Name: _________________________________________
6B- _____
Date: _________________________________
Reading: Character Keynote: Companion Notes
Directions: USE PENCIL. As you watch the Character Keynote, fill in the blanks
below with the correct terms from the keynote presentation. Write ONE word on
each blank line.
Character: a ______________________ (or animal, monster, machine) in a work of
______________________.
Main Character: a character who plays a ______________________ role in the
story; often, the main character is ______________________ ______________________ in
the ______________________ (______________________).
Protagonist: a specific kind of main character who usually acts as a
force of ______________________ , or as a ______________________ , and tries to
solve the ______________________.
Antagonist: a character who (or force of some kind that)
______________________ the ______________________ and acts as a
______________________ ______________________ .
Narrator: the ______________________ - ______________________ (not always
the ______________________ ).
Minor Character: any character who is not a ______________________ character.
Minor characters tend to play ______________________ roles in a story.
They don’t usually appear ______________________, but they can help
readers understand the ______________________ ______________________
better, and they can enrich the ______________________ , reinforce the
______________________ (______________________) and the ______________________
(______________________ ______________________ ).
Character Traits: a ______________________ ______________________ that ______________________
an important part of a character’s ______________________ .
(over)
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Examples of Character Traits:
Self-Assured, Confident
Insecure, Timid, Fearful, Awkward
Selfless, Humble, Modest, Unassuming,
Self-Centered, Narcissistic, Conceited,
Respectful, Attentive
Arrogant, Superficial, Materialistic, SelfAbsorbed, Self-Righteous
Loyal, Altruistic, Faithful
Disloyal, Opportunistic
Mature, Responsible, Trustworthy
Immature, Irresponsible, Untrustworthy
Wholesome, Philanthropic, Humane,
Malicious, Malevolent, Mischievous,
Compassionate, Empathetic, Pacifistic,
Inhumane, Insidious, Conniving,
Even-Tempered, Easy-Going,
Argumentative, Quarrelsome,
Benevolent, Noble, Virtuous, Dignified
Aggressive, Restless, Irritable,
Cantankerous, Ill-Tempered
Honest, Sincere, Candid, Outspoken
Dishonest, Insincere, Deceitful,
Conniving
Observant, Perceptive, Wise, Insightful
Apathetic, Gullible, Passive, Vulnerable,
Foolish, Naïve, Ignorant
Open-Minded, Adaptable, Reflective,
Close-Minded, Stubborn, Judgmental,
Fair, Impartial, Unbiased,
Critical, Cynical, Biased, Prejudiced,
Rational, Even-Handed, Conscientious,
Intolerant, Bigoted, Discriminatory,
Righteous, Well-Intentioned, Tolerant,
Narrow-Minded, Opinionated, Unjust
Lenient
Courageous, Bold, Audacious, Brave,
Fearful, Regretful, Cowardly, Meek,
Assertive, Uninhibited, Expressive
Timid, Shy, Retiring, Reserved,
Withdrawn, Solitary, Inhibited, Shameful
Moral, Ethical, Scrupulous, Honorable,
Immoral, Unethical, Unprincipled,
Reputable, Genuine, Unpretentious
Unscrupulous, Dishonorable, Corrupt,
Fraudulent, Deceitful, Duplicitous,
Hypocritical
Optimistic, Hopeful, Idealist
Pessimistic, Negative
Powerful, Domineering
Powerless, Submissive
Charismatic, Charming, Polite
Despicable, Loathsome, Rude, Smug
Generous, Charitable
Miserly, Spiteful, Unmerciful
Patient
Impatient
Introverted, Extroverted
Anti-Social, Deviant
Superior, Ambitious, Power-Hungry,
Inferior, Self-Conscious
Competitive
Determined, Persistent, Tenacious,
Indecisive, Hesitant, Self-Doubting,
Resolute, Steadfast, Insistent, Decisive,
Faltering, Fickle, Ambivalent,
Committed, Dedicated, Diligent,
Non-Committal,
Industrious, Meticulous, Thorough
Grateful, Appreciative, Gracious
Ungrateful, Unappreciative
Independent, Self-Sufficient, Resourceful, Dependent, Needy, Unimaginative, Dull,
Imaginative, Creative, Practical,
Insipid, Sheltered
Inventive, Original, Quirky, Idiosyncratic
Note: A character trait is NOT a physical description: tall, short, messy, neat, etc.; a
mood (bored, “hyper”); a temporary reaction (stunned, surprised, shocked,
confused); a noun: leader, follower, hippy, bully, athlete, jock, etc.
