Creating characters—telling what human beings are like—is the whole point of writing stories. The techniques the writers use to develop a character is called Characterization [End of Section] CREATING CHARACTERS

Writers build characters by revealing speech appearance private thoughts others’ reactions actions CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Which methods of character development are being used? What do you think of the man based on this excerpt? “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens [End of Section]

Speech Actions Description CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT Quick Check Which methods of character development are being used? “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

He’s dangerous and desperate. He seems to be an escaped prisoner on the run. What do you think of the man based on this excerpt? Quick Check “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

tell us what they think and feel Be aware that some first-person narrators mislead or lie to the audience. tell their own stories (using pronouns like I, me, and we) — First Person Narrators

what characters say and don’t say Dialogue how characters respond to each other [End of Section] Pay Attention to  can reveal a lot about characters and their relationships with each other.

Pay attention to language the writer uses to describe the characters’ looks, clothes, and demeanor. Does the description give you a positive or negative impression of the character? APPEARANCE Which words contribute to this impression? The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue.... from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

Writers can take us into the characters’ minds to reveal their thoughts and feelings. As you read, note whether the characters’ thoughts and feelings match their speech and actions. PRIVATE THOUGHTS

Watch how other characters in the story react to the character. Note how the others feel about the character what the others say about the character HOW OTHER CHARACTERS FEEL

What characters do and how they treat each other often reveal the most about them. Observe characters’ actions to determine: what their personality is like what motivates them how they deal with conflict ACTIONS

Direct Characterization—Writers tell us directly what characters are like or what their motives are. Oh, but he was a tightfisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Indirect Characterization—Writers show us characters (through speech, appearance, private thoughts, other characters’ reactions, and actions) but allow us to decide what characters are like.

My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What kind of person do you think this character is? DIRECT AND INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION

Indirect. The writer is describing the character’s appearance. DIRECT AND INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

A symbol is an ordinary object, event, person, or animal to which we have attached a special meaning. WHAT IS A SYMBOL?

Public Symbols have been inherited, or handed down over time show up in art and literature WHERE DO WE GET SYMBOLS? are widely known Note

What does each of these symbols stand for? Why do you think they have taken on the meanings they have? WHERE DO WE GET SYMBOLS?

Invented symbols come about when writers make a character, object, or event stand for some human concern sometimes become well known and gain the status of public symbol WHERE DO WE GET SYMBOLS?

Writers use symbols to suggest layers of meaning that a simple, literal statement could never convey speak more powerfully to the reader’s emotions and imagination make their stories rich and memorable SYMBOLS IN LITERATURE Side Note Different cultures may attach different meanings to some symbols.

SYMBOLS IN SECRET LIFE OF BEES

SYMBOLS IN PEACE LIKE A RIVER

 In PLR Jeremiah Reuben Lands Davy Roxanna SYMBOLIC NATURE IN NAMES  In SLB Months—horoscopes Lily Names can symbolize biblical characters, emotions, nature, specific traits tied to horoscopes and astrology, abstract ideas, etc.

WE WILL LOOK AT THEME AND MOTIFS TOMORROW THE END