Character and Characterization Who is this person fo’real and how does the author let us know?

Types of Characters Protagonist: the main character in a story-it’s the person whose journey we are going on, so to speak! It may be the hero...but it might not be too. Antagonist: the person or thing that causes opposition (conflict) for the protagonist Minor Characters (secondary characters): less significant characters that generally exist to interact with main characters and their development and help move the story along. Stock Characters and Archetypes: reoccurring character types…we see them all the time! Can you think of examples?

Methods of Characterization Direction Characterization: The author tells what the characters are like Example: “Ms. Hall is tired”. Indirect Characterization: The author shows, rather than tells, what the character is like through Speech/Dialogue Accents, word choice, what they say about others or things around them, etc. Thoughts When narrator is main character The first person Point of View; “I” Effects on Others How do other characters react to them? Actions What do they do? How do they do it? (NOT just “do” as in their job!) Looks/Appearance How are they described physically? Condition of clothes Physical form

Discussion questions: -Why might a character’s actions and speech be misleading? -Which type of indirect characterization is “most telling” about a character? -Why might an author choose one type of characterization over another?

Character Development A flat character is an individual whose distinguishing moral qualities or personal traits are summed up in one or two traits. A round character is an individual whose moral qualities or personal traits are complex and many sided.

Character Development Static characters are the same sort of people at the end of a work as at the beginning. They don’t change. Dynamic characters change in some important way during the course of the story. They undergo a permanent change in some distinguishing moral qualities or personal traits or outlook. Epiphany: a sudden revelation of truth experienced by a character; a moment or event in which a character achieves a spiritual insight into life or into her or his own circumstances.

Character Arch and Theme How are they related? Oftentimes the way in which a character changes (or does not change) throughout the story gives us the biggest hint as to what the author’s message (aka the theme) is in the story! Tip 1: look for an epiphany, or lack of one, to help you figure theme out. Tip 2: Storymapping a character’s arch is a great tool in helping you figure out a story’s theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqzGMKX Z2MI