1. Characterization
Direct vs. Indirect

2. Characterization:
Characterization is the way an author describes a character.

3. Direct Characterization Indirect Characterization

4. Direct Characterization
The author or narrator makes direct statements about a character’s traits. The author tells us about the character’s personality to our face.
TELLING

5. “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”

6. Indirect Characterization:
The author or narrator reveals a character’s traits through his or her actions and speech.
SHOWING

7. Jim is honest and hardworking.
Jim was very unlike any other businessman. He made sure that all his clients got what they had paid for.
Jim is honest and hardworking.

8. INDIRECT Characterization
SPEECH/DIALOGUE - What does the character say? How does the character speak? THOUGHTS - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? OPINIONS OF OTHER CHARACTERS- how does the character think about and treat other characters? ACTIONS/BEHAVIOR - What does the character do? How does the character behave? LOOKS- What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
INDIRECT Characterization