Characterization

Terms Character: word used to refer to the people, animals, or objects in a story Protagonist: the main character in a story (the “good guy”) Antagonist: the character that the protagonist is up against (the “bad guy”) Static Character: a character who does not change his/her thoughts, values, or beliefs during the story as a result of his/her experiences a character who does not change his/her thoughts, values, or beliefs during the story as a result of his/her experiences only in stories do characters remain static—in real life people are always changing only in stories do characters remain static—in real life people are always changing Dynamic Character: a character who is changed as a result of his/her experiences a character who is changed as a result of his/her experiences in real life people are dynamic in real life people are dynamic

Characterization Direct Characterization: Writer conveys information about characters by telling the information directly to the reader Writer conveys information about characters by telling the information directly to the reader Done through the narration of the story Done through the narration of the story Easy for readers to have clear understanding of character Easy for readers to have clear understanding of character Most information about characters is not conveyed through Direct Characterization Most information about characters is not conveyed through Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization Author shows the character in action & readers interpret what the actions reveal about the character Author shows the character in action & readers interpret what the actions reveal about the character It is necessary for readers to correctly interpret these actions and what they reveal It is necessary for readers to correctly interpret these actions and what they reveal There are several tools that a writer will use to impart personality traits to their characters There are several tools that a writer will use to impart personality traits to their characters

Character’s Name Names convey images Names convey images Authors select characters’ names based on the image they want to create for the character Authors select characters’ names based on the image they want to create for the character Weak/Undesirable Name: Weak character Weak/Undesirable Name: Weak character Strong/Favorable Name: Strong character Strong/Favorable Name: Strong character

Character’s Appearance Attractive—readers perceive the character favorably Attractive—readers perceive the character favorably Unattractive—perceived unfavorably Unattractive—perceived unfavorably

Character’s Job Readers make assumptions about characters based on the jobs they do. Readers make assumptions about characters based on the jobs they do. Low-Level/Low-Skill jobs imply character is uneducated, poor or unambitious Low-Level/Low-Skill jobs imply character is uneducated, poor or unambitious High-Level/High-Skill jobs imply character is intelligent, successful and ambitious High-Level/High-Skill jobs imply character is intelligent, successful and ambitious

Character’s Home Environment in which a character lives may cause readers to make assumptions about character Environment in which a character lives may cause readers to make assumptions about character Small/low-quality housing implies poverty, low-income, perhaps low intelligence or low ambition, lack of success Small/low-quality housing implies poverty, low-income, perhaps low intelligence or low ambition, lack of success Large/high-quality housing implies success, intelligence, ambition, Large/high-quality housing implies success, intelligence, ambition,

Character’s Habits/Actions Behaviors reveal a lot about a character Behaviors reveal a lot about a character Actions speak louder than words Actions speak louder than words Readers must interpret actions and what they reveal Readers must interpret actions and what they reveal

Character’s Dialogue Dialog is what characters say to and about each other. Dialog is what characters say to and about each other. Both what characters say and how they say it should be considered Both what characters say and how they say it should be considered

Character’s Thoughts What a character is thinking to himself What a character is thinking to himself Like an inner dialogue Like an inner dialogue

Importance of Correct Interpretation of Characterization Character’s personality may cause or add to his/her conflict Character’s personality may cause or add to his/her conflict Character’s personality may impede his/her ability to deal with conflict Character’s personality may impede his/her ability to deal with conflict Understanding characterization can help readers understand why a story unfolds the way it does and why a problem may be difficult for a character to overcome Understanding characterization can help readers understand why a story unfolds the way it does and why a problem may be difficult for a character to overcome