What is direct characterization?

What is indirect characterization

Read the following passage and decide if it is a better example of direct or indirect characterization.

Peter wasn't interested in the TV show that was playing, but the remote control was all the way across the room, so he just watched it anyway. Jan would be home soon, and she could fetch it for him then.

Read the following passage and decide if it is a better example of direct or indirect characterization.

Because Joe is an honest guy, he decided to return the chocolate bar he did not pay for.

What can you infer about this character through indirect characterization? Whenever anyone tries to speak to Diana, she says, "You don't know me," rolls her eyes, and walks away.

Which types of indirect characterization are at play in the passage below? (Hint: there are 2 correct answers!)

Amanda arrived early to the meeting with her hair in a pristine ballerina bun and a Montblanc pen tucked behind her ear. Before she sat down, she smoothed out her pinstriped pencil skirt.

Static Characters...

Dynamic Characters

Travis began the school year the same as always. He never studied or completed his homework. Each report card showed the same poor grades. Although his parents encouraged him, by the end of the year, he was still doing poorly.

What type of character is he?

Even though she loved to dance, Shannon was nervous about joining the dance team. She tried out and made it, but never said a word to anyone. At each dance practice, Shannon got a little more comfortable with her team. By the end of the season, not only did she make friends, but she even taught the team a few dance moves.

What type of character is she?

What type of character is given many character traits and considered well-developed?

What type of character is given on a few traits and is considered not developed in a story?

Gru from "Despicable Me" is a ______ character because we see many sides of him and he reveals a change in his emotions.

In "Shrek", Donkey is a ______ character because we don't learn very much about him.

How confident do you feel in your knowledge about characterization.

"Character" is a person in a novel, play, or film.

"Characterize" is to describe the features of something or someone.

The act of describing the character or qualities of something or someone is:

What is characterization?

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."

What is indirect characterization?

What is direct characterization?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!”

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.

Captain Jack Sparrow from Dead Man’s Chest

An arm reaches through a blasted hole, finds and opens a latch. The lid swings open. Captain Jack Sparrow sits up. Jack panics a bit, searching his casket – finds his hat, puts it on. That makes him feel a little better. He looks down. Bows his head, crosses himself.

Captain Jack Sparrow from Dead Man’s Chest

Gibbs: “Something’s got Jack vexed, setting a course without knowing his own heading. Trust me…. What bodes ill for Jack bodes ill for us all.”

Melinda Sordino from Speak

My room belongs to an alien. It is a postcard of who I was in the fifth grade. It is a demented phase when I thought that roses should cover everything and pink was a great color. (thinks Melinda)

Katniss from The Hunger Games

It was slow-going at first, but I was determined to feed us. I stole eggs from nests, caught fish in nets, sometimes managed to shoot a squirrel or rabbit for stew, and gathered the various plants that sprung up beneath my feet. Plants are tricky. Many are edible, but one false mouthful and you're dead. I checked and double-checked the plants I harvested with my father's pictures. I kept us alive.

Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby

"Who wants to go to town?" demanded Daisy [Buchanan] insistently. Gatsby's eyes floated toward her. "Ah," she cried, "you look so cool." Their eyes met, and they stared together at each other, alone in space. With an effort she glanced down at the table."You always look so cool," she repeated. She had told him that she loved him, and Tom Buchanan saw.