1. The Writer’s Toolbox:
CHARACTERIZATION

2. Types of Characters
There are many ways readers can identify the characters that populate their stories.
Protagonist vs. Antagonist
Flat Character vs. Round Character
Static Character vs. Dynamic Character
Stock Character
Let’s talk about these in more detail…

3. Protagonist vs. Antagonist
The protagonist of a story is its main character. Most stories are told from the protagonist’s perspective.
The antagonist of a story is the character who works against the protagonist. The antagonist is not necessarily a bad guy, however!

4. Protagonist vs. Antagonist cont’d
Let’s decide who are the protagonists and antagonists in the following stories:
Little Red Riding Hood
Cinderella
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the Three Bears

5. Flat Character vs. Round Character
Flat characters are characters who are not very developed in the story. They have a tendency to fade into the background.
Round characters are very developed. They have multiple character traits and the reader feels as if he or she knows the character pretty well.

6. Flat Character vs. Round Character
Let’s decide who are the flat characters and the round characters in the following stories:
Little Red Riding Hood
Cinderella
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the Three Bears

7. Static Character vs. Dynamic Character
Static characters stay the same throughout the story (think of how static on the radio always sounds the same).
Dynamic characters change and develop throughout the story.

8. Static Character vs. Dynamic Character
Let’s decide who are the static characters and the dynamic characters in the following stories:
Little Red Riding Hood
Cinderella
Jack and the Beanstalk
Goldilocks and the Three Bears

9. Stock Characters
Stock characters are characters that the author just “pulls off a shelf” and plugs into a ready made hole. (Think of it like having an item in stock at the store). They are very stereotypical.
This means that instead of taking time to develop a character in detail, the author just inserts a “jock” or “bully” or “prep” or “crybaby,” assuming that readers will get what he means.

10. Stock Characters
What kind of stock characters did J.K. Rowling use in the Harry Potter series?
Crabbe and Goyle
Fleur Delacour
Peter Pettigrew
Oliver Wood
Now that we know what types of characters there are, let’s see how authors reveal traits about the characters…
The big, dumb bullies
The pretty, out-of-reach girl
The weakling, whiny bad guy
The team captain

11. What is Characterization?
Characterization is the way in which an author tells us about the characters he has created.
There are two types of characterization:
Direct Characterization
Indirect Characterization

12. What is Direct Characterization?
Direct characterization is when the author blatantly TELLS readers what a character is like.
“Suzy was lazy”
“Tyrone is extremely creative.”
Can you think of any examples?

13. What is Indirect Characterization?
Indirect characterization is when an author gives the reader CLUES as to what the characters are like. He doesn’t tell readers, he just gives HINTS.
After the author has given the reader hints about the character, the reader can come up with his own ADJECTIVES to describe the character.

14. Let’s Try One…
Michael sat alone in the corner of the crowded gym. His arms were wrapped protectively around his chest, and the bill of his hat tipped down over his eyes as he watched his classmates play together. ‘I wish I could play,’ he thought, but no one talked to him, and he talked to no one.
S. T. E. A. L.

15. Let’s Break It Down…
A whole paragraph can be a lot to examine at one time! Instead of looking at the whole thing, we can find adjectives to describe Michael based on specific things:
Speech
Thoughts
Effect on Others
Actions
Looks

16. S.T.E.A.L.
By examining the speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks of a character, we can figure out what kinds of HINTS the author is giving us about a character.
Sometimes we don’t get all five types of description, but that’s okay! We can work with whatever the author gives us.

17. Speech
In the paragraph we read earlier, what did we notice about Michael’s speech?
What adjective would you use to describe someone who doesn’t talk?

18. Thoughts
Does this paragraph show us anything about Michael’s thoughts?
What adjective would describe someone who thought like that?

19. Effect On Others
What does this paragraph show us about the effect Michael has on others? (How do others seem to feel about him?)
What adjective would describe someone who others feel that way about?

20. Actions What actions is Michael performing in this paragraph?
What adjective would describe someone who does those things?

21. Looks
Based on the previous paragraph, what do Michael’s looks tell us?
What adjective would describe someone who looks like that?

22. We Can Keep Track of Our Ideas Like This:
HINTS
ADJECTIVES
Speech—Michael didn’t talk to anyone.
Quiet
Thoughts—
Effect on Others—
Actions—
Looks—

23. We Can Keep Track of Our Ideas Like This:
HINTS
ADJECTIVES
Speech—Michael didn’t talk to anyone.
Quiet
Thoughts—He wanted someone to play with.
Lonely
Effect on Others—
Actions—
Looks—

24. We Can Keep Track of Our Ideas Like This:
HINTS
ADJECTIVES
Speech—Michael didn’t talk to anyone.
Quiet
Thoughts—He wanted someone to play with.
Lonely
Effect on Others—No one noticed him.
Unpopular
Actions—
Looks—

25. We Can Keep Track of Our Ideas Like This:
HINTS
ADJECTIVES
Speech—Michael didn’t talk to anyone.
Quiet
Thoughts—He wanted someone to play with.
Lonely
Effect on Others—No one noticed him.
Unpopular
Actions—Michael sat alone and watched.
Shy
Looks—

26. We Can Keep Track of Our Ideas Like This:
HINTS
ADJECTIVES
Speech—Michael didn’t talk to anyone.
Quiet
Thoughts—He wanted someone to play with.
Lonely
Effect on Others—No one noticed him.
Unpopular
Actions—Michael sat alone and watched.
Shy
Looks— Michael’s arms were crossed over his chest & he hid his face under his hat.
Nervous

27. In Conclusion…
The author has many TYPES of characters at his disposal: protagonist, antagonist, flat, round, static, dynamic, and stock.
Authors can TELL us about characters with direct characterization.
Authors can let us STEAL a glimpse of characters by giving us hints about speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks with indirect characterization.