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Methods of Characterization

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Hoàng Hải Thân Đặng
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18 views

Methods of Characterization

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Hoàng Hải Thân Đặng
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Methods of Characterization

Character Traits
 When you first meet a real person or a
character in a book, you form judgments
about that person.
 You might say something about the
person such as “He’s nice,” or “She’s
friendly.”
 “Nice” and “friendly” are examples of
character traits. They are words that we
use to describe a person’s “character” or
personