Characterization Notes

Characterization is telling what characters are like.

Direct- tells us directly what a character is like or what a person’s motives are.

Indirect- shows us a character but allows us to interpret for ourselves the kind of person we are meeting.

Character traits are what make a character an individual. These traits indicate how a person feels and acts.

Methods of Characterization S T E A L

Authors reveal the traits of their characters through action, dialogue, and direct statements.

Speech (a character’s own words) Thoughts (What a character thinks) Effects on Others (how other characters in

the story feel and interact with a character) Actions (what a character does) Looks (how a character looks)

Think-Pair-Share- LEFT SIDE

Write a sentence describing a girl named Patty to define each type of characterization.

Direct Indirect

Identify the Methods of Characterization Class

Activity 1. “She is wearing tennis shoes and a

shapeless grey sweater over a summery calico dress.”

2. “Get out of my way!” screamed Debbie “I was here first!”

3. “Enter: two relatives. Very angry. Potent with eyes that scold, tongues that scald.”

4. “Every few yards, we abandon the struggle, sit down, and pant.”

5. “Maybe I’m just not very bright,” Clovis thought. “I didn’t pass that basket-weaving class . . . again.”

Types of Characters

Round- has many traits like a real person

Flat- has very few traits Static- stays the same Dynamic- develops and changes Minor/Secondary - don’t play a

main part to the story’s plot

Character Motivations Motivation is what drives a

character’s actions. It explains behavior and reveals

personality. Writers rarely make direct

statements about a character’s motivation. Instead, they plant clues and rely on readers to make inferences from those clues.

Making Inferences

An inference is an educated guess- a guess based on good evidence.

To make an inference: >Look for details in the text>Relate the details to what you

know about life>Make a careful guess

Making Inferences

An inference is a logical statement based on facts.

It is not a wild guess.

What Does Your Speech say about you? RIGHT SIDE

We use language to express our identity. Every time you speak, you give listeners information about who you are and where you come from.

Dialect (also called colloquialism) is a way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region or group of people.

What Does Your Speech say about you? Dialect can determine:

your social class your education

Standard English: Is easier to understand Is the spoken language in

schools/universities Accepted by institutions Recognized by the government

Characterization Literary Terms

Direct characterization

Indirect characterization

Protagonist Antagonist Minor character Motivations Dialect Inference

Round character Flat character Dynamic character Static character Dialogue First-person

narration (point of view)

Third person omniscient & limited

Sequence/plot

Illustrating Character Traits Group Word Knowledge Project(You will be given a rubric) (35 min)

Directions: Students will receive a list of five words and will create illustrated character trait sheets for each of the words.

Students will take one of four roles…

Researcher looks up the definitions of character traits. Remember, it’s important to choose the right definition.

Recorder writes on the project paper. You are responsible for the word, the definition, and the description of the action.

Director thinks of actions that show the character traits. Also, help the researcher put the definitions in your own

words.

Illustrator draws pictures that show the character traits. Other group members may help color your pictures.

T: “Thank You, M’am”A: Langston HughesG: short story

MEET THE AUTHOR

He was born in Joplin, Missouri on February 1st , 1902 City of Joplin, Missouri

Motto: "Proud of Our Past...Shaping Our Future'“

His great-great-grandfather was the first Black American to be elected to public office.

He really wanted to live with his parents, but he could not. The Negro Speaks of Rivers was one of his most famous poems appearing in

Brownie's Book. He received a scholarship to Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania, where he

received his B.A. degree in 1929. Langston Hughes died of cancer on May 22, 1967.

LANGSTON HUGHES

BEING REALISTIC

What would you do if someone came up from behind you and tried to steal your purse/wallet? How would you react? Would you react positively or negatively?

What would motivate a person to steal?

End of paragraph 1Class Discussion

Make connections: What would you do if you were the boy? If you were the woman?

Make judgments: Was it okay for the woman to kick and shake the boy until his teeth rattled? Justify her actions.

Paragraphs 3, 4 and 5Class Discussion

Make a judgment: Is the boy a hardened criminal? Do you think he has done this before? Give evidence.

Make connections: What would you do in a situation like this when you are being questioned by an adult?

Should an adult ask the question the woman did and expect an honest answer?

Class Discussion How old is Roger? Which method

of characterization is the author using to show this?

Make a judgment: Is the boy being honest with his apology? If so, why do you think he is being honest?

Class Discussion What did Mrs. Jones mean when she said, “You

ought to be my son. I would teach you right from wrong.”

Do you think all children who do wrong has not been taught right from wrong? Or are they just deciding to do wrong?

Infer: What is it that Mrs. Jones is telling the boy in the key speech about coming in contact with her?

Predict: What will she do to make the boy remember her?

Class Discussion

What can you infer about Mrs. Bates marital life, family life, and financial status from where she lives?

Class Discussion

What evidence on page 89 does Mrs. Jones give us to show that Roger is hungry?

End of paragraph 30-36Class Discussion

What were Roger’s motivations for trying to steal Mrs. Jones’s purse?

What does she mean by “neither tell God, if he didn’t already know.”

End of paragraph 37Class Discussion

Infer: What has changed so that Mrs. Jones does not protect her purse or try to keep Roger in her apartment?

Make a judgment: Why does Roger want to be trusted?

End of storyClass Discussion

Express in your own words what Mrs. Jones means by “shoes got by devilish ways will burn your feet.”

Make judgments: Would it have been a better story if she had stayed in his life?

Evaluate This! (Left Side)

Which is the dynamic characterand which is the static character in

thisstory. Give details to explain your

answer. Mrs. Jones Roger

Character Traits: list the traits in the correct columns in the chart below, and find details in the story to support your answers. (15 min) LEFT SIDE

Character Traits Self-assured tough lonely generous youngKindhearted troubled timid strong scared

Mrs. Jones Roger

Story Details Story Details

Study for Midterm

Study all literary terms ~ these are listed on the parts of a story notes and the Characterization/POV

notes