Freshman I English
Strategies used by an author to define character
The process by which the writer reveals the
personality of a character.
Can be direct or indirect
The author directly tells the audience what the
personality of the character is.
Example: “The patient boy and quiet girl were both
well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”
Shows things that reveal the personality of a
character. There are five different methods of
indirect characterization:
Speech - What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
Thoughts -What is revealed through the character’s 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?
Dynamic character: changes throughout the course of
a story as a result of the conflicts they encounter on
their journey, inner changes, personality changes,
develop, grow, mature
Static character: does not undergo change, has the
same personality at beginning and end of story, all
actions are true to that same personality
Protagonist: the leading character, hero, or heroine of
a drama or other literary work
Antagonist: a person who actively opposes or is hostile
to someone or something; an adversary of the
hero/protagonist
“I sat on the edge of my seat anxiously awaiting the next slide, a
slide that would open my mind to yet another method of
characterization”
“The student slept through the Powerpoint presentation”
“Sup bro, lets go pump some iron, hit the tanning beds, and
wear our sleeveless T-Shirts” he said loudly.
His long brown hair travelled over his bandana, past
his scruffy beard, and dangled around the peace sign
on the front of his T-Shirt.
The entire class sat silent in fear of their teacher.
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