Characterization Part 1 - Mohammad CRJH 24-25

How authors create believable characters

Characterization

I wonder…

Which do you think says more about a person: the things they say, the

things they think, or the things they do? Why?

Open Ended

Which do you think says more about a person: the things they say, the things they think, or the things they do? Why?

What is characterization?

When an author gives us information about:

- what a character looks like,
-What a character says,

-How a character behaves,

-and what a character thinks,

…we call that characterization.

In other words it is how an author communicates various character

traits to the reader.

FUN FACT!

Did you know:

Even though fiction stories have been around for THOUSANDS of

years, characterization did not become a standard part of

literature until the 1800’s.

Why? Because psychology (the study of the mind and behavior)

didn’t become popular until around then! As people started to

analyze why real people did what they did, it encouraged authors
to try and do the same thing with the characters in their stories!.

Multiple Choice

How would you define characterization?

• The way an author draws a character on the cover, and what type of colors they use.

• The way a character uses figurative language, and how many metaphors they use.

• The way an author communicates character traits, through a characters actions, speech, thoughts, and physical descriptions.

• The way an author organizes the characters and plot elements of the text.

Characterization: How do they look?

Characterization: What do they say?

And more importantly, what does it reveal about

who they are?

Multiple Choice

What do Superman's words reveal about who he is?

• Superman's words reveal that he is someone who does not believe in hopes and dreams.

• Superman's words reveal that he is someone who holds on to his dreams and doesn't give up when things get difficult.

• Superman's words reveal that he is someone who gives up when things start to get difficult.

• Superman's words reveal that he is someone who loves the world and the people around him.

Multiple Choice

What do Master Splinter's words reveal about him?

• Master Splinter's words reveal hat he believes we should give up and quit when things get hard.

• Master Splinter's words reveal he believes we have the tools to live life how we want.

• Master Splinter's words reveal that he believes in truth, justice, and the American way.

• Master Splinter's words reveal that he is a rat who lives with turtles who eat pizza.

Characterization: What do they do?

And more importantly, what does it reveal about

them?

Open Ended

Take notes on the various actions you see the characters take. Claire (female, red head); Andrew (male, blond hair); John (male, long hair).

Claire

-She’s eating sushi (at a public

school in the 1980’s)

-She has chopsticks, a special

container, and even a little wooden

plate to set everything on

-She doesn’t understand why it

seems strange, special, or fancy to

everyone else

Andrew

-He unloads a buffet into the table in

front of him

-Doesn’t offer any to anyone else

-He also doesn’t understand why it

seems strange to everyone else

John

-He doesn’t have any food of his own

-but he watches everyone else and even

comments on what some of them are eating

-He didn’t seem to know what sushi was

Open Ended

What do Captain Jack Sparrow's actions reveal about him? Make sure to use evidence from the text to prove your answer!

Captain Jack Sparrow: His Actions…

Captain Jack Sparrow’s actions reveal that he is a
brave and clever person. I know this because even
though he sees the skeletons and a sign that says
“pirates beware”, he still continues sailing his boat
forward. Jack Sparrow’s actions also reveal him to
be clever because he is able to trick the man at the
docks into not revealing his identity by paying him

off. I also know he is respectful and honors the dead,
because he puts his hat over his chest as a sign of

respect.

Multiple Choice

Charlotte spins words like “Some Pig” and “Terrific” into her web to help save Wilbur the pig from being slaughtered.

What do Charlotte's actions reveal about her?

• Charlotte’s actions in creating these messages directly reveal her selflessness. Her dedication to saving Wilbur demonstrates her kindness and cleverness in a real way.

• Charlotte’s actions in creating these messages directly reveal her rudeness. Her dedication to saving Wilbur demonstrates her bitterness and anger in a real way.

• Charlotte’s actions in creating these messages directly reveal her ego. How dare she try and save Wilbur? That's someone dinner.

• Charlotte’s actions in creating these messages directly reveal her desire for revenge. Her dedication to saving Wilbur demonstrates her thirst for violence in a real way.

Characterization: What do they think?

And more importantly, what does it reveal about

them?

Open Ended

Take notes on the various thoughts you hear going on in characters' heads. Focus on: Rachel (female#1, brown hair); Monica (female#2, black sweater); Joey (male#3, black hair, blue shirt).

Rachel

–She’s not listening to Ross

-But she is thinking about him

-We hear her think “... I love that he

cares so much about this stuff.”

Monica

–She’s not listening to Ross

-She thinks to herself, “Oh, great…
another dinosaur story. When are
those going to become extinct?”

Joey

–He’s not listening to Ross

-His only thoughts involve him singing

to himself

Multiple Choice

Anne Shirley thinks, “I’ve always dreamed of finding a place where I truly belong. Green Gables feels like a fairy tale come true.”

• Anne’s thoughts reveal her deep hatred of those around her. Her idealistic view of Green Gables as a fairy tale reveals her angry and bitter desire for a place where she feels at home.

• Anne’s thoughts reveal her belief in staying hopeful and looking towards the future. Her view of Green Gables as a prison reveals her desire to escape from this place she calls home.

• Not this one :)

• Anne’s thoughts reveal her deep longing for belonging and acceptance. Her idealistic view of Green Gables as a fairy tale reveals her romantic nature and desire for a place where she feels at home.

Multiple Choice

Jo March thinks, “I don’t want to be just another woman who settles for a simple life. I want to write stories that will make a difference.”

What do Jo's thoughts reveal about her?

• Jo’s thoughts reveal her ambition and desire to rizz up the rich men of the town with her writing. Her determination to pursue her passion highlights her independence and strong sense of purpose.

• Jo’s thoughts reveal her greed and desire to make money through her writing. Her determination to pursue her passion highlights her strong sense of trying to get that bag.

