throughout the plot of a story. Although the change may be sudden, it is expected based on the story’s events. Very dynamic characters may undergo one or more major changes. When we write about a character’s change throughout a story, we refer to the change as a SHIFT.