1. Learning About Characters
Characterization
Learning About Characters

2. Protagonist and Antagonist
Character who drives the action of the story by striving to achieve a goal.
Can be more than one and they can change
Antagonist
Character who hinders the protagonists progress towards his/her goal.

3. Dynamic and Static Characters
Dynamic: changes in the story
Personality, character, values change; not physical changes
Static: does NOT change in the story

4. Round and Flat Characters
Round: fully developed, 3-dimensional
You get to know them well from multiple aspects
Flat: not fully developed
Not usually major characters
Usually there to help the plot along

5. Internal and External Conflicts
Internal: within a single character
Can be many in a single character
Can be in conjunction with External
Not all characters must have one
External: between two characters or forces.

6. Motivation What makes a character do what they do?
What are the driving forces that explain their actions?

7. Characterization Techniques
Direct Characterization: author tells you something directly about a character
“Jim was a proud man.”
Indirect Characterization: author communicates something about a character without saying it directly.
5 different techniques

8. Indirect Characterization Techniques
Spoken Words
Jim said, “I really don’t know what to do. I never seem to know what to do.”
Private Thoughts
Jim pondered the meaning of life and his place in the universe.
Actions
Jim stomped through the halls, his fists clenched, bumping into kids along the way.

9. Indirect Characterization Techniques
Appearance
Jim wore holey, worn out bluejeans; his shirt had mustard stains on the front; his hair was disheveled and his fingernails looked as if he’d been digging in a sandbox.
Jim’s room was strewn with clothing, his bed was unmade, the air was stagnant and stale, and the cobwebs gathered in each corner of the ceiling.

10. Indirect Characterization Techniques
Words or reactions of other characters
Fred told Jerry, “Have you seen Jim today? It looks like he hasn’t showered in a month. I think he must be going through a very hard time. He is normally so neat and tidy.”
Everyone moves away from Jim as he stormed down the hall. No one wanted to get in his way.