ELA 10 Unit 5 Characterization

Unit 5: Character

Analysis

Characterization

Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals
the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed

through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

2

Direct and Indirect Characterization

Indirect or implicit characterization

This is a more subtle way of introducing the character to
the audience. The audience has to deduce for themselves
the characteristics of the character by observing:

➔His/her thought process

➔Behavior/actions

➔Speech/what they say

➔Way of talking/dialect

➔Appearance/physical description

➔Manner of communication with other characters

➔How other characters respond to them

Direct or Explicit Characterization

This kind of characterization takes a direct
approach towards building the character. It uses
another character, narrator, or the protagonist
himself to tell the readers or audience about the
subject.

3

Multiple Select

Direct Characterization involves the writer

• making explicit statements about a character's personality

• telling the reader or viewer what the character is like

• revealing details about a character without stating them explicitly

• showing character traits through his/her actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and how other characters react to them

Direct and Indirect Characterization

Indirect or implicit characterization

Speech Example: “But we can have lots of fun
that is funny!” (The Cat in the Hat)

Explanation: This reveals that the cat is an
upbeat character that likes to have fun.

Direct or Explicit Characterization

Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl
were both well mannered and did not
disobey their mother.”

Explanation: The author is directly telling
the audience the personality of these two
children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is
“quiet.”

4

Multiple Select

Indirect Characterization involves the writer

• making explicit statements about a character's personality

• telling the reader or viewer what the character is like

• revealing details about a character without stating them explicitly.

• showing character traits through his/her actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and how other characters react to them

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of indirect characterization?

• Marcia was a good listener and wonderful friend.

• Marcia felt the knot in her stomach grow when she saw the number of questions on the test, and she tugged her hair anxiously. 

• Marcia was a nervous person.

• Marcia was an optimist who always believed the best about people.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of direct characterization?

• He tapped his foot anxiously.

• Frank was a shy, quiet person.

• "I wouldn't  trust that man," said Ma.

• Every time he earned a high grade, he would hang the test on his wall.

5

Reorder

Reorder the following according to where they fit the acronym that helps us identify indirect characterization:

• Says

• Thinks

• Effects on others

• Acts

• Looks

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

What can you infer about this character through indirect characterization? Whenever anyone tries to speak to Diana, she says, "You don't know me," rolls her eyes, and walks away.

• Dee has a difficult home life

• Dee is rude and thinks she is better than everyone else.

• Dee has eye problems.

• Dee has a lot of friends.

Protagonist:

the central character

of a drama, novel,

short story, or
narrative poem

Vocab for this Unit

12

Multiple Choice

The main character in a story is the...

• Antagonist

• Only character

• Protagonist

• Most popular character

Antagonist:

the adversary of the

protagonist

Vocab for this Unit

13

Multiple Choice

The character, thing, or event which is OPPOSING the main character is..

• antagonist

• protagonist

• static character

• villian

Foil:

a character designed
to highlight qualities of

another character

Vocab for this Unit

14

Multiple Choice

What is a foil character?

• The central character

• The character that opposes the central character

• A character who contrasts with another character, usually the protagonist, to highlight qualities of the other character

• A character who manages to always disrupt the plans of the protagonist.

Match

Match the following

• Foil

• Not Foil

• Foil

• Foil

• Not Foil

Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy

Katniss & Peeta

Romeo & Mercutio

Lightning McQueen & Jackson Storm

Simba & Nala

• Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy

• Katniss & Peeta

• Romeo & Mercutio

• Lightning McQueen & Jackson Storm

• Simba & Nala

Epiphany:

a sudden revelation in

which a character

proceeds from ignorance

and innocence to

knowledge

and awareness

Vocab for this Unit

15

Round Character:

a three-dimensional

character

Vocab for this Unit

16

Flat Character:

a character with a

single important trait

Vocab for this Unit

17

Dynamic Character:

a character who

changes in response to
the experience through

which he or she

passes

Vocab for this Unit

18

Static Character:

a character who

changes little over the
course of a narrative

Vocab for this Unit

19

Archetypal Character (or

Archetype):

a character who embodies a

certain kind of universal human

experience; a type seen in

myths, fairy tales, and in other
forms of literature in every time

and place

Vocab for this Unit

20

Multiple Choice

_____ are those who embody a certain kind of universal human experience.

• archetypal characters

• main characters

• round characters

• dynamic characters

Multiple Choice

. 

An author may choose to emphasize a single important trait, creating what is called a(n)

• dynamic character

• round character

• archetypal character

• flat character

Multiple Choice

the author may present a complex, fully-rounded personality

• flat character

• archetypal character

• round character

• static character

Multiple Choice

A character that changes little over the course of a narrative is called a(n)

• static character

• archetypal character

• round character

• dynamic character

Multiple Choice

A character that changes in response to the actions through which he or she passes is called a(n)

• dynamic character

• archetypal character

• static character

• flat character

Multiple Choice

an event in which the essential nature of something—a person, a situation, an object—is suddenly perceived; it is an intuitive grasp of reality in a quick flash of recognition in which something usually simple and commonplace is seen in a new light.

• epiphany

• climax

• exposition

• celebration

Video Response

Do you feel you understand characterization and the associated vocabulary? Respond with "Yes I understand" or "I get most of it" or "Still confused about some parts. (You can say the specific confusing parts if you want.)

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