Complex Characterization

Characterization

What is characterization and how do we find evidence in a text!

​Important Note: Phrases that are underlined are the key details that you should write in your notes!

Characters:

​Characters can be static, dynamic, round, or flat.

​ Static Characters:

• ​Remains mostly the same throughout the story.

​Dynamic Characters:

• ​These are characters who undergo internal change over the course of a story.

​Round Characters:

• ​A deep and layered character

• ​Complex personality

​

​Flat Characters:

• ​A character without complex emotion, personality, or motivations.

Characters:

​ Protagonist:

• The main character in a story

​Antagonist:

• ​The person or thing that causes the most problems for the main character.

Multiple Choice

True or False: A character can ONLY be flat or round or dynamic or static. It can not be two of these. 

• True

• False

Multiple Select

What kind of character is this? A character who starts out in the beginning of story is shy and and by the end of the story is very outspoken and willing to join into a variety of school clubs.

• Static

• Dynamic

• Flat

• Round

Multiple Choice

What kind of character is this? Ursula from The Little Mermaid, Cruella from 101 Dalmatians, The Evil Queen from Snow White

• Protagonist

• Antagonist

Characterization:

​The way in which the author shows the personality of the character and makes the character "come to life"

​ Indirect Characterization:

• ​The writer shows the character’s personality through speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and looks/appearance.

• The reader needs to interpret the personality traits of the character from these words.

​Direct Characterization:

• ​The writer reveals explicitly (directly) the traits of the character

• ​Example: Jason has brown hair and blue eyes. (The reader is told directly two of Jason's physical traits)

STEAL

1. Speech 2. Thoughts 3. Effect on Others 4. Actions 5. Looks/Appearance

• ​Speech: What the characters say

• Thoughts: What the character is thinking

• Effect on Others: What the character does to other characters in the story.

• Actions: What the character is doing

• Looks/Appearance: What the character looks like

Multiple Choice

What indirect characterization is used in the sentence? John’s mom smiled as he handed her the flowers for Mother’s Day.

• Speech

• Thoughts

• Effect on others

• Actions

• Looks/ Appearance

Multiple Choice

What indirect characterization is used in the sentence? John said, “Where are the waffles that I made for breakfast?”

• Speech

• Thoughts

• Effect on others

• Actions

• Looks/ Appearance

Multiple Choice

What indirect characterization is used in the sentence? John could see above the others in the crowd easily even from the back row.

• Speech

• Thoughts

• Effect on others

• Actions

• Looks/ Appearance

Multiple Choice

What indirect characterization is used in the sentence? John's red baseball cap stood out amongst the crowd as we watched the first home game of his favorite team.

• Speech

• Thoughts

• Effect on others

• Actions

• Looks/ Appearance

Multiple Choice

What indirect characterization is used in the sentence? John remembered when he was on the beach last summer.

• Speech

• Thoughts

• Effect on others

• Actions

• Looks/ Appearance

Poll

Do you have any questions about the terms that we discussed today?

• Yes many questions

• I am unsure about a term or two

• No questions at all