Name:   Period:   Mr. George/English 7
Characterization Notes
 How characters are revealed...


                               Show
                                vs.
                                Tell
Name:                Period:      Mr. George/English 7
What Traits Did
  We Infer?
What Traits Did
  We Infer?
What Traits Did
  We Infer?

            Possible Traits

             curious, inquisitive,
           fun-loving, interested
          friendly, good-natured,
              nice, hospitable,
          sociable, jolly, trusting,
                    nieve
What Traits Did
  We Infer?

            Possible Traits

             curious, inquisitive,
           fun-loving, interested
          friendly, good-natured,
              nice, hospitable,
          sociable, jolly, trusting,
                    nieve
What Traits Did
                  We Infer?

  Possible Traits            Possible Traits

      uninterested,           curious, inquisitive,
   indifferent, mean,       fun-loving, interested
cruel, barbaric, brutal,   friendly, good-natured,
  fiendish, heartless,         nice, hospitable,
 vicious, merciless,       sociable, jolly, trusting,
     ruthless, harsh                 nieve
Direct Characterization:
Definition: The writer tells us directly what
the character is like.
Direct Characterization:
  Definition: The writer tells us directly what
  the character is like.
Examples: (Notice the author is directly telling the audience the personality of each character)
 “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did
 not disobey their mother.”

 "Ed Johnson, the old mechanic, hated modern electronics,
 preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of
 manuals and a good set of tools."

"Bart was a liar and a cheat."
Indirect Characterization:
Definition: the writer shows things that
reveal the personality of a character.
Indirect Characterization:
Definition: the writer shows things that
reveal the personality of a character.

    There are five
  different methods
           of
        Indirect
   Characterization
Speech:   What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
Speech:         What does the character say? How does the character
speak?


Thoughts:         What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?
Speech:         What does the character say? How does the character
speak?


Thoughts:         What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?


Effect:    The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed
through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters
feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Speech:         What does the character say? How does the character
speak?


Thoughts:         What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?


Effect:    The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed
through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters
feel or behave in reaction to the character?


Actions:        What does the character do? How does the character
behave?
Speech:         What does the character say? How does the character
speak?


Thoughts:         What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?


Effect:    The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed
through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters
feel or behave in reaction to the character?


Actions:        What does the character do? How does the character
behave?


Looks:     What does the character look like? How does the character
dress?
S.
T.
E.
A.
L.
S.
  Study Tip:
     Use this      T.
mnemonic device
to remember the
  five types of
                   E.
     indirect
characterization
                   A.
                   L.
Other Terms You Should Know:
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :   the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :    the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :    the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :     the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :     the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :      the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :      the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

Round Character :         this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :      the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :      the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

Round Character :         this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.

Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :      the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :      the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

Round Character :         this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.

Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.

Static Character :       a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :      the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :      the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

Round Character :         this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.

Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.

Static Character :       a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.

Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :      the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :      the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

Round Character :         this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.

Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.

Static Character :       a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.

Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people
Infer : to figure out based on clues-- like to infer the personality of a character
Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist :      the main or principal character in a work of fiction

Antagonist :      the character who works against the protagonist in the story

Flat Character :        a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

Round Character :         this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.

Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.

Static Character :       a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.

Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people
Infer : to figure out based on clues-- like to infer the personality of a character
Adjective : a word that describes a noun      (funny, tall, skinny, peculiar-- any character
trait)

Characterization Notes

  • 1.
    Name: Period: Mr. George/English 7
  • 2.
    Characterization Notes Howcharacters are revealed... Show vs. Tell Name: Period: Mr. George/English 7
  • 4.
  • 5.
  • 6.
    What Traits Did We Infer? Possible Traits curious, inquisitive, fun-loving, interested friendly, good-natured, nice, hospitable, sociable, jolly, trusting, nieve
  • 7.
    What Traits Did We Infer? Possible Traits curious, inquisitive, fun-loving, interested friendly, good-natured, nice, hospitable, sociable, jolly, trusting, nieve
  • 8.
    What Traits Did We Infer? Possible Traits Possible Traits uninterested, curious, inquisitive, indifferent, mean, fun-loving, interested cruel, barbaric, brutal, friendly, good-natured, fiendish, heartless, nice, hospitable, vicious, merciless, sociable, jolly, trusting, ruthless, harsh nieve
  • 10.
    Direct Characterization: Definition: Thewriter tells us directly what the character is like.
  • 11.
    Direct Characterization: Definition: The writer tells us directly what the character is like. Examples: (Notice the author is directly telling the audience the personality of each character) “The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.” "Ed Johnson, the old mechanic, hated modern electronics, preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of manuals and a good set of tools." "Bart was a liar and a cheat."
  • 13.
    Indirect Characterization: Definition: thewriter shows things that reveal the personality of a character.
  • 14.
    Indirect Characterization: Definition: thewriter shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of Indirect Characterization
  • 16.
    Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
  • 17.
    Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
  • 18.
    Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect: The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
  • 19.
    Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect: The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
  • 20.
    Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect: The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave? Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
  • 21.
  • 22.
    S. StudyTip: Use this T. mnemonic device to remember the five types of E. indirect characterization A. L.
  • 24.
    Other Terms YouShould Know:
  • 25.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
  • 26.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
  • 27.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story.
  • 28.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story. Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background.
  • 29.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story. Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background. Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action.
  • 30.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story. Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background. Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action. Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.
  • 31.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story. Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background. Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action. Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story. Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people
  • 32.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story. Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background. Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action. Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story. Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people Infer : to figure out based on clues-- like to infer the personality of a character
  • 33.
    Other Terms YouShould Know: Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story. Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad traits as well as background. Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action. Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story. Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people Infer : to figure out based on clues-- like to infer the personality of a character Adjective : a word that describes a noun (funny, tall, skinny, peculiar-- any character trait)