Characterization
Building a Character
What is characterization?


Characterization is the way we learn about a
character and how we create and describe a
character base on what the playwright has
provided.
There are two types of characterization:
Direct characterization
Indirect characterization
Direct Characterization
Direct characterization. The character
him/herself or another character in the play
tells the audience what the character is like.
From “Of Mice and Men”:
Candy: "I ain't much good with on'y one hand. I lost my hand
right here on this ranch. That's why they gave me a job
swampin'....I ain't much good, but I could cook and tend to the
chickens and hoe the garden some. How'd that be?"
Presenting information about a character
directly through descriptions in dialogue or
stage directions/descriptions.
Indirect characterization
 Indirect characterization used to show
(not tell) things that reveal the personality
of a character:
The
The
The
The
The
character’s speech,
character’s thoughts,
effect the character has on others,
character’s actions,
physical “looks” of the character
Indirect characterization
 Infer the qualities and characteristics
of the character – not directly told.
 It is more like the way we learn about
people in real life because we naturally
observe people and characters in films,
etc. to figure out his/her personality.
 Remember the word, STEAL…
“STEAL”
 The letters in the word “STEAL” can help you
remember the five different ways
playwrights use indirect characterization to
create characters:
“S” stands for SPEECH.
What the character says and their unique
way to say it. This brings out the
personality of characters
“STEAL”
“T” stands for THOUGHTS.
What we learn about the character through
his/her private thoughts.
“STEAL”
“E” stands for
EFFECT ON OTHERS
What we learn about the character by how other
characters feel or act around the him/her.
“STEAL”
“A” stands for ACTIONS.
What does the character do?
How does the character behave?
“STEAL”
“L” stands for LOOKS.
What does the character look like?
How does the character dress?
Direct or Indirect?
 Look at this example and figure out if the if
this is direct or indirect characterization:
From Pygmalion:
(Henry Higgins talking to Colonel Pickering)
"Here I am, a shy, diffident sort
of man. I've never been able to
feel really grown-up and
tremendous, like other chaps."
Direct or Indirect?
Look at this example and figure out if this is direct
or indirect characterization to help us figure out
the personality of the characters:
From The Outsiders:
(Dally talking with Johnny)
“Johnny, you don't know what a
few months in jail can do to you,
man. You get mean in jail, I just
don't wanna see that happen to
you like it happened to me, man.
Understand?”