Theme and Characterization

Analyze how COMPLEX CHARACTERS develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the PLOT or develop the THEME.

RL.9-10.3 (Literature)

Characterization

​Indirect Characterization means revealing a character's traits through the character's actions, choices, behavior dialect, appearance, and interaction with others.

​This meme characterizes the mother and father as concerned, loving parents. No words SAY they are concerned and loving, but we can infer it from their behavior and interaction with the son.

Complex Characters

• change & develop over the course of a story

• have several MOTIVATIONS, or reasons, for what they do

• motivations can cause INTERNAL CONFLICT as characters struggle with their feelings or try to determine an action to take

• conflicting motivations can advance the PLOT, the series of events that occur in a story

• 
  

Character + Plot = Theme

(1) Notice how a COMPLEX CHARACTER changes.

(2) Think about how those changes affect the PLOT & what the character learns.

(3) This will help you analyze how the author explores and develops the story's THEME.

Multiple Choice

"a character struggling with his/her feelings or trying to determine what action to take" is ...

• complex character

• internal conflict

• motivation

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

"the series of story events that establish and resolve the character's conflicts" is ...

• complex character

• internal conflict

• motivation

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

"a character with multiple or conflicting motivations" is ...

• complex character

• internal conflict

• motivation

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

"a character's reason for doing things" is ...

• complex character

• internal conflict

• motivation

• plot

• theme

Multiple Choice

"a story's central idea or message about life" is ...

• complex character

• internal conflict

• motivation

• plot

• theme

Apply this standard while you read.

I can analyze a COMPLEX CHARACTER's development over the course of a text.

Multiple Choice

Our friends surrounded me. "Where have you been?" they cried. "We were so worried. We thought surely something had happened to you!"

How does the author use indirect characterization in the passage?

• The author directly states how Shlemiel feels.

• The author shows how few friends Shlemiel has displaying how pathetic his life is

• In this excerpt, the author conveys that Shlemiel is loved by many people by showing how his friends were so concerned when he was missing.

• In this excerpt, the author shows the character is surrounded by the text, "Our friends surround me."