Reading Skills: Analyzing Character Traits
When describing a character’s traits, you are describing their personality (not what they
look like.) Adjectives, or describing words describe a character’s personality. See the box
on the back for a list of adjectives that describe characters’ personalities. Feel free to add
to the list. (Notice that there are no words like tall, brown hair, skinny… These words
describe what someone looks like, not their personality.)
Authors use various techniques to help readers understand the personality traits of the
characters. Sometimes, authors will use direct characterization and tell you exactly what
the character is like. For example,
She reached down for Kirsti’s hand, but Kirsti, always stubborn, refused it and put
her hands on her hips defiantly.
Sometimes an author will use indirect characterization. Instead of telling you what the
character is like, the author will give you clues through the actions or dialogue of the
characters. You often need to use those clues to infer what the character is like.
Once he (Peter) had been like a fun-loving brother to Annemarie and Kirsti, teasing
and tickling, always a source of foolishness and pranks. Now he still stopped by the
apartment often, and his greetings to the girls were warm and smiling, but he was
usually in a hurry, talking quickly to Mama and Papa about things Annemarie
didn’t understand. He no longer sang the nonsense songs that had once made
Annemarie and Kirsti shriek with laughter. And he never lingered anymore.
In the example above, the author gives you clues by telling you how the character of Peter
acted. He was no longer fun loving, he no longer sang and joked with the girls. He no
longer did the fun things he used to. Using this information, we’re able to infer that his
personality was serious or less joyful.
Resource List of Adjectives
That Describe Characters’ Personalities
Adventurous
Aggressive
Aloof
Anxious
Assertive
Bashful
Bitter
Bloodthirsty
Boisterous
Bossy
Brave
Brutal
Capable
Careful
Careless
Cheerful
Clever
Confident
Confused
Cowardly
Cruel
Daring
Determined
Dignified
Distrustful
Energetic
Evil
Fierce
Foolish
Friendly
Fussy
Gentle
Grouchy
Gullible
Harsh
Haughty
Helpful
Heroic
Hopeful
Humane
Humble
Imaginative
Impatient
Impish
Impulsive
Incompetent
Innocent
Insincere
Inventive
Joyful
Kind
Knowledgeable
Lazy
Lively
Loving
Loyal
Modest
Moody
Morbid
Mysterious
Naughty
Nosy
Obnoxious
Optimistic
Overbearing
Peaceful
Pessimistic
Practical
Rational
Realistic
Reasonable
Rebellious
Reckless
Rowdy
Sarcastic
Secretive
Silly
Sincere
Snobby
Sociable
Spiteful
Stubborn
Suspicious
Timid
Treacherous
Trustworthy
Tyrannical
Unfaithful
Ungrateful
Unhappy
Unique
Unpopular
Unruly
Unwise
Vain
Villainous
Vivacious
Weak
Wise
Witty
Name _____________________________________
Character Trait Analysis
Character
Kirsti
Trait with Evidence from the Text
Stubborn: “She reached down for Kirsti’s hand, but Kirsti, always stubborn, refused it and put her hands on
her hips defiantly.” -- Pg. 4
Direct /
Indirect
Direct