Direct VS Indirect Characterization

Open Ended

You were supposed to come to class today with one text-text, text-world, and text-self connection. Choose your best one, identify which type of connection it is, and explain the connection.

Characterization

A technique used by an author to convey information about this character

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

You are going to create your own character.

Write down their name and describe them (age, gender, clothes they wear, personality traits, etc).

What the author tells us about the character

Direct Characterization is...

This is called...Direct Characterization!

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

Wendell, a new student at Drake High School, was not shy or lacking in confidence, despite his enjoyment of fancy suspenders and big words. His self-assurance and hatred of Normal Teenage Things made him stand out like a giant zit on porcelain skin.

What does this directly tell us about the character?

Indirect Characterization

When the reader has to infer what the character is like.

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You can learn about a character indirectly by analyzing:​

-What the character says/thinks

-What the character does

-How the character makes others feel?​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Select

Wendell walked boldly into the classroom, chose a seat in the front, and readied for learning by placing his pens, his calculator, and his notebook on his desk.

What can we infer about this character based on their actions?

• Wendell is confident

• Wendell is lazy

• Wendell is prepared

• Wendell hates school

Multiple Choice

Wendell glanced around and looked at his classmates as he sat waiting for the bell to ring. He kept a running commentary in his head of what he thought of everyone: "He's a jock. She looks jumb. That girl has style. The guy next to me will be my greatest competition in this class."

What can we infer about this character based on his thoughts?

• Wendell loves math class

• Wendell loves sports

• Wendell is judgemental

• Wendell thinks badly of himself

Open Ended

As classmates filed into the room, they made sure to stay clear of Wendell. seats filled up on the edges of the room and in the back, but not the front.

What can we infer about Wendell?

Open Ended

What is direct characterization?

Open Ended

What is indirect characterization?

Open Ended

Think about your own character that you created earlier. Identify one character trait that they have. Using indirect characterization, write a few sentences that will allow your reader to infer that character trait.