How do writers bring characters to life? Ms .De La O English 9 Characterization How do writers bring characters to life? Ms .De La O English 9

What is characterization? Characterization is the way writers create and describe a character for the reader. Direct characterization Indirect characterization

Direct characterization From “Ambush”: He was a short, slender young man of about twenty He wore black clothing and rubber sandals and a gray ammunition belt. His shoulders were slightly stooped, his head cocked to the side as if listening for something. He seemed at ease. He carried his weapon in one hand, muzzle down, moving without any hurry up the center of the trail. they tell us what type of character we are reading about: s readers, we don’t have to wonder about what the VietCong soldier looks like or what his demeanor is. The writer TOLD us  DIRECTLY.

Indirect characterization The character’s speech, The character’s thoughts, The effect the character has on others, The character’s actions, The physical “looks” of the character Writers most often use indirect characterization to show (not tell) things that reveal the personality of a character: It is more like the way we learn about people in real life because we naturally observe people and characters in films, etc. to figure out his/her/its personality

“STEAL” “S” stands for SPEECH. Why it works: Gives the character something to say and a unique way to say it.

“T” stands for THOUGHTS. “STEAL” “T” stands for THOUGHTS. What can we learn about the character through reading his/her/its private thoughts? Why it works: private thoughts of characters What can we learn about the character through reading his/her/its private thoughts?

“STEAL” “E” stands for EFFECT ON OTHERS Why it works: create relationships for characters What can be learned about the character by reading how other characters feel or act around the him/her/it?

“STEAL” “A” stands for ACTIONS. Why it works: create actions for characters What does the character do? How does the character behave?

“STEAL” “L” stands for LOOKS. Why it works: descriptions of characters’ physical attributes What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

For the character that corresponds to your number, provide a detail of him or her using one STEAL indirect characterization strategy. 1 3 2

Direct or Indirect? Look at this example and figure out if the writer used direct or indirect characterization: From The Outsiders: (Sodapop talking to Ponyboy) “I'm happy working at a gas station. Working with cars. I'm dumb. It's alright, I don't mind. You're not Pony. You'd never be happy doing something like that.”

Direct or Indirect? Look at this example and figure out if the writer used direct or indirect characterization to help us figure out the personality of Dallas Winston (Dally) in this passage: From The Outsiders: (Dally talking with Johnny) “Johnny, you don't know what a few months in jail can do to you, man. You get mean in jail, I just don't wanna see that happen to you like it happened to me, man. Understand?”