Short Answer:
• What one physical characteristic sets
Jonas apart from the others in his
Community?
• Who else close to Jonas has this unique
characteristic?
• What physical characteristics set you
apart?
Methods of
Characterization
Authors give
their readers
pieces of puzzles
to solve their
character’s
identity
Methods of Characterization
There are four ways an author lets
the reader know what a character
in a piece of literature is like.
•
•
•
•
speech and behavior
inner thoughts and feelings
physical traits and characteristics
other’s opinions and reactions
Speech and Behavior
The character is revealed through his or
her own speech and actions.
Examples:
• Joe reacted quickly and jumped into the
river to save his little brother.
• He grabbed the man and yelled, “give me
your money!”
Inner Thoughts and Feelings
The character is revealed through private
thoughts.
Examples:
• Allison knew she should have given
money to the homeless man, and felt
very bad about it.
• Kim felt impatient with her sister for
being late.
Physical Traits and Characteristics
The writer describes how the character
looks, dresses, and appears.
Examples:
• He was a tall boy with blonde hair and brown
eyes.
• The woman was wearing a beautiful blue gown
with a pearl necklace.
• His eyes were as cold as stone.
Other’s Opinion and Reactions
The writer reveals what other characters
in the story say or think about the
character.
Examples:
• “The new girl in school seems very
nice,” said Jessica happily.
• “Nathan is awesome at soccer,”
remarked the fan, “he made two goals
during the game.”
Methods of Characterization
• speech and behavior
• inner thoughts and feelings
• physical traits and characteristics
• other’s opinions and reactions
Checking for Understanding
Identify the correct method of characterization and write it in the blank.
1.
2.
I suddenly had this crazy feeling like I wanted to
bolt from the car and run through the fields until I
couldn’t run anymore.
What method for Paul?
inner thoughts and feelings
Erik was sitting in one of the chairs. He waved
casually to Mom. He ignored Me.
What method for Erik?
speech and behavior
3.
“Trying to get in to see Old Charley Burn.” He looked at me. “He’s
a real character. You’ll have to meet him. Spends half his life at
the stock car races. He’s crazy about stock-car racing.”
What method for Old Charlie Burns?
other’s opinions and reactions
4.
I thought to myself, OK, here we are. How long did it take Dad
to get to his favorite topic, the Erik Fisher Football Dream?
What method for Paul?
inner thoughts and Feelings
5.
He didn’t look to be much older than Erik. He had on knee-high
black-and-yellow boots, a pair of cutoff shorts, and a white shirt
that had TANGERINE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT-WAYNE
written over the breast pocket.
What method for Wayne?
physical traits and characteristics
WORD WALL
• As you read, write down words you
have never seen before.
• Define them using context clues.
• As a class, add words to the WORD
WALL.
• First class to 25 words wins homework
passes.
TOD:
On a small slip of paper, answer the
question:
Which characterization method does
Lois Lowry use to describe Jonas?
•
•
•
•
speech and behavior
inner thoughts and feelings
physical traits and characteristics
other’s opinions and reactions
Who does this describe?
Chapter 7
• As you read, take notes over these
Twelves’ characteristics:
– Pierre
– Benjamin
– Fiona
– Asher
– Inger
• Write the page numbers where you get
the information.
Venn Diagram
• Using the notes you took over chapter
7, compare and contrast Jonas to one
other Twelve.
• Pierre
• Benjamin
• Fiona
• Asher
• Inger
ACTIVATOR
List two adjectives that describe Jonas.
 Complete the sentence with these two
adjective:
 The Giver will work with the _____________ and
_____________ Jonas.

COORDINATE ADJECTIVES
Work together to modify a word.
 Are equal – one is not more related to the
modified word than the other.
 EX:

 Beautiful,
 Switch
haunting melody
them around.
 Take one out.
 Neither makes a difference to the meaning.
HIERARCHAL ADJECTIVES
Opposite of coordinate adjectives
 Build on each other (hierarchy)
 EX:

 cold
December wind.
 December
describes wind.
 Cold describes “December wind”
WHAT’S THE BIG DIFFERENCE?

Which punctuation mark is missing from
hierarchal adjectives?
COORDINATE ADJECTIVE TEST
Add “and”:
 Sound right? Yes or no.

 The
beautiful and haunting melody
 The cold and December wind
Switch their places:
 Sound right? Yes or no.

 The
haunting, beautiful melody
 The December cold wind.
HARRISON BERGERON







Why did certain people have to wear “handicaps” like
masks, weights, and ear devices?
Is this fair? Should we all be equal?
Did the Handicapper General wear such devices?
Who are the Emperor and the Empress?
Why did they have to die?
Why did they shut the televisions off at that point?
How does this story relate to the novel?
ACTIVATOR
DISCUSSION
• Who is Harrison Bergeron?
• What are the “handicaps”?
• What happened to The Emperor
and Empress at the end?
• Why?
HARRISON
BERGERON
VS
2081
• On the fishbone graphic organizer, demonstrate
the differences between Harrison Bergeron the
short story and 2081 the movie.
• In the head, mark the top part “movie” and the
bottom part “text.
• On the top bones, list things that were in the movie
but were not in the text.
• On the bottom bones, list things that were in the
text but were not in the movie.
• You may add more “bones” if necessary.
SUMMARY:
ANSWER IN
PARAGRAPH
FORM • What do you think is the most
important difference between the
text and the movie?
• Why do you think this is the most
important difference?
• Why do you think the screenwriter
chose to change the text in this way?
• Would you have made the same
change?
Write-Pair-Share
• Write:
• Why did the Chief Elder skip Jonas when giving out the
assignments?
• Pair:
• Share your prediction with your partner.
• Share
• Predictions with the class.
Chapter 8-9
• Read with a partner.
• Don’t forget to look for unfamiliar words to place on the
WORD WALL!
Summary
• Read the instructions on your handout.
• Complete your individual summary activity.
• Ask questions if you are confused by the directions on
your handout.