Characterization

Character:

• What the book or story say they look like
• refers to qualities, personality, attitude, and actions that reflect what a person believes
• descriptive adjectives that tell you what a character is like
• is mentioned only briefly 

What can you use to figure out what a character’s traits are? 

• what the character says
• how other characters react to the character
• what the character thinks
• all of the above

True or False: Characters can only be humans.

• True
• False

An author writes, “The girl was very patient.” This is an example of ________. 

• the author telling you directly what a character is like 
• the author showing you indirectly what a character is like

An author reveals that a character is courageous through the character’s words, actions and thoughts. This is an example of ________. 

• direct characterization
• indirect characterization

A character, Nicki, is friendly. The author shows this by having Nicki sit down at a lunch table with a group of kids she doesn’t know and introduce herself. What is the author using to show Nicki’s trait? 

• Nicki's thoughts
• Nicki's feelings
• Nicki's actions
• the other characters' reactions to Nicki

A character, Flora, goes on a field trip to an amusement park. She tells her teacher she’s scared to go on the roller coasters. “No way I’m going on those!” she thinks. Flora’s classmates comment on how she’s shaking and looks pale. Based on this evidence, one trait that describes Flora is ________. 

• fierce
• cowardly
• talented
• bold

Read the following sentences from a story. Choose the character trait that best describes Grandpa. 
Grandpa was 85 years old and had gone through many experiences in his life. Everyone in Grandpa’s building went to him for advice. He always had the right answers. He helped people with their problems and gave them great recipes to try. “I’ve never met someone who knows as much as you do, Gramps!” exclaimed Simon. 

• wise
• fortunate
• maginificent
• elegant

A character, Carson, looks up to his older sister. His sister had an art show coming up. The week before show, she told Carson not to go into her room and peek at her project. Carson followed her rules and didn’t try to go in. “I hope it’s a painting of me!” thought Carson.

• His sister had an art show coming up.
• His sister told him not to peek at her project.
• He hoped the project was a painting of him.
• Carson followed his sister's rules and did not go into her room.

David found a wallet on the ground. He opened up the wallet and saw an old woman’s ID card. David took the wallet to the woman’s house, and returned it to her.   What character trait does David demonstrate? 

• honest
• friendly
• irritated
• fearless