• Jo’s thoughts reveal her ambition and desire to make a meaningful impact through her writing. Her determination to pursue her passion highlights her independence and strong sense of purpose.

• Jo’s thoughts reveal her troublesome nature and desire to live a simple life through her writing. Her determination to pursue her passion highlights her desire to live a life just like everyone else.

The two types of characterization…

When an author just tells us

the information without

making us work for it.

When an author does not tell
us directly what a character

us like, but SHOWS us through:

-What a character says,

-How a character behaves,
-and what a character

thinks

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization

Ron Weasley says about Hermione Granger, “She’s really

clever and knows a lot about spells. She’s the best

student in our year.”

Fern’s father says, “Fern has a kind heart and she always

stands up for what she believes is right.”

Indirect Characterization

We looked at what

those characters did,

said, and thought… and

then we asked

ourselves what it

revealed about them.
We looked at indirect

characterization!

Remember all of those videos we watched?

Indirect Characterization…

…is pretty interesting, because the author never tells us

anything about the characters, rather he SHOWS us,

and forces us to do something called “making an

inference”.

Inferences… hmmm…

Making an “inference” involves making an
educated guess as to what the author is
trying to say. For example, if someone is

seen frequently donating money or clothing
to the less fortunate, we can “infer” that
they must someone who is generous and

kind.

No one ever actually TELLS us that this

person is generous or kind, but we make an

educated guess based on their actions.

Multiple Choice

What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?

• Indirect characterization only involves looking at a characters speech and actions. The author SHOWS us instead of tells us, while direct characterization involves the reader being told directly.

• Indirect characterization involves looking at a character's speech, actions, and thoughts and making an inference based on the information. The author SHOWS us instead of tells us, while direct characterization involves the reader being told directly.

• Indirect characterization involves looking at a character's speech, actions, and thoughts. The author TELLS us directly instead of showing us, while direct characterization involves the reader being SHOWN, forcing the reader to make inferences based on the information given.

• Indirect characterization involves looking at a character's speech, actions, and thoughts and going to Ohio to see what's up. The author SHOWS us instead of rizzing us up, while direct characterization involves the reader being told directly.

Open Ended

What type of characterization do we see here? How do you know? What does it reveal about Alfred?

This is an example of indirect

characterization. I know this because we
are not given any specific details about
Alfred. The reader has to analyze his
words in order to infer that Alfred is
someone who is wise and never gives up.

Multiple Choice

The Professor says to Lucy about her brother Edmund, “Edmund has always been a bit of a troublemaker, but he’s a good lad deep down.”

What type of characterization is this? How do you know? What does it reveal about Edmund?

• This is Indirect Characterization, because the reader is being indirectly told about Edmunds character traits. We learn that he is a bit of a trouble maker, but a good person deep down.

• This is Direct Characterization, because the reader is being directly told about Edmunds character traits. We learn that he is a bit of a bad person deep down and should be avoided.

• This is Indirect Characterization, because the reader is being indirectly told about Edmunds character traits through the Professor's words. We learn that he is a bit of a trouble maker, but a good person deep down.

• This is Direct Characterization, because the reader is being directly told about Edmunds character traits. We learn that he is a bit of a trouble maker, but a good person deep down.

Open Ended

Harry Potter thinks, “I can’t believe I’m really a wizard. It feels like I’m in a dream, but I have to learn how to control this magic. It’s my chance to be someone special.”

What type of characterization is this? How do you know? What does it reveal about Harry?

This is an example of indirect

characterization. I know this because we
are not given any specific details about
Harry other than the fact that he is a
wizard. The reader has to analyze his
words in order to infer that Harry is

someone who is amazed and excited about

his new magical abilities and desires to
improve himself and find his place in the

magical world.

Multiple Choice

The narrator describes Aslan as “a great lion, who is wise and kind, and the true king of Narnia.”

What type of characterization is this? How do you know? What does it reveal about Aslan?

• This is direct characterization. It provides clear information about Aslan: that he his a mean and rude. character. It establishes him as a figure of authority and power.

• This is indirect characterization. It provides information through the use of speech about Aslan: that he his noble, wise and kind. character. It establishes him as a figure of authority and goodness.

• This is direct characterization. It provides clear information about Aslan: that he is a noble, wise and kind. character. It establishes him as a figure of authority and goodness.

• This is indirect characterization. It provides information about Aslan through the use of character thoughts: that he his noble, wise and kind. character. It establishes him as a figure of authority and goodness.

Multiple Choice

Stanley Yelnats consistently helps his fellow campers at the juvenile detention camp, even though he is often teased and treated poorly.

What type of characterization is this? How do you know? What does it reveal about Stanley?

• Direct. We know this because the author does tells us directly through character actions. Stanley’s actions of helping others despite his own struggles demonstrate his kindness and strong sense of justice. It shows he is a good person who values helping others and stands up for what is right, even in difficult circumstances.

• Indirect. We know this because the author does not tell us, but shows us through character actions. Stanley’s actions of helping others despite his own struggles demonstrate his desire to take advantage of others for his own personal gain. It shows he is an opportunistic person who values taking from others and stands up for what is right, even in difficult circumstances.

• Indirect. We know this because the author does not tell us, but shows us through character actions. Stanley’s actions of helping others despite his own struggles demonstrate his kindness and strong sense of justice. It shows he is a good person who values helping others and stands up for what is right, even in difficult circumstances.

• Direct. We know this because the author does not tell us, but shows us through character actions. Stanley’s actions of helping others despite his own struggles demonstrate his kindness and strong sense of justice. It shows he is a good person who values helping others and stands up for what is right, even in difficult circumstances.