CHARACTERS and CHARACTERIZATION Part I (Direct and Indirect)

CHARACTERS and CHARACTERIZATION

Open Ended

Who is your favorite character? Why?

Function

• The main function of a character in a story is to extend or prolong the plot, make it readable and interesting.

• Many stories use multiple characters, and every story has a main character that affects the plot a great deal. 

• The main character could be a protagonist, an antagonist, a dynamic, a static, a flat, or a round character. 

• Readers feel that the characters given in the literary pieces exist, and they enjoy reading their real and lifelike figures and actions.

Open Ended

List the personality traits of your favorite character without mentioning their name. Let's see if your classmates can guess who the character is.

Multiple Choice

Characterization is

• the central message in a story

• the problem in a story

• the process by which a writer reveals a character's personality and qualities

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION?

• She liked to show off her wealth.
• She wore a ten carat diamond necklace everywhere she went.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION?

• Marie has a strange fashion style.
• Marie wore bellbottom jeans, a gold chain, a tie-dye shirt, and huge sunglasses to the homecoming dance.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION?

• No matter what he read, every time Dylan opened a book, he'd be snoring in five minutes
• Dylan thought that reading was boring.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence is an example of INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION?

• Joe was having fun at the party.
• Joe didn't want to leave the party, even though it was already 2am.

PROTAGONIST

​The story is shaped around the protagonist. He or she is trying to achieve a goal in the story.

The Protagonist is central to the action of
a story and moves against the antagonist.

Open Ended

Who is your favorite protagonist? Why?

PROTAGONIST

 The protagonist doesn't

have to be a hero.

 The character might not

be likeable but he is still
the protagonist because
the story is mainly about
him.

EXAMPLE: Protagonists don’t have to be
likeable

 The Grinch does a lot of

terrible things—sneaks into
homes, steals presents, tries
to ruin Christmas.

 He is not likeable for much

of the story yet he is the
protagonist because the
story is about him.

Open Ended

Who do you think is an unlikable protagonist? Why?

ANTAGONIST

 The character who acts

against the protagonist is
called the antagonist.

 The antagonist opposes

the protagonist and
causes problems for him.

ANTAGONIST

 Remember the

antagonist doesn't
have to be a bad guy.

 Sometimes the

antagonist can be a
group of people
combined or an
institution.

The antagonist is a
villain or a force
which opposes the
protagonist and
causes the main
conflicts in the
story during the
rising actions.
.

Open Ended

Who is your favorite antagonist? Why?

Open Ended

Who do you think is a likable antagonist? Why do you like him or her?

SUMMARY OF CHARACTERS

 Protagonist—the story revolves around the character.

 Round Character—one who is multi-dimensional and complex.

 Dynamic Character—one who changes over the course of the story.

 Antagonist—the character who acts against the protagonist.

 Flat Character—one who is not very developed.

 Static Character—one who stays the same throughout the story.

 Stereo-typed Character- one who is used to make fun of a specific

group of people based on assumptions

 Parallel Characters-Two characters who share similar traits

 Foil Characters-Two characters who have opposite traits which causes

conflicts between the characters

Open Ended

EXIT TICKET: If you were to create your own character, what is one characteristic you would give them?