Understanding Characters
What is a “character” in literature?
A. An odd or unusual person
B. Any person in a story
C. A famous person
What is a “character” in literature?
A. An odd or unusual person
B. Any person in a story
C. A famous person
Goal of a writer
Giving characters personalities
with…
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A character’s appearance
The character’s actions
The character’s words; dialogue
The character’s thoughts
The thoughts and comments of other
characters
Major characters and
minor characters
• Round/complex characters are fully
developed
• Flat characters are not fully developed
What can be a character?
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Animals
People
Things
Made up creatures
An animal
At the first step upon the cold surface, Buck’s
feet sank into a cold mushy something very like
mud. He sprang back with a snort. More of this
white stuff was falling through the air. He shook
himself, but more of it feel upon him. He sniffed
it curiously, then licked some up on his tongue.
It bit like fire, and the next instant was gone.
This puzzled him. He tried it again, with the
same result. The onlookers laughed
uproariously, and he felt ashamed. He knew
not why, for it was his first _______.
Things
It stood there, tall and erect, giving orders.
No one ignored it. Everyone obeyed its
commands. With green it said, “Okay, it’s
your turn. Get moving.” With yellow it
warned, “Get ready to stop. I’ll soon be
turning red, and when I do, you had better
not move.” Red was its strongest command.
“Stop! Do not even think of moving!”
Things
Gear the loud alarm bellsBrazen bells!
What tale of terror, their turbulency tells!
In the startled ear of Night
How they scream out their afright!
Too much horrified to speak,
They can only shriek, shriek,
Out of tune.
Character’s appearance
• A character’s ID card:
Donna Harris
Height: 5’9”
Weight: 135 lbs.
Eyes: brown
Hair: brown
Date of birth: August 12, 1975
Character’s appearance
Donna Harris
She was tall and graceful. She wore a
blue suit and dark glasses. She carried
several packages under her arm.
Nervously, she glanced at her watch now
and then.
What else do writers use to help us
understand characters?
A. A character’s family, friends and
neighbors
B. A character’s actions, speech and
thoughts
C. A character’s work, sports and hobbies
What else do writers use to help us
understand characters?
A. A character’s family, friends and
neighbors
B. A character’s actions, speech and
thoughts
C. A character’s work, sports and hobbies
Donna Harris
She moved in long, quick strides. A faint
smile played across her lips. She juggled the
bundles to glance at her watch again.
Finally, she reached a long, black limousine.
The driver leaped out and opened a door for her.
“Okay, John,” she said. “Let’s get home before
Jill does. You know how impatient ten-year-olds
can be.” She thought, “I hope they’ve delivered
the birthday cake. I’d hate to see Jill
disappointed.”
What especially makes a character
come to life?
A. The character’s actions
B. The character’s opinions
C. The character’s thoughts
What especially makes a character
come to life?
A. The character’s actions
B. The character’s opinions
C. The character’s thoughts
Appearance
Will Thomas sat in the hotel lobby, holding a
newspaper in front of him. He wasn’t
reading. His eyes darted from the page to
the door again and again. He wore a plain
brown topcoat. His shoes were well worn
and needed a shine. His eyeglass frame
was held together with adhesive tape. He
went completely unnoticed, and that was the
way he wanted it.
Plus Actions
His eyes narrowed suddenly. He lowered the newspaper
slightly and peered over it. There was a commotion at the
door. Someone important seemed to have arrived.
Will Thomas raised his hand to his mouth. “The bird has
come to roost,” he muttered.
In his earphone, he heard Malcolm whisper, “Got it. Stand
by.”
There was no obvious change in Will Thomas. Every
muscle tensed, but there was no evidence.
“Okay,” said the tiny voice in his ear. “He’s all yours. Bring
him in alive.”
Actions show feelings
He gave Donna the diamond necklace
to wear at a party. She looked at it and
then threw her arms around her friend,
kissed him warmly and fled with her
treasure.
Actions show feelings
He gave Donna the diamond necklace
to wear at a party. She looked at it and
then threw it down on the ground, slapped
him in the face and then fled the room.
How do the characters feel?
(look at what they say and do)
He asked, “Are you sure you had it when leaving the dance?”
“Yes, I felt it when I was in the hall of the Ministry.”
“But if you had lost it on the street we’d have heard it drop. It must
be in the cab.”
“Yes, quite likely. Did you get its number?”
“No. Didn’t you notice it either?”
“No.”
“They looked at each other aghast. Finally Loisel got dressed again.
“I’ll retrace our steps on foot,” he said, “to see if I can find it.”
And he went out. She remained in her evening clothes, without the
strength to go to bed, slumped in a chair in the unheated room, her
mind a blank.
Her husband cam in about seven o’clock. He had no luck.
How can an author reveal a quiet
character’s personality?
A. Through actions
B. Through dialogue
C. Through thoughts
How can an author reveal a quiet
character’s personality?
A. Through actions
B. Through dialogue
C. Through thoughts
Through a Character’s
Thoughts
He had been walking for 5 days. As he looked
around he thought about his family, would they
wonder where he was? He looked down at his feet,
and thought about how he couldn’t feel them
anymore, he was glad to see they were still there.
He looked over the valley and felt as though he
would never make it. It was -50o, and he couldn’t
feel his nose or hands either. He was aware of the
panic he was starting to feel, and he was afraid of
the panic. But his panic kept growing until all he
could imagine was his body completely frozen.
Through Other Character’s
Thoughts and Actions
Nan waved her hands wildly as she talked to Rob.
“Mother wants to grow corn in the front yard! Can you imagine what
Elaine will say?”
“Who cares? You don’t have to listen to Elaine,” Paul said. He stood at
the window.
“Oh, don’t I?” Nan asked. “You’re wrong about that. You don’t have to
listen to Elaine because you’re at work in the city all day. I do have to listen
to Elaine; she’s the only person over ten I get to talk to all day.”
“Except for Mother.”
“I wasn’t counting her,” Nan said.
“That’s cruel.”
“I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s not easy for me. I don’t want corn in the front
yard. I do care what the neighbors think. You don’t. And Mother doesn’t,
either. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She lives in a world of her
own.” She pushed the screen door open and ran into the yard.