Character Traits
Learning Goal: Literary Elements-describe in
depth a character, setting or even in a story or
drama drawing on specific details in the text
(character’s thoughts, words, or actions)
What is a character trait?
A character trait is a word that describes a person. A
physical trait describes a person’s physical features
and physical abilities, but a character trait focuses on
a character’s personality/demeanor.
*One physical trait would be “tall” and one character
trait would be “funny.”
*When you are asked to write about a person’s
character traits, focus on personality/demeanor and
try to stay away from physical traits.
*Try to identify PERMANENT traits and not just a
temporary emotion that goes against the person’s
normal character makeup. An accurate character
trait is to identify traits that you can supply plenty of
examples for and not just one.
How do you identify character
traits in literature (a story)?
The traits of a character can be stated, or they
can be shown to you by the character’s
actions.
*When you are reading a story, the writer
might tell you that the main character is a
generous person. Or the could show you that
the character is generous by telling about a
time when the character donated money or
time to a charity. Well-developed characters
help to make very powerful stories.
Five ways to identify a character’s
traits in a story:
1) What the character says and thinks
2) What the character does
3) What the character looks like
(physical traits)
4) What others say & think about the
character
5) How others react to the character
How to explain/prove a person’s
character traits:
When you are asked to explain a person or
character’s traits, you must remember to use
specific examples and then make the connection
between the example and the trait.
*If you say Melody is smart, it is not good enough
to say she remembers lots of things. Instead, you
must specifically explain some things she
remembers (commercials, books, words) and
THEN explain how this makes her smarter than
the average person. So:
 State trait – give example – make connection
“Protagonist, Dominant” &
Prominent”
Often, a writing prompt will ask you to
identify the protagonist’s “dominant” or
“prominent” trait.
*Protagonist = main character in the story;
faces a conflict in the story
*Dominant or Prominent = protagonist’s #1
or biggest character trait. Or think of it
this way, what one word best describes
the protagonist more than any other?
Using Different Traits:
Instead of using words like “nice” and
“kind,” try to switch it up by using
different, more advanced words. To do this,
use your “List of Character Traits.”
NICE
KIND