CHARACTERIZATIONCHARACTERIZATION

Characterization

•Definition: The process, involving several methods, through which an author makes a character real and believable.

Methods of characterization

1. Appearance– The character’s physical traits are

described by the narrator, by other characters, or in the character’s own words.

– Physical traits include: hair color/length, eye color, facial description, body type, clothing, etc.

2. Inner thoughts and feelings– The reader gets to see and hear the

character’s thoughts and feelings in reaction to different situations.

– These are generally revealed in the narration of the story.

– Generally the reader only gets this method of characterization for a major character.

Methods of characterization

3. Actions– What a character physically does.– Reveals the character’s willingness or

unwillingness to participate in the events of the story.

– Generally considered to be movements of the arms, legs, hands, feet, and head.

– Examples: nodding, flinching, slapping another character, etc. (fill in your own)

Methods of characterization

4. Speech– The words a character says aloud.– These may or may not agree with

character’s inner thoughts and feelings (see method #2), revealing more about him/her.

– Usually called dialogue (conversation between one or more characters).

Methods of characterization

5. Motivation: In addition to knowing what a

character thinks, it is important to realize WHY the character does what he or she does. This explains the meaning behind all the character’s feelings, actions, speech, etc.

Methods of characterization

6. “What others say”– Other characters’ responses may

reveal the character traits of a separate character.

– This may be as clear as how other characters talk about this character, or as subtle as their facial expressions when that character walks into the room.

Methods of characterization

• Protagonist– Usually considered

the hero(es) of the story.

– Usually the “good guys.”

– They may not be a traditional “good guy” but the reader naturally “cheers” for this character to overcome the story’s conflict(s).

• Antagonist– These characters

always oppose the protagonist.

– Usually the “bad guys”

– Sometimes they are truly evil (as in a fantasy), but they might just be town rivals or bullies.

Types of characters

• Dynamic– A dynamic character

changes somehow in the course of the story.

– The CHANGE UNDERGONE is usually as a result of solving the story’s conflict.

– Usually one of or the only major character in a story.

• Static– A static character

does not undergo a readable change in the story.

– Usually the minor characters, or possibly the story’s antagonist(s).

– Think: STATIC STAYS the SAME

Types of characters