(next)
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Stereotypical Character: also called “______________________ ” or ______________________ dimensional characters.
Characters who ______________________ our expectations of a certain type of
Person and who tend to appear in ______________________ ______________________
works of art.
“3-Dimensional” Characters: also called “______________________ ” or
“______________________ ” characters, 3-dimensional characters have many
“______________________ ”; they do not easily ______________________ to our expectations of a
type because they have ______________________ .
They are characters who ______________________ us; they develop,
______________________ , or ______________________ .
Characterization: refers to an author’s ______________________ , or ______________________ ,
of a character with ______________________ .
Methods of Characterization: the ______________________ an author uses to infuse a
character with ______________________ - ______________________ qualities, or
______________________ .
Basically, the “methods” refer to the ______________________ an author has at her
disposal to bring a ______________________ ______________________ to life.
I. A Character’s DAFT: The Dialogue, Actions, Feelings, and Thoughts of a
character, himself or herself. This inside point of view, coming directly from
a character, allows readers to look at how the character portrays (shows,
describes, depicts, presents) himself or herself.
1.
Dialogue:
The things a character says ______________________ . An author
can use dialogue to show what a character ______________________ or
______________________ ; how he ______________________ to ______________________ ;
and how he sees ______________________ , among other things.
(over)
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
In most cases, dialogue is ______________________ between or among
characters.

Typically, dialogue appears in ______________________
______________________ . (Ex: Mark said, “I win again!”)

Tag: when a ______________________ (or ______________________ ) tells the
audience who’s ______________________ , to ______________________ , and
during what ______________________ , or in what ______________________ .
Ex: As Cap gains popularity by making charitable donations, Zach
says to Hugh, “…Cap’s president. We’re stuck with that. But
there’s still time to puncture the tires of this bandwagon before
the Halloween dance ratchets him up to icon status.” (p. 126)
Monologue: when a ______________________ character speaks aloud to a
______________________ audience, often to express ______________________
thoughts.
Internal Monologue: when characters “speak” ______________________ ,
within their ______________________ , in free terms, without actually
uttering any words. In essence, internal monologue is like an
______________________ “______________________” made up of
______________________ .
2.
Action:
A character’s actions  the things a character
______________________  create the ______________________ of a story and often
reveal the character’s ______________________ , including her
______________________ , ______________________ , skills, and ______________________ ,
among other things.
Ex: Realizing how charitable Cap has been, Zach adds up the money
that Cap has donated to charity, noting that Cap “…gave eight hundred
to the food drive in the cafeteria. Five hundred to cancer research.
The same to Alzheimer’s disease. They may have called it the March
of Dimes, but that didn’t stop Cap from forking over six-fifty. He even
stuck checks into the slots of those cans designed for people to drop
their spare change.” (p. 122)
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3.
*Feelings:
A character’s feelings reveal her ______________________ reaction
to the world around her, and these reactions  of fear, anger, sadness,
exuberance, empathy, etc.  show us a character’s personality.
Ex: As Naomi watches Cap respond to the dead bird prank, she
explains, “Cap placed the shrouded little corpse into the hole and
covered it tenderly with earth... The look of sympathy on the hippie’s
face was so honest, so pure, that it planted the emotions inside my
heart... ‘Death is a part of life,’ he said simply. ‘This is just another part
of your journey. Fly well.’” (p: 42)
4.
*Thoughts:
The thoughts that run through a character’s
______________________  those that he doesn’t ______________________
______________________  provide readers with insight into his personality.
They often reveal the private side of a character  the ideas, reactions,
hopes, and observations that a character doesn’t share aloud with the rest
of the world but, instead, keeps private in his or her mind.
Ex: When Cap donates the school’s money  which was dedicated for
the Halloween dance  to charity, Cap’s classmates adore him, and
Hugh thinks, “That was when I experienced a moment of stunning
understanding. Popularity had nothing to do with the truth… What
really mattered was image…” (p. 116)
*Both actions and thoughts are usually delivered through narration, not
through dialogue. A narrator provides this narration.
Narration: The opposite of ______________________ , narration refers to the
______________________ - ______________________ that a ______________________
shares with a reader. It does not usually appear in ______________________
______________________ . Through this narration, readers can learn
many things, including the ______________________ ______________________ and
______________________ of a character, those that might otherwise be
unknowable to readers. After all, how else, without a narrator, can we
“______________________ ” a character’s ______________________ ?
