https://dokument.pub/hrbuch- ipbook-pdf.htm
How to write a characterization Characters can be presented in two
ways: a) direct (explicit) characterization: the narrator or a character
tells the reader what sort of person a character is b) indirect
(implicit)characterization: the reader has to draw conclusions about
what the character is like by what the character says or does Step
Make a grid and note down:
what the narrator or other characters say about the character you
are dealing wit
what the character says about him- or hersel
the character’s outward appearance (e.g. what he or she looks like
the character’s behaviour (e.g. what he or she says, thinks or does
add the lines from the text so that you can nd the passages later
more easily Step
From your notes
1
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2
draw conclusions about the character (e.g. what kind of person is
he or she?) from what he or she says, thinks or does nd
appropriate adjective
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How_to_write_a_characterizatio
Write your introduction with
the character’s nam
the role he or she plays in the story (protagonist; antagonist; main /
minor character
• Step
a general statement about the characte
Write your main part with details about the character:
outward appearance begin with his or her most prominent features
and then follow with minor ones (but they should be relevant
direct information about him or her (see step1
your conclusions from the character’s behaviour (see step 2
don’t forget to give reference from the text (lines and examples) to
prove your statements follow the basic structure for every character
trait: name it! – quote it! – explain it! (the order can be changed)
Step
Write your conclusion (the result of your analysis!)
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summarise what the reader learns about the characte
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write the adjective into the second column of your grid next to the
information from the text Step
don’t add any new aspects here
Example of a grid to structure your notes Direct characterization
(+lines
Basic information (+lines) • •
name, age, social position (job), family, ... outward appearanc
Indirect characterization (+lines) • •
•
what is directly mentioned in the text (by the narrator or other
characters) what the character says about him- or herself always
ask yourself if you can trust his or her statements Your conclusion
appropriate adjective
behaviour thoughts feeling
Example of a written characterization Introductio
George Harker is one of the main characters in the story (title) by
(author). He is th
(character’s name, role and a general statemen
narrator’s best friend and a teenager who does not easily accept
other people
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Main par
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state whether the character has developed or stayed the same
during the plo
George Harker is the 15-year old son of a very rich family in
Brighton. He lives in a
basic information (+ lines
elegant mansion and has known luxury for all his life (ll. 4-12). […
basic structure: (name it – quote it – explain it) explanation of
behaviour – lines – result (adjectives
In church, he makes puns of the quotes from the Bible (ll. 32-38),
which shows that he is a very clever boy with a good sense of
humour. However, the fact that he does not stop even after he and
Bobby have been thrown out of the church (l. 41) indicates that it is
dif cult for him to accept rules and to do what he is told. This
disrespectful behaviour also becomes evident when he ghts with
Miss White, his teacher, telling her that she is “an ugly old toad that
lives in a swamp” (l. 52). […
Conclusio
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Finally, one can say that George is a very arrogant boy who is
totally in uenced by his wealthy family. Therefore, he does not
tolerate people from other social classes, and makes fun of nearly
everything and everyone. This behaviour is criticised by most of the
people outside his family. He even loses his best friend in the end.
However, this incident does not make him change his attitude, on
the contrary, he even seems to be proud of himself.