1. Point of View and Characterization
How authors use these to mold their writing

2. “Point of view is the most complex element of fiction…It is a relationship among writer, character, and reader.” -Janet Burroway

3. Preface: Types of characters
Protagonist
Who the story is about
Often the “good guy”
Usually changes with the climax
Antagonist
The character or force who is working against the protagonist.
Often the “bad guy”

4. Protagonist examples Hunger Games? Katniss The Little Mermaid? Ariel
Wizard of Oz?
Dorothy

6. Antagonist examples The Little Mermaid? Ursula Wizard of Oz?
Wicked Witch

7. PART 1: Point of View Basics
POV is the perspective that a story is told in.
How a story is told
JD from Scrubs
Stories are told in first or third person POV.

8. First Person POV
Told from the perspective of someone involved in the story.
Narrator refers to him/herself as “I”.
Often protagonist of story.
Pros:
Creates sense of intimacy with reader.
Story directed at us.
Cons:
We only see that person’s thoughts.
Is the narrator reliable? Are they lying?

9. Third Person POV Narrator is not part of story.
Use pronouns like “he, she, his, hers, it,” or “they.”
“Fly on the wall” storytelling
Typically unbiased; neutral narrator
Ex: On his hands and knees, the curator froze, turning his head slowly.
-The Da Vinci Code

10. Two types of Third Person POV
Limited
Narrator focuses on one central character.
Often protagonist
“Inside” character
Omniscient
Can see into thoughts and feelings of all characters
“Omniscient” means “all-knowing”

11. What questions do you have?

12. Part II: Characterization
Direct, indirect, types

13. What is characterization?
Characterization is the act of creating and developing a character.

14. Direct Characterization
In direct characterization, the author directly states a character’s traits.
Ex: “Part con man, part practical joker, and part Don Juan.”

15. Indirect Characterization
Indirect characterization is when a character’s personality is shown through his or her actions, thoughts, feelings, words, and appearance, or through another character’s observations and reactions.
Ex: “Hey, we can have lots of fun at camp this summer! Oh I just cannot wait! I love being outside!”

16. Characterization
Indirect Characterization: shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of indirect characterization: STEAL
S peech What does the character say? How does the character speak?
T houghts What is revealed through the characters private thoughts and feelings?
E ffects on others toward character How do other characters feel in reaction to the character
A ctions What does the character do? How do they behave?
L ooks What does the character look like?

17. Round & Flat Characters
Round characters show many different traits:
Faults as well as virtues
Change throughout the story
Flat characters are only seen one way throughout the story, they are very two- dimensional
Do not change throughout the story

18. Round Characters Who might you think of that shows different traits?
Simba in the Lion King
Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit
Harry Potter in Harry Potter

19. Flat Characters
Who might you think of that shows only one purpose throughout a story?
Scar in The Lion King
Zazoo in The Lion King
Voldemort in Harry Potter

20. Dynamic and Static Characters
Dynamic characters develop and grow during the course of the story.
Ex: Harry Potter
Ex: George
Static characters do not change.
Ex: Lord Voldemort
Ex: Lennie

21. Review First person pros/cons Third person pros/cons
Protagonist V. Antagonist
What is characterization?
Direct V. Indirect Characterization
Round V. Flat Characters
Static V. Dynamic Characters