TAKE OUT A SHEET OF TAKE OUT A SHEET OF PAPERPAPERYOU WILL BE TAKING NOTES ON TODAY’S POWERPOINT- ALL NOTES WILL GO INTO THE LITERATURE SECTION OF YOUR BINDERS!!!

Part IPart I

CharacterizationCharacterization

1. 1.

CharacterizationCharacterizationMeaning – Characterization is the way writers develop characters in a story

Two types –◦Direct Characterization◦Indirect Characterization

Meaning – Characterization is the way writers develop characters in a story

Two types –◦Direct Characterization◦Indirect Characterization

CharacterizatioCharacterizationnHow does detailed characterization help make a story better? It seems to me that detailed characterization helps to make a story better because…

How does detailed characterization help make a story better? It seems to me that detailed characterization helps to make a story better because…

2. Direct 2. Direct CharacterizationCharacterizationMeaning – when the writer directly tells the reader what a character is like

Example:◦Sherlock Holmes is clever and resourceful.

◦Dracula is an evil vampire.

Meaning – when the writer directly tells the reader what a character is like

Example:◦Sherlock Holmes is clever and resourceful.

◦Dracula is an evil vampire.

3. Indirect 3. Indirect CharacterizationCharacterizationMeaning – When the writer gives the reader clues about the character by describing how the character acts and thinks.

The writer allows the reader to decide how to view the character.

Meaning – When the writer gives the reader clues about the character by describing how the character acts and thinks.

The writer allows the reader to decide how to view the character.

Direct vs Indirect Direct vs Indirect CharacterizationCharacterizationWhy do you think it might be harder to understand indirect characterization than direct characterization?

It seems to me that it might be harder to understand indirect characterization than direct characterization because…

4. Protagonist4. ProtagonistMeaning – the main character

Example ◦Alice from Alice in Wonderland◦Tarzan from Tarzan◦Cinderella from Cinderella

Meaning – the main character

Example ◦Alice from Alice in Wonderland◦Tarzan from Tarzan◦Cinderella from Cinderella

ProtagonistProtagonistWho is the protagonist of your favorite book, movie, or story?My favorite protagonist is the character ______.

Who is the protagonist of your favorite book, movie, or story?My favorite protagonist is the character ______.

5. Antagonist5. AntagonistMeaning – the character that the protagonist struggles against◦The “bad guy”

Example:◦Captain Hook from Peter Pan

◦The Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs

Meaning – the character that the protagonist struggles against◦The “bad guy”

Example:◦Captain Hook from Peter Pan

◦The Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs

AntagonistAntagonist

66. . Subordinate Subordinate CharactersCharactersMeaning – characters who do not play major roles in a story

Example:◦Extras in a movie◦The evil step-sisters from Cinderella

Meaning – characters who do not play major roles in a story

Example:◦Extras in a movie◦The evil step-sisters from Cinderella

7. Motivations7. MotivationsMeaning – the reason why a character does something

Example:◦In Cinderella, the prince’s motivation for searching for the owner of the glass slipper is love.

Meaning – the reason why a character does something

Example:◦In Cinderella, the prince’s motivation for searching for the owner of the glass slipper is love.

8. Round 8. Round CharactersCharactersRound characters are well developed characters. The author tells the reader a lot about the character.

Round characters are well developed characters. The author tells the reader a lot about the character.

Round CharacterRound CharacterIn your opinion is a round character more likely to be a protagonist or a subordinate character? In my opinion, a round character is more likely to be a ______________.

In your opinion is a round character more likely to be a protagonist or a subordinate character? In my opinion, a round character is more likely to be a ______________.

9. Flat 9. Flat CharactersCharactersFlat characters are not developed. Readers know very little about them. ◦Usually a minor character

Flat characters are not developed. Readers know very little about them. ◦Usually a minor character

Flat Flat CharacterCharacterIn your opinion is a flat character more likely to be a protagonist or a subordinate character? In my opinion, a flat character is more likely to be a ______________.

In your opinion is a flat character more likely to be a protagonist or a subordinate character? In my opinion, a flat character is more likely to be a ______________.

11. Dynamic 11. Dynamic CharacterCharacterMeaning – a character who changes during the course of story.

Often the change involves learning a major lesson

Example:◦Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol learns to be more generous.

Meaning – a character who changes during the course of story.

Often the change involves learning a major lesson

Example:◦Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol learns to be more generous.

13. Static 13. Static CharacterCharacterMeaning – A character who does not change during the story

Meaning – A character who does not change during the story

An Idea About Life…

The subject is just the topic (which can be stated in a single word, such as love).

The theme is the lesson about the subject. A theme should be expressed in a statement.

1. The Theme is not the 1. The Theme is not the subjectsubject

Does the main character change?

Does the main character realize something that he did not know before?

Example◦How does Ebenezer Scrooge change in A Christmas Carol?

2. Think about how the Protagonist 2. Think about how the Protagonist changeschanges

The way a conflict is resolved often gives hints or clues about the theme.

Example◦How is the conflict resolved in The Tortoise and the Hare?

3. How is the conflict 3. How is the conflict resolved?resolved?

Is there a clue in the title of the story?

Example:◦What is a possible theme in The Boy Who Cried Wolf?

4.Think about the Title4.Think about the Title

Does your statement of the theme apply to the whole work and not just one part of it?

5. Test your statement of the 5. Test your statement of the themetheme

Different people often express the same theme in different words.

People might have different opinions about the main theme.

The best literary works often have more than one theme.

6. Remember that there are 6. Remember that there are different ways to state a different ways to state a theme.theme.