Characterization

What is characterization?

• Character traits

• What a character says and thinks

• The process in which the author tells the personality of a character.

• What a character looks like and what are his actions

What type of characterization is shown:

While in the lunch room, Mr. Nuismer thought to himself, "Wow, Mr. Haskin must have polished his head this morning because it is so shiny it might blind a student."

• Physical Appearance

• Thoughts, Speech, and Actions

• Other Characters Reactions

• Narrator's Comments

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.

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.

What do you know about Jack from this sentence?

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

• Jack thinks his sister is making a good choice.

• Jack thinks his sister is weird for using ketchup in her milk.

• Jack doesn't care what his sister does.

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

Once upon a time there was a beautiful young girl named Cinderella. Cinderella lives with her evil stepmother and stepsisters who force her to clean day and night. After many harrowing adventures Cinderella meets her prince charming and lives happily ever after.

• Direct

• Indirect

In the story Hansel and Gretel two young children are left to fend for themselves in a dangerous forest. They can’t believe their luck when they come across a house made completely out of candy and quickly begin to snack on it. The evil witch who lives inside is not at all pleased and captures both children. She holds them hostage until Hansel and Gretel devise a plan to overtake the witch. The witch dies just as evil as the day she was born while Hansel and Gretel learn valuable lessons to keep themselves safe.

• Direct

• Indirect

John Proctor from The Crucible

PROCTOR, with a cry of his whole soul: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”

• Direct

• Indirect

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

Greg is a conflicted soul: he wants to do the right thing, but the constant quest for status and girls seems to undermine his every effort. His attempts to prove his worthiness in the popularity race (he estimates he's currently ranked 52nd or 53rd) are constantly foiled by well-meaning parents, a younger and older brother, and nerdy friends. No matter how hard he tries Greg can’t stop being a wimpy kid.

• Direct

• Indirect