1. NO SILENT READING BUT YOU WILL NEED YOUR JOURNALS

2. Journal
Think about your favorite character you’ve seen on tv/movies or read in a book.
Write:
In 2-3 sentences, describe who the character is.
In 3-4 sentences, discuss whether or not you are able to identify with the character, and why/why not.
Pair-share
Share your responses with the class

3. HOW DO WRITERS BRING CHARACTERS TO LIFE?
Characterization
HOW DO WRITERS BRING CHARACTERS TO LIFE? 3

4. Deconstruct this
RL10.3
Analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters and advance the plot or develop the theme.

5. What is characterization?
Characterization is the way writers create and describe a character for the reader.
There are two types of characterization:
Direct characterization
Indirect characterization 5

6. Direct characterization
When writers use direct characterization in their writing, they tell us what type of character we are reading about:
From “Ambush”:
He was a short, slender young man of about twenty
He wore black clothing and rubber sandals and a gray ammunition belt. His shoulders were slightly stooped, his head cocked to the side as if listening for something. He seemed at ease. He carried his weapon in one hand, muzzle down, moving without any hurry up the center of the trail.
As readers, we don’t have to wonder about what the VietCong soldier looks like or what his demeanor is. The writer TOLD us ☺ DIRECTLY. 6

7. For the character that corresponds to your number, provide a detail of him or her using direct characterization. 1 3 2 7

8. Indirect characterization
Writers most often use indirect characterization to show (not tell) things that reveal the personality of a character:
The character’s speech,
The character’s thoughts,
The effect the character has on others,
The character’s actions,
The physical “looks” of the character 8

9. Indirect characterization
It is more like the way we learn about people in real life because we naturally observe people and characters in films, etc. to figure out his/her/its personality.
Remember the word, STEAL… 9

10. personality of characters
“STEAL”
The letters in the word “STEAL” can help you remember the five different ways writers use indirect characterization to create characters:
“S” stands for SPEECH.
Why it works:
Writers help readers learn about a character by giving the character something to say and a unique way to say it. This brings out the
personality of characters 10

11. personality of characters.
“STEAL”
“T” stands for THOUGHTS.
What can we learn about the character through reading his/her/its private thoughts?
Why it works:
Writers allow readers to learn the private thoughts of characters to learn the
personality of characters. 11

12. “STEAL” “E” stands for EFFECT ON OTHERS Why it works:
What can be learned about the character by reading how other characters feel or act around the him/her/it?
Why it works:
Writers create relationships for characters to help readers learn the personality of characters. 12

13. personality of characters.
“STEAL”
“A” stands for ACTIONS.
What does the character do?
How does the character behave?
Why it works:
Writers create actions for characters
to help readers learn the
personality of characters. 13

14. personality of characters.
“STEAL”
“L” stands for LOOKS.
What does the character look like?
How does the character dress?
Why it works:
Writers use descriptions of characters’ physical attributes to help readers learn the
personality of characters. 14

15. For the character that corresponds to your number, provide a detail of him or her using one STEAL indirect characterization strategy. 1 3 2 15

16. Direct or Indirect?
Look at this example and figure out if the writer used direct or indirect characterization:
From The Outsiders:
(Sodapop talking to Ponyboy)
“I'm happy working at a gas station. Working with cars. I'm dumb. It's alright, I don't mind. You're not Pony. You'd never be happy doing something like that.” 16

17. Direct or Indirect?
Look at this example and figure out if the writer used direct or
indirect characterization to help us figure out the personality of
Dallas Winston (Dally) in this passage:
From The Outsiders:
(Dally talking with Johnny)
“Johnny, you don't know what a few months in jail can do to you, man. You get mean in jail, I just don't wanna see that happen to you like it happened to me, man. Understand?” 17

18. You Do it!!
On your desk you have a slip of paper that has something written on it.
Your group is going to DRAW (as best you can) your character. Be as detailed as possible. Consider the facial expressions, the way they stand, the way they look, what are they wearing, etc. Consider your character from ALL angles
NO WORDS!!!

19. Gallery Walk
You will go to each poster and using what you know about characterization and reading, READ each picture and characterize the person portrayed. Give both Direct and indirect characterization.
You will write down each trait you find and the evidence that you find that supports your inferences and non inferences.

20. TYPES OF CHARACTERS

21. There are many different types:
Complex/Dynamic
Flat
Round
Static
Stock
Confidante
Foil

22. Complex/Dynamic Character
Undergoes a change throughout the story due to conflicts he/she encounters
The character learns something (usually associated with the theme) and then applies what he/she has learned in order to change
Can discover
Mistakes in point of view
Aspects of their personality
Often the changes will be implied and you will have to make inferences about how and why the character has changed

23. Flat Character “Two Dimensional”
A character built around a singular idea or quality
Uncomplicated
Can usually be described in a single phrase or sentence

24. Round Character Well Developed Many traits are known about them
They have depth, feelings, and passions
They are complex in their development so you have to observe them to figure them out
We are exposed to the full extent of their personality throughout the entire story

25. Static
Doesn’t change
Exactly the same at the end as they were at the beginning
Don’t learn from their mistakes or obstacles
They are also not well developed (Flat)

26. Stock Character
Fit some stereotype or preconceived notion we have about that character
Not much is needed to be described about them, because we can fill in the blanks for ourselves once we meet them

27. Confidante Serves the protagonist as a trusted friend
The protag confesses thoughts, feelings, problems to the confidante

28. Foil
Serves as a stark contrast to a character to stress or highlight the distinctive personality of another character
Emphasizes the personality of another character by being the exact opposite

29. As a group
Go back through what you have read of Gilgamesh so far. Highlight anything that tells you about Gilgamesh’s character….ANYTHING!! Both Direct and Indirect - FROM BEGINNING TO WHAT YOU HAVE READ!!!
You are going to take this information and use it to fill out your second character chart.

30. Now look at Your chart about Gilgamesh developing.
Gilgamesh is a complex/dynamic character
Your job is to figure out not only how he changes, but why. What does Gilgamesh learn that causes him to change?

31. Lit Quiz!!!

32. Discuss how Gilgamesh has developed as a complex character.
Power paragraph
As a group you will create a 2 chunk power paragraph answering the prompt:
Discuss how Gilgamesh has developed as a complex character.

33. Peer Grading
You have copies of a rubric for each groups paragraph, including yours. As a group you will fill out ONE rubric per paragraph.
Be honest in your grading and feedback.
The goal is that you notice your mistakes and what is great about your writing. Hopefully you will see what I see.

34. Take out your seminar questions
SEMINAR DAY!!!
Please sit in a seat (if your name is on a paper on the outer circle, sit in the inner circle and vis-a-versa) and read over the rules on your desks.
Take out your seminar questions

35. Power paragraph Homework
In a one chunk power paragraph answer the following question.
In Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet, what can be inferred about “Sir” based on what is said about him and his writing?