1. Reading Journal Instructions and Examples
Characterization
Reading Journal Instructions and Examples

2. Opening Activity
Read the excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain on pages 43 and 44 in the teal Daybook.
In your composition book, please create a bubble map with the name “Huckleberry Finn” in the center circle.
Fill in the outer circles with words and phrases from the text that are used to describe him.

3. Lesson 2 Characterization
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

4. Types of Characterization
Direct Characterization tells the audience what the appearance and personality of the character is.
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 these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character in the following ways:
The things they say
The things they do
Through their thoughts
How they look
The way other characters react
to them

5. Finding Characterization in Children’s Stories
Read the story together.
When you are finished, look back through the book for any examples (words, lines, even pictures) of direct and indirect characterization.
Find at least three examples and label them (direct or indirect)

6. Characterization Practice
Characterization Practice “All the Years of Her Life” by Morley Callaghan
“She came in, large and plump, with a little smile on her friendly face…her blue eyes never wavered, and with a calmness and dignity that made them forget that her clothes seemed to have been thrown on her, she put out her hand and said politely, “I’m Mrs. Higgins. I’m Alfred’s mother”” (58).
1. Is this example primarily direct or indirect characterization? Based on this excerpt, list three things that the author tells us about Mrs. Higgins.
“When she reached out and lifted the kettle to pour hot water in her cup, her hand trembled and the water splashed on the stove. Leaning back in the chair, she sighed and lifted the cup to her lips…” (60).
2. Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What do we learn about Mrs. Higgins in this passage? Write down specific words and phrases to prove it.

7. “She came in, large and plump, with a little smile on her friendly face…her blue eyes never wavered, and with a calmness and dignity that made them forget that her clothes seemed to have been thrown on her, she put out her hand and said politely, “I’m Mrs. Higgins. I’m Alfred’s mother”” (58).
1. Is this example primarily direct or indirect characterization? Based on this excerpt, list three things that the author tells us about Mrs. Higgins.
“When she reached out and lifted the kettle to pour hot water in her cup, her hand trembled and the water splashed on the stove. Leaning back in the chair, she sighed and lifted the cup to her lips…” (60).
2. Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What do we learn about Mrs. Higgins in this passage? Write down specific words and phrases to prove it.

8. Types of Characters
Characters experience varying amounts of change over the course of a story.
• Static characters that do not experience basic character changes during the course of the story.
• Dynamic characters that experience changes throughout the plot of a story. Although the change may be sudden, it is expected based on the story’s events.
A story’s characters fall within a range—from very static characters that experience no change to very dynamic characters that undergo one or more major changes.

9. Opening Activity Choose one character from your book.
In your composition book, create a bubble map with your character’s name in the center.
Based on what you have read so far, list 10 adjectives that you would use to describe their looks, personality, behavior, thoughts, feelings, etc.

10. Characterization (an acceptable example, level 8)
Text
Response
The first thing this passage tells us about Victor is that he obviously doesn’t know French. It also shows that he gets nervous very easily, especially around Teresa, the girl he has a crush on. In this scene, Victor is trying to impress Teresa by pretending to be something he’s not. This shows us that he is willing to risk embarrassment to get her attention. This behavior seems pretty normal for a teenaged boy with his first crush.
“Great rosebushes of red bloomed on Victor’s cheeks. A river of nervous sweat ran down his palms. He felt awful. Teresa sat a few desks away, no doubt thinking he was a fool. Without looking at Mr. Bueller, Victor mumbled, “Frenchie oh wewe gee in September” (Soto, 17)

11. Characterization (an exceptional example, level 10)
Text
Response
“Her face as she sat there was a frightened, broken face utterly unlike the face of the woman who had been so assured a little while ago in the drugstore... When she reached out and lifted the kettle to pour hot water in her cup, her hand trembled and the water splashed on the stove. Leaning back in the chair, she sighed and lifted the cup to her lips” (Callaghan, 3).
This passage shows that Mrs. Higgins is not the picture of calm confidence that she displayed in the drugstore. Through years of dealing with Alfred’s poor decision making, she has obviously learned how to master the art of friendly persuasion, but it is all just a façade. These lines from the text show us that she is afraid, most likely for Alfred’s future, for her daughter’s future, and for her own physical and emotional well-being. Callaghan describes her face as “broken,” which suggests that she just cannot bear any more pain; she has been hurt beyond repair. It could also symbolize the broken bond between her and her son. Her trembling shows her fear and suggests that she has been aged beyond her years because of the stress that Alfred has caused in her life. When she leans back and sighs, it is as if with hopeless resignation. She accepts her bleak reality, takes a sip, and life goes on.

12. Characterization (an exceptional example, level 10)
Text
Response
“Her face as she sat there was a frightened, broken face utterly unlike the face of the woman who had been so assured a little while ago in the drugstore... When she reached out and lifted the kettle to pour hot water in her cup, her hand trembled and the water splashed on the stove. Leaning back in the chair, she sighed and lifted the cup to her lips” (Callaghan, 3).
This passage shows that Mrs. Higgins is not the picture of calm confidence that she displayed in the drugstore. Through years of dealing with Alfred’s poor decision making, she has obviously learned how to master the art of friendly persuasion, but it is all just a façade. These lines from the text show us that she is afraid, most likely for Alfred’s future, for her daughter’s future, and for her own physical and emotional well-being. Callaghan describes her face as “broken,” which suggests that she just cannot bear any more pain; she has been hurt beyond repair. It could also symbolize the broken bond between her and her son. Her trembling shows her fear and suggests that she has been aged beyond her years because of the stress that Alfred has caused in her life. When she leans back and sighs, it is as if with hopeless resignation. She accepts her bleak reality, takes a sip, and life goes on.