Unit 1: Fiction Character

Fiction is like a spider’s web, attached ever so lightly perhaps, but still attached to life at all four corners. —Virginia Woolf

What is fiction? Fiction is a genre, or category of literary composition, that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story.

What are the two main forms of fiction? The two main forms of fiction are the short story and the novel.

What are your favorite types of fiction? Realistic fiction Mystery Science fiction Romance Historical fiction Horror Fantasy Sports fiction

What are the purposes of fiction? To entertain readers To enlighten readers by sharing the human experience To provide readers with an escape from reality To teach readers empathy To help readers explore unknown worlds

What are the five elements of fiction? Plot Point of view Characters Setting Theme

Characters Characters are individuals who take part in the action of a literary work.

What do you think makes fictional characters seem like real people and not simply caricatures? What makes a character memorable? I have tried every device I know to breathe life into my characters, for there is little in fiction more rewarding than to see real people interact on a page. —James A. Michener I have tried every device I know to breathe life into my characters, for there is little in fiction more rewarding than to see real people interact on a page. —James A. Michener

Major Characters The characters around whom a story is centered are the major characters. Major characters –play important roles in the plot of a story –are multi-faceted or complex characters –undergo some type of change during a story

Major Characters Major characters can be classified as protagonists or antagonists. –The protagonist has the central role in a story. –The antagonist works against the protagonist. This friction, or tension, creates a story’s conflict. –The protagonist and antagonist are complex characters. –Like real people, each has his or her own strengths and weaknesses.

The Protagonist The protagonist –is motivated by a goal, aspiration, or desire –uses his or her strengths (such as courage, cleverness, wisdom, or kindness) to overcome conflicts or obstacles that stand in the way of this goal

The Antagonist The antagonist –is motivated by a goal, aspiration, or desire often this goal is to frustrate, challenge, hurt, or destroy the protagonist –uses his or her strengths (such as cleverness, determination, or knowledge of the protagonist’s weaknesses) to thwart the actions of the protagonist

Minor Characters The supporting characters who do not play a major role in the plot of a story are the minor characters. Minor characters –lack complexity –remain unchanged throughout a story –give the major characters points of interaction –provide insight into the major characters by highlighting or contrasting the qualities of the major characters

Round and Flat Characters In addition to being classified as major or minor, characters can also be classified as round or flat.

Round Characters Round characters –tend to be the major characters in a story –show a wide range of emotions and can be unpredictable –have their own desires and motivations –are dynamic (undergo a change during a story)

Flat Characters Flat characters –tend to be the minor characters in a story –are often stock characters or stereotypes whose emotions and behavior are predictable –are valuable to understanding the desires and motivations of the major or round characters –are static (remain the same throughout a story)

Characterization The act of creating or describing a character is called characterization. Writers use three major techniques to form a character: –Showing what the character says, does, or thinks –Showing what other characters say or think about the character –Describing the physical features, dress, and personality of the character

Indirect Characterization The first two techniques—showing what characters say, do, or think and showing what other characters say or think about them—are examples of indirect characterization. In indirect characterization, the writer shows what a character is like.

In this excerpt, readers get to know Granny Cain by what she says and does. “Mornin, ladies,” a new man said. … “We’re filmin for the county,” he said with a smile. “Mind if we shoot a bit around here?” “I do indeed,” said Granny with no smile. … “Suppose you just shut that machine off,” said Granny real low through her teeth, and took a step down off the porch and then another. “Now, aunty,” Camera said, pointing the thing straight at her. “Your mama and I are not related.” —from “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird,” by Toni Cade Bambara “Mornin, ladies,” a new man said. … “We’re filmin for the county,” he said with a smile. “Mind if we shoot a bit around here?” “I do indeed,” said Granny with no smile. … “Suppose you just shut that machine off,” said Granny real low through her teeth, and took a step down off the porch and then another. “Now, aunty,” Camera said, pointing the thing straight at her. “Your mama and I are not related.” —from “Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird,” by Toni Cade Bambara Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization The third technique—describing the physical features, dress, and personalities of the characters—is an example of direct characterization. In direct characterization, the writer tells what characters are like.

Direct Characterization In this excerpt, the author tells readers what General Zaroff looks like. Rainsford’s first impression was that the man was singularly handsome; his second was that there was an original, almost bizarre quality about the general’s face. He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come. His eyes, too, were black and very bright. He had high cheek bones, a sharp-cut nose, a spare, dark face, the face of a man used to giving orders, the face of an aristocrat. —from “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell Rainsford’s first impression was that the man was singularly handsome; his second was that there was an original, almost bizarre quality about the general’s face. He was a tall man past middle age, for his hair was a vivid white; but his thick eyebrows and pointed military mustache were as black as the night from which Rainsford had come. His eyes, too, were black and very bright. He had high cheek bones, a sharp-cut nose, a spare, dark face, the face of a man used to giving orders, the face of an aristocrat. —from “The Most Dangerous Game,” by Richard Connell

Motives Characterization is the presentation of the nature of the people in a story. Characterization is really the presentation of motives. We understand a person if we understand what makes him act the way he does. —Ayn Rand Characterization is the presentation of the nature of the people in a story. Characterization is really the presentation of motives. We understand a person if we understand what makes him act the way he does. —Ayn Rand

Motives To understand characterization, readers need to recognize motives. Motives are the forces that drive a character to think, feel, or behave in a certain way. Characters can be motivated by –the desire for accolades –the need for revenge –the burden of guilt or shame –the hope of redemption

Dialogue One method of indirect characterization that allows readers to understand characters is dialogue, or what the characters say. Dialogue can provide insights about characters, such as culture, level of education, socio-economic status, social skills, and personality. Dialogue can also inform readers of the “who, what, and where” of the situation taking place.

Dialect When analyzing the dialogue of characters, readers should pay attention to the writer’s use of dialect. Dialect is a version of a language spoken by the people of a particular place, time, or social group. For example, when Mrs. Jones in “Thank You, M’am” says, “You a lie!” she is speaking in dialect.

What might be a writer’s purpose in using dialect? What stories have you read in this unit that contain dialect?

The Methods of Characterization Chart on the next slide was completed for old Mrs. Pan, a major character in “The Good Deed.” After you view this chart, choose a character from this unit and complete your own Methods of Characterization Chart using the blank template on the subsequent slide. Methods of Characterization

The Character (Draw a picture of your character.) What the Character Says What the Character Thinks What the Writer Says About the Physical Features, Dress, and Personality of the Character What the Character Does What Other Characters Say or Think About the Character She feels lonely and useless in America. She is an old, tiny woman who wears a lavender silk coat. Old Mrs. Pan "It is the duty of the parents to arrange the marriage of the children." She bribes her grandson into taking her to the china shop. Her son worries about his mother adjusting to America.

Complete the chart for a character from this unit. The Character (Draw a picture of your character.) What the Character Says What the Character Thinks What the Writer Says About the Physical Features, Dress, and Personality of the Character What the Character Does What Other Characters Say or Think About the Character

SUMMARY: Characterization To reveal the essence of a character to readers, authors use several methods: –What a character says (dialogue) –What a character does (actions) –What a character thinks (opinions, feelings) –What other characters say or think about the character (opinions, observations) –What the writer says about the character (physical features, dress, and personality of the character)