Character Development Literary Elements

Character People created by the writer Protagonist Antagonist Foil Static character Dynamic character Explicit Judgment Implied Judgment

Protagonist Major character at the center of the story

Antagonist A character or force that opposes the protagonist

Foil A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist

Static Character A character who remains the same throughout the story

Dynamic Character A character who changes in some important way

Characterization How writers reveal the personalities of the characters Bless my soul Herc was on a roll Person of the week in every Greek opinion poll What a pro Herc could stop a show Point him at a monster and you're talking SRO He was a no one A zero, zero Now he's a honcho He's a hero Here was a kid with his act down pat From zero to hero in no time flat Zero to hero just like that When he smiled The girls went wild with oohs and aahs And they slapped his face On ev'ry vase (on ev'ry "vase") From appearance fees and royalties Our Herc had cash to burn Now nouveau riche and famous He could tell you What the Greeks should earn. Say amen There he goes again Sweet and undefeated And an awesome 10 for 10 Folks lined up Just to watch him flex And this perfect package packed a pair of pretty pecs Hercie, he comes He sees, he conquers Honey, the crowds were Going bonkers He showed the moxie brains, and spunk From zero to hero a major hunk Zero to hero and who'da thunk Who put the glad in gladiator? Hercules! Whose daring deeds are great theater? Hercules Isn't he bold? No one braver Isn't he sweet Our favorite flavor Hercules, Hercules, Hercules, Hercules Hercules, Hercules Bless my soul Herc was on a roll Undefeated Riding high And the nicest guy not conceited He was a nothin' A zero, zero Now he's a honcho He's a hero He hit the heights at breakneck speed From zero to hero Herc is a hero Now he's a hero Yes indeed!

Homework Pick a Movie Identify the character types in the movie and explain why Protagonist Antagonist Foil Static Character Dynamic Character

Slim: Characterization A tall man stood in the doorway. He held a crushed Stetson hat under his arm while he combed his long, black, damp hair straight back. Like the others he wore blue jeans and a short denim jacket. When he had finished combing his hair he moved into the room, and he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsmen. He was a jerk- line skinner, the prince of the ranch, capable of driving ten, sixteen, even twenty mules with a single line to the leaders. He was capable of killing a fly on the wheeler’s butt with a bull ship without touching the mule. There was a gravity in his manner and a quiet so profound that all talk stopped when he spoke. His authority was so great that his word was taken on any subject, be it politics or love. This was Slim, the jerk- line skinner. His hatchet face was ageless. He might have been thirty-five or fifty. His ear heard more than was said to him, and his slow speech had overtones not of thought, but of understanding beyond thought. His hands, large and lean, were as delicate in their action as those of a temple dancer.

Crooks: Characterization Crooks possessed several pairs of shoes, a pair of rubber boots, a big alarm clock and a single-barreled shotgun. And he had books, too; a tattered dictionary and a mauled copy of the California civil code for There were battered magazines and a few dirty books on a special shelf over his bunk. A pair of large gold-rimmed spectacles hung from a nail on the wall above his bed. This room was swept and fairly neat, for Crooks was a proud, aloof man. He kept his distance and demanded that other people keep theirs. His body was bent over to the left by his crooked spine, and his eyes lay deep in his head, and because of their depth seemed to glitter with intensity. His lean face was lined with deep black wrinkles, and he had thing, pain-tightened lips which were lighter than his face.

Characterization: Campbell Method 1. By action of the character 2. By speech of the character 3. By effect of the character upon other characters 4. By the character’s own reactions to persons, things, and surrounding circumstances 5. By reporting what other characters say about the character 6. By explaining the traits and motives of the character 7. By describing the character (five senses) 8. By analyzing the psychological processes of the character

Campbell Method 1. Action: Pete slunk out of the battle. 2. Speech: “Hiya, pardner!” 3. Effect on others Her beauty was breath-taking. 4. Character’s own reactions John adored her, especially in blue. 5. What other characters say Said Tom, “Of course Sam is a genius!” 6. Traits and motives He loved good food. 7. Describing (5 senses) He had blue eyes, spoke with a Southern accent, smelled of the smoke- house, and his muscles were hard as nails. 8. Psychological processes He was unable to overcome his shyness, which was the result of his being the son of a famous and terribly egotistical father.

#1 Describe in terms of action

#2 Describe in Speech

#3 Describe effect on others

#4 Characters own reactions

#5 what other characters say about them

#6 traits and motives

#7 Describe in the 5 senses

#8 Describe in Psychological processes

Group Work Get in groups of eight Each person has a number from 1-8 Each group only uses one piece of paper A picture will be on the board, Each person describes the character according to their prescribed number. For example: If you are #3 you will write a sentence describing the character in terms of his affect on others. Write your sentence and then pass the paper to the next number.