C HARACTER

W HAT IS A CHARACTER ? A character is an individual in a story, poem or play. A character always has human traits, even if the character is an animal or an object. Character traits are words that reveal a character’s personality. Example: think of Spongebob Squarepants. What human traits does he have?

T YPES OF CHARACTERS Characters are categorized by whether they change during the course of the story. Static characters DO NOT change much in the course of the story. (They stay the same). Dynamic characters change in some important way as a result of the story’s action.

T YPES OF CHARACTERS Characters can be categorized by how well developed and complex they are. Flat characters have only one or two personality traits. May also be a stock character—fits a preconceived notion or stereotype. Round characters are complex and have many personality traits like a real person.

I MPLICIT VS. EXPLICIT IMPLICIT Implied Not straight forward Not clearly stated Indirect characterization is implied EXPLICIT Clearly stated No guessing Direct characterization is explicit

H OW DO WRITERS REVEAL CHARACTER Direct characterization Tell us directly what the character is like Indirect characterization Show the character’s actions Letting us hear the character speak Letting us listen to their inner thoughts Appearance (the way they look and dress) By what others think or say about them or react to them

I NDIRECT C HARACTERIZATION “C HEAT ” STEAL S= Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak? T= Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? E= Effects on others toward characters: How do other characters feel towards or behave in reaction to the character? A= Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave? L= Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

D IFFERENCE IN DIRECT AND INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION Direct: She has long black hair. Indirect: Her cascading hair is the color of midnight.

P ROTAGONIST VS. ANTAGONIST AND CHARACTER FOIL Protagonist —the main character; isn’t always necessarily the good or bad guy. Antagonist —the force or person against the protagonist. Character foil —a contrast between two characters AS

O THER TYPES OF CHARACTERS Epic hero —a larger than life hero on a quest; s/he embodies values of his or her society. Archetypal characters —characters who are patterns throughout literature. Ex: the distressed princess Tragic hero —the main character or hero whose decisions lead to his or her downfall at some level Tragic flaw—a character’s weakness that leads to his or her downfall

T O DESCRIBE CHARACTERS Adjective or descriptive phrase that is regularly used to characterize a person, place or thing Think of them as nicknames Blue girdler of the islands Gray-eyed goddess Dawn spread out her rose fingertips Use of inoffensive words; it replaces a direct, harsh, unpleasant or offensive term asleep with Jesus carnal knowledge chronologically challenged differently abled fabricated full figured house of ill repute lady of the night EpithetsEuphemisms

M OTIVATION Motivation is the reason a character acts as he or she does. May be motivated by emotions, past experiences, or commands given by others. Not directly stated. You must infer what motivates the characters based on clues in the story. What motivates the characters in “The Odyssey”? What motivates the characters in “Dateline: Troy”? What motivates the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird?

T HE R HETORICAL T RIANGLE

L OGOS Logos is: Greek for “word” because we take their word for it An appeal to logic and reason Can be facts and statistics used for the argument Example: "The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas."

L OGOS E XAMPLES (L OGOS =LOGIC) "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury: we have not only the fingerprints, the lack of an alibi, a clear motive, and an expressed desire to commit the robbery… We also have video of the suspect breaking in. The case could not be more open and shut." "It’s a matter of common sense that people deserve to be treated equally. The Constitution calls it ‘self-evident.’ Why, then, should I have been denied a seat because of my disability?" "More than one hundred peer-reviewed studies have been conducted over the past decade, and none of them suggests that this is an effective treatment for hair loss."

T HE R HETORICAL T RIANGLE

P ATHOS Pathos is: Greek for “suffering” or “experience” An emotional appeal, appeals to the reader’s emotions The emotional or motivational appeal Example: "You will never be satisfied in life if you don’t seize this opportunity. Do you want to live the rest of your years yearning to know what would have happened if you just jumped when you had the chance?"

P ATHOS E XAMPLES (P ATHOS = EMOTIONS ) "If we don’t move soon, we’re all going to die! Can’t you see how dangerous it would be to stay?" "I’m not just invested in this community – I love every building, every business, every hard- working member of this town." "There’s no price that can be placed on peace of mind. Our advanced security systems will protect the well-being of your family so that you can sleep soundly at night."

E THOS Ethos is: Greek for “character” An ethical appeal, convinced by the character of the author We tend to believe people whom we respect. The author’s credibility or speaker’s authority Example: "You know me – I’ve taught Sunday School at your church for years, babysat your children, and served as a playground director for many summers."

E THOS E XAMPLES (E THOS =E THICS ) "As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results." "My three decades of experience in public service, my tireless commitment to the people of this community, and my willingness to reach across the aisle and cooperate with the opposition, make me the ideal candidate for your mayor." "The veterinarian says that an Australian shepherd will be the perfect match for our active lifestyle." "If his years as a Marine taught him anything, it’s that caution is the best policy in this sort of situation."

L OGOS, P ATHOS, OR E THOS ? Four out of five dentists recommend Colgate toothpaste for a healthy smile.

L OGOS, P ATHOS, OR E THOS ? Eating too quickly will cause a stomach ache..

L OGOS, P ATHOS, OR E THOS ? If you loved me, you’d want to make me happy.

L OGOS, P ATHOS, OR E THOS ? The Surgeon General warns that smoking can adversely affect your health.

L OGOS, P ATHOS, OR E THOS ? What goes up must come down.

L OGOS, P ATHOS, OR E THOS ? Without music, our world would be bleak.

L ET ’ S A NALYZE “T HE ODYSSEY ” CHARACTERS Male vs. female—sexism What is Penelope’s epithet? What is Athena’s epithet? What roles do they play in the epic? Describe what we know about Penelope so far. What negative characteristics does Athena have? Are there any positive ones? What could that indirectly tell you about women’s status in Greek time?

A NOTHER T ECHNIQUE Bildungsroman—a coming-of-age story How is To Kill a Mockingbird an example of a Bildungsroman? Hint: Think about Scout as the plot of the novel unfolds around her.