1. Types of Characterization

2. Topic: Characterization
Name: Ms. Zajaczkowski
Date: __/__/2015
Topic: Characterization
1. Pro/antagonist
Definition:
STEAL Chart:
2. Flat/round
3. Static/dynamic
4. Direct/indirect

3. The basics:
Protagonist: the central character and focus of interest in a narrative
Antagonist: the person, idea, force, or general set of circumstances opposing the protagonist

4. There are 3 ways to develop a character:
Flat/round
Static/dynamic
Direct/indirect

5. Static and Dynamic
A static character does not undergo a change through a story.
A dynamic character does go through a major change in a story.

6. Round and Flat
Flat characters are two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a story.
Round characters are complex and undergo development, sometimes sufficiently to surprise the reader.

7. Direct and Indirect Show vs. Tell
Direct characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is.
Indirect characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character.
Show vs. Tell

8. An example of direct characterization:
Example: The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.
Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of the two children. The boy is patient and the girl is quiet. They both are well mannered and do not disobey their mother.

9. An example of indirect characterization:
There are five examples of indirect characterization:
Speech
What does the character say?
Thoughts
What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Effect on others
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions
What does the character do?
Looks
What does the character look like?

10. From “The Monkey’s Paw”:
Actions
"To look at," said the sergeant major, fumbling in his pocket, "it's just an ordinary little paw, dried to a mummy."
He took something out of his pocket and proffered it. Mrs. White drew back with a grimace, but her son, taking it, examined it curiously.
"And what is there special about it?" inquired Mr. White as he took it from his son, and having examined it, placed it upon the table.
"It had a spell put on it by an old Fakir," said the sergeant major, "a very holy man. He wanted to show that fate ruled people's lives, and that those who interfered with it did so to their sorrow. He put a spell on it so that three separate men could each have three wishes from it."
His manners were so impressive that his hearers were conscious that their light laughter had jarred somewhat.
Speech
Effect on others

11. How it all develops:
Major characters are developed directly and indirectly.
Can a flat character be dynamic?
Can a round character be static?

12. Character motivations
Authors create characters that are human.
Therefore, characters act within human bounds.
They are motivated by the same feelings that we are motivated by?
“The Most Dangerous Game”
Rainsford’s curiosity makes him lean closer to the sound of the gunshot which leads to him losing his balance and fall into the sea.
Rainsford chooses to “hunt” with Zaroff versus deal with Ivan because Ivan is a brute of a man who is known to whip people and who was previously described as a creature. With Rainsford’s knowledge in hunting, he is better off dealing with Zaroff.

13. Let’s practice…
using Scrooge from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
We will examine whether Scrooge is static/dynamic and flat/round based on what we already know about the novella.
Now, we will look at how Dickens uses direct and indirect characterization to further develop Scrooge and Scrooge’s motivations.
Use two different annotating tools
One will be used to annotate for direct characterization.
The other will be used to annotate for indirect characterization.

14. Scrooge’s Indirect Characterization:
Type:
Guiding questions:
Examples with explanation:
Speech
What does the character say?
Thoughts
What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Effect on others
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions
What does the character do?
Looks
What does the character look like?

15. “The Most Dangerous Game”
Let’s bring all this back to what we have already read.
Write a 3-reason paragraph on the following prompt:
Is Rainsford a static or dynamic character?