Setting, Character, and Dialogue

Read this sentence:

Squeezing his eyes shut, Ted clutched the armrest as he waited for the dentist to arrive.

What method of characterization does the sentence use to describe the character?

• Appearance

• Dialogue

• Action

• Thoughts

How does dialogue help with characterization?

• It shows how characters interact with one another.

• It shows events that happened in the past.

• It shows the physical appearance of a character.

• It shows the actions and gestures of a character.

What is the setting's role in helping to establish characterization in a story?

• It shows the articles of clothing common to the setting.

• It shows how characters react to or interact with their surroundings.

• It shows the historical events that have influenced the setting.

• It shows past events that happened in the story's location.

How can an author's use of setting build tension within a story?

• By having a character not fit in or be at odds with the setting

• By having a character remember a previous setting

• By having a character reenact historical events that happened in the setting

• By having a character become comfortable in the setting

Which sentence is an example of characterization through action?

• She was tall, with short-cropped blond hair that was at odds with the length of her face.

• Her front tooth was slightly chipped, making her smile all the more beautiful for its imperfection.

• She closed the door softly, her fingers shaking as she turned the key and bolted the lock.

• Her blue eyes were clouded by age; the wrinkles around the edges had become deeper with each passing year.

What can characterization reveal to the reader?

• The events that will build to the climax and conclusion of the story

• When and where the story takes place

• The fears and motivations of the characters

• The central conflict the characters will have to struggle against

How does a reader make an inference about a character?

• By using information from another source to learn more about the character

• By using the character's actions, interactions, and words to learn more about him or her

• By using the author's biographical information to learn more about the character

• By using information about the character that the author has provided in the footnotes

Read this passage:

"I'll be back by 11," Rhea told the babysitter in a high-pitched voice as she fumbled with her purse. "No later than 11. If you need anything, call me on my cell. If I don't answer, try the restaurant. Here's the number. Just call if you need anything . . . anything at all."

What is the most likely inference a reader can make about Rhea's emotional state?

• She is calm.

• She is regretful.

• She is angry.

• She is nervous.