(over)
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II. Other Characters’ DAFT: what other characters ______________________ ,
______________________ , ______________________ , and ______________________ about a given
character.
The ______________________ , ______________________ , ______________________ , and
______________________ of other characters allow readers to see a given character
from ______________________ perspectives, or ______________________ – of –
______________________ .
These outside viewpoints might match a particular character’s portrayal of
herself, or they might oppose the way a particular character portrays herself.
Either way, other characters’ responses to a given character add richness to
this character’s identity. As readers, our job is to add together all of these
characterizations in an effort to understand who a character really is,
including as many nuances and angles as possible, weighing them to see
which points of view best define the true nature of a character. After all, our
own personal behaviors are not always consistent, and others might see us
differently from the way we see ourselves.
1.
Others’ Dialogue:
When Hugh suggests that Zach deserves payback for
all of the mean things he’s done, Zach defends himself by replying, “ ‘My
whole life, it’s always been obvious what sports to play, what bands to
listen to, what people to hang out with. It’s as if I was born with a natural
guidance system inside my head, showing me how to be cool.’ My brow
clouded. ‘But Cap Anderson doesn’t come with a book of instructions.’ ”(p.
161)
2.
Others’ Actions:
Describing the change in Naomi’s relationship with
Cap, Hugh recalls the signs of her newfound admiration, and thinks, “She
was star pupil of his tai-chi group; she was constantly turning up at his
locker to show him a new peace-sign bracelet she’d bought, or a magazine
article on Vietnam or the Beatles or anything about the sixties. Come to
think of it, hers had been the first face at the door after the PA
announcement on tie-dyeing day…” (p. 116)
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3.
Feelings:
Contemplating Cap’s relationship with her daughter, Sophie,
and all the difficult challenges that lay ahead for him in his new school,
Mrs. Donnelly thinks, “I felt terrible for poor Cap. It was hard enough for
him to come out of total isolation at Garland without having to be
dropped into the snake pit that was middle school.” (p. 46)
Ex: As Hugh observes his classmates, all holding candles to honor Cap, he
thinks, “Zach. I’d spent most of my life either afraid of him, jealous of him,
or just hanging there while he stretched the waistband of my underwear
over a parking meter. We were never going to be best friends, but I had
to admire the guy. He was a genius! Not book-smart, but a master when
it came to crafting his public image.” (p. 190)
4.
Thoughts:
When Cap meditates in response to one of Naomi’s pranks,
she thinks, “…Cap was weird, but there was more to it than that. There
was something inside him that nobody else understood, something
mysterious and strong… a kind of strength that gave him the self-control
to meditate instead of falling apart, or to ignore what other people
thought, and find meaning in a dead bird.” (p. 66)
Ex: When Sophie realizes that Cap, not her father, has bought and
inscribed the bangle for her, she thinks, “[Cap] got absolutely nothing
in return. He couldn’t expect so much as a thank-you, since the gift
was supposed to be from someone else. He did this for no other
reason than to make me happy.” (p. 176)
III. Personal Information & Physical Traits: the basic facts of a person’s life,
most of which exist beyond the control of and without a choice by the character.
Personal Information: a character’s birth name; birthplace; birth order;
______________________ ______________________ ; etc.
Physical Traits: the way a character looks, including her ____________________ ;
build; ______________________ ; ______________________ ______________________
(raven hair, strong nose, piercing eagle eyes, gangly limbs, delicate
fingers, etc.); ______________________ or ______________________ clothing; etc.
(over)
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Ex: When administrators at C-Average announce Cap as school president,
Naomi absorbs the scene: “Eleven hundred kids took in the sight of a
genuine middle school hippie  this tall, skinny, longhaired boy in tie dye,
toes poking out of those home-made sandals. He looked so silly, so goofy, so
weird that he was almost cute. Not attractive, but adorable in the sense that
you can’t help pitying him  like a wet puppy rolled in sand.” (p. 36)
Sympathetic Characters:

characters with whom readers can ______________________ or to whom they can
______________________ .

Characters who are ______________________ or who get readers to
______________________ about them.
Motivation: A character’s motivation is what the character ______________________ ;
what ______________________ the character to behave as he or she does; what
______________________ the character to be who he or she is; or what ______________________
a character to take a certain approach to life.
Exs:
One of Cap’s motivations is to please Rain. As a result, he often recites
her life lessons and attempts to live by them.
Another motivation for Cap is to be a good school president. As a
result, he learns the names of every student at C-Average Middle School.
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