Internal and External Character Traits

Characterization Quizizz Lesson

by David Hastings

Objective 1​: What Are Ways Authors Develop Characters

Characterization

How an author develops a character in the story. Through what a reader can see & what the reader can learn from what the character says, does, thinks & feels.

Multiple Choice

What is direct characterization?

• The process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.

• The process by which the narrator tells the audience what the personality of the character is.

Multiple Choice

What is indirect characterization?

• The process by which the narrator tells the audience what the personality of the character is.

• The process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.

Multiple Choice

Is this direct or indirect characterization?

Jack looked at his sister with a strange look on his face after she put ketchup in her milk.

• direct

• indirect

Multiple Choice

Read the passage and determine if it is direct characterization or indirect characterization: " No wonder Johnny was hurt because his parents didn't want him."

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

Multiple Choice

How do authors use characterization in literature?

• Authors use characterization to trick the reader into reading.

• Authors use characterization to describe the setting.

• Authors uses characterization to introduce, develop, and describe a character.

• Authors use characterization to create a comparison of two different things.

Multiple Select

John got all of his homework done this weekend, plus all of his chores.

What two character traits best describes John.

• playful

• responsible

• kind

• brave

• productive

Multiple Select

Tim made silly faces and played peek-a-boo with the baby.

What TWO words best describe Tim?

• mean

• silly

• playful

• courageous

• smart

Multiple Choice

The new student didn't sit with anyone at lunch; she found a table and ate alone.

What word best describes the new student?

• talkative

• friendly

• shy

• mean

Multiple Choice

Tom is described as being very fit, healthy, tall, and strong. Based on this description, we can guess that Tom ___________________.

• eats junk food all day.

• likes to stay healthy and probably exercises a lot

• doesn't care about his health.

• likes to sleep in on the weekends.

Multiple Choice

After glancing around to make sure she wasn't being watched, Marissa slide the candy bar into her pocket. She walked out of store casually, not stopping to pay.

• selfish

• sneaky

• thrifty

• rude

Multiple Choice

Jonathan looked at the homeless dog walking down the street of his neighborhood. He approached the dog, slowly cautiously, with his hands stretched outward. After gaining his trust, Jonathan took the dog home, gave him a warm bath, and big bowl of food.

• impulsive

• obsessed

• humble

• compassionate

Multiple Choice

Javier was shopping at the grocery store for some olives. He needed a lot of olives, so he grabbed the large jar off of the shelf. Then he noticed the price. The large jar contained 20 oz. of olives and it cost $3.99. He looked at the small jar of olives. It contained 10 oz. of olives and cost $1.49. Javier put the large jar back and purchased two small jars of olives.   What character trait does Javier demonstrate?

• Heroic

• Cruel

• Angry

• Intelligent

Multiple Choice

Craig plays football and shows up at practice every day an hour early to begin his training. What character trait describes Craig?

• tired

• fast

• hard-working

• early bird

Objective 2​: What is Character Motivation & How Should I Identify It?

Objective 2​: What is Character Motivation & How Should I Identify It?

What is Character Motivation?

• Is the reason why a character wants to do something in the story

• Maybe....they want an object, want to do something

Character Motivation

-Why a character acts a certain way

-Two types of character motivation in a story:

1.) Intrinsic-Internal motivation that cause a character to act a certain way

2.) Extrinsic-External reasons that drive a character to act a certain way

Questions you can ask when thinking about character motivation...

• Why is the character doing that?

• Why is the character acting that way?

• What do you think the character is hoping to get from this?

Multiple Choice

What is character motivation?

• The way a character talks.

• Why a character acts or behaves a certain way

• A character's personality

• The way a character moves.

Multiple Select

Trent’s bike was getting too small and just wasn’t cool anymore. Trent was watching TV and saw the new Bike Racer 2000 and knew he had to have it. He could no longer ride that old bike. All he could think about was how amazing he would look on the new bike and how smooth the bike would ride. He counted how much money he had and realized he needed $50. He went out and did chores for his parents and jobs for the neighbors until he earned $50. He went and bought the bike right away. Woohoo!

What was Trent's motivation?

• the new bike

• doing chores

• $50

• being cool and looking good on the bike

Multiple Choice

Julie had a school mission project to complete. She was given a whole month to get the project done but had procrastinated and now only had one week to get it done! Julie’s mom found out that Julie hadn’t even started the project, and she was very angry. She told Julie that she was grounded until it was done. Julie couldn’t believe her mom grounded her over a lame project. Julie couldn’t handle being grounded, so she decided to just get the project done.

What was Julie's motivation?

• to get the project done

• not wanting to be grounded

• her mom

• getting a good grade

Multiple Select

The class scores were out! Kenny was so nervous to see the scores, he knew he didn't study enough and the test was so hard. Well, sure enough, he failed. He was shocked to see that he was one of only two people who failed. What? He had to find a way to improve his scores! He couldn't be a failure, so he asked his teacher for another chance to take the test. She said yes and Kenny got to studying right away. He knew he could do it!

What was Kenny's motivation?

• embarrassment

• to pass the test

• being nervous

• not being a failure

Objective 3: HOW CAN SETTING INFLUENCE THE CONFLICT IN THE STORY & THE VALUES/BELIEFS OF THE CHARACTERS?

Setting

The place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place.

​Setting Influence

​Depending on where and when the story takes place, the setting can have a major impact on the conflict and the characters.

​

​For example=

​

​If the setting takes place at school in the 1960s, certain characters may have dealt with issues of prejudice or racism, while that may not be as big of an issue if the setting takes place in a school in 2021.

​The Main Thing to Know

• ​Authors choose settings for a reason.

• ​When your reading, don't overlook the setting and its importance.

• ​Think about why the author chose that setting and how it is contributing to problems in the story or how the characters behave/feel