Freshman I English Strategies used by an author to define character

Characterization The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Can be direct or indirect

Direct Characterization The author directly 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.”

Indirect Characterization Shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of indirect characterization:

Speech - What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect - on others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Actions - What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks - What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Dynamic vs. Static Dynamic character: changes throughout the course of a story as a result of the conflicts they encounter on their journey, inner changes, personality changes, develop, grow, mature Static character: does not undergo change, has the same personality at beginning and end of story, all actions are true to that same personality

Protagonist vs. Antagonist Protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work Antagonist: a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary of the hero/protagonist

Identify the characterization type and jot down the personality of the character. “I sat on the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting the next slide, a slide that would open my mind to yet another method of characterization” “The student slept through the Powerpoint presentation” “Sup bro, lets go pump some iron, hit the tanning beds, and wear our sleeveless T-Shirts” he said loudly.

Identify the characterization type and jot down the personality of the character. His long brown hair travelled over his bandana, past his scruffy beard, and dangled around the peace sign on the front of his T-Shirt. The entire class sat silent in fear of their teacher.

Looks