1. Creating Characters

2. Direct Characterization—Writers tell us directly what characters are like or what their motives are. Indirect Characterization—Writers show us characters but allow us to decide what characters are like. Direct and Indirect Characterization

3. Quick Check Oh, but he was a mean old man at the grindstone! A squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, greedy old sinner! - A Christmas Carol Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What kind of person do you think this character is? Direct and Indirect Characterization Direct

4. Quick Check Lord Asriel was a tall man with powerful shoulders, a fierce dark face, and eyes that seemed to flash and glitter with savage laughter. - The Golden Compass Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What kind of person do you think this character is? Direct and Indirect Characterization Indirect

5. Indirect characterization is revealed five different ways Speech Appearance Private Thoughts Reactions of others Actions (a character’s own words) (how a character looks) (what a character thinks) (how other characters feel about a character) (what a character does)

6. “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. - Great Expectations Which methods of indirect characterization are being used? Direct and Indirect Characterization

7. Speech Actions Appearance Indirect Characterization “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. - What kind of person do you think this character is?

8. Indirect characterization Her eyes were Frenchmen blue, staring out of a soft, round face. She appeared completely unafraid, and there was a look to her stare that made the Baron feel uneasy for no reason he could explain. - Dune Which methods of indirect characterization are being used?

9. Indirect characterization Her eyes were Frenchmen blue, staring out of a soft, round face. She appeared completely unafraid and there was a look to her stare that made the Baron feel uneasy for no reason he could explain. - Dune AppearanceReactions of Others Her eyes were Frenchmen blue, staring out of a unafraid,and there was a look to her stare that made the Baron feel uneasy for no reason he could explain. soft, round face. She appeared completely

10. Which method is being used? She was wearing grubby tennis shoes and a shapeless gray sweater over a summery calico dress. Appearance What kind of person do you think this character is?

11. Which method is being used? “I know everyone hates me,” Nancy sobbed. “It’s because I’m not as pretty as the other girls.” Speech What kind of person do you think this character is?

12. Which method is being used? (for Aunt Sylvia) When Aunt Sylvia entered the room, my mother narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips in disapproval. Reactions of Others What kind of person do you think this character is?

13. Which method is being used? It wasn’t long before Alison began to wonder how she could get that doll away from her sister and all to herself. Private Thoughts What kind of person do you think this character is?

14. The action of the story revolves around the protagonist and the conflict he or she faces. Main Characters Protagonist—the main character of a story. Antagonist—the character or force the protagonist struggles against and must overcome. Protagonist Antagonist

15. Subordinate characters add depth and complication to the plot. Subordinate Characters Family Friends

16. Flat characters have only one or two character traits that can be described in a few words Flat Characters versus Round Characters have no depth, like a piece of cardboard

17. Round characters have many different character traits that sometimes contradict each other Flat Characters versus Round Characters are much like real people, with several sides to their personality

18. Static characters do not change or grow Dynamic Characters versus Static Characters are the same at the end of a story as they were in the beginning Subordinate characters are often static characters.

19. Dynamic characters change or grow as a result of the story’s actions learn something about themselves, other people, or the world as they struggle to resolve their conflicts The changes that a dynamic character undergoes contribute to the meaning of the story. Dynamic Characters versus Static Characters

20. Motivation is what drives a character’s actions. It… Motivation explains behaviors is often based on character’s fears, conflicts, needs Motivation can be inferred by observing characters’ behavior, speech, actions. reveals personality

21. Homework-Period One Please complete the character worksheet with your assigned number: 1.Gwyneth, Scott, Christine and Andrew 2.Bobbi, Jack, Peyton and Alexus 3.Evan, Kiran, John and Cheyenne 4.Ben, Nicole, Brandon and Fernando 5.Frank, Mccain, Alyssa, Christopher 6.Luke, William, Joy and Audrey

22. Homework-Period Three Please complete the character worksheet with your assigned number: 1.Hamza, Alexandra, Kane and Jordan 2.Lucy, Jason, Auston and Kyle 3.Michelle, Timoteo, Lauren, and Richard 4.Jesse, Ian, Kyle W., and Taylor 5.Cade, Sasha, Madison, Emily* 6.Tyler, Nicholas, Joey and Macy