AP ENGLISH LIT AND COMP

Characterization

Defining Direct and Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization tells the audience what the personality of the character is like.

Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of the character. There are 5 different methods of indirect characterization.

STEAL

Indirect Characterization - STEAL

Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak?

Thoughts What is revealed through the characters private thoughts and feelings?

Effect (on 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?

4 methods to determine characterization

What the author him/herself tells usWhat the character doesWhat others tell us about the characterWhat the character tells us about him/herself

Determine if these 4 methods are reliable or unreliable and explain. Direct or indirect?

How reliable is characterization?

Actions and authorial comments are more accurate than self-assessment.

A character may be dishonest or deluded; likewise, other characters may bring their own personal feelings to their judgments.

Direct vs. indirect characterization

Dress, speech= authorial comment

Light in August Chapter 1

Direct – page 25 – “Lena tells her story again with that patient and transparent recapitulation of a lying child…”

What does this say about her character?

Indirect- page 6-Her brother said about

Lena, “He called her a whore”

Lena thought to herself, “If it had been this hard to do before, I reckon I would not be doing it now”

“From beneath a sunbonnet of faded blue…” (page 11)

What do each of these reveal about Lena?

Character Analysis - Lena

Pay attention to the character’s ethics/morals

Lena tells Martha the truth, “ I told you false about being married”

sneaking out of the window and got pregnant.

Character Analysis - Lena

Decide whether the characters actions are wise or unwise

Barefoot and pregnant walking for days to find a guy that obviously left her.

Character Analysis - Lena

What is the real motivation of the character?

To find Lucas Burch; wants her family together, “ I reckon a family ought to all be together”

Character Analysis - Lena

Consider the effects of the character’s behaviors on other characters.

Look for repeatedly used words that describe the character.

Stubborn (page 6 and 21)

Character Analysis- Lena

Be aware of items associated with the character

Old shoes, cloth bundle, palm leaf fan, shapeless faded blue garment

Character Analysis- Lena

Read between the lines

Is the character round or flat?

Consider the historical period of the character

What does the author think? How do you know? (page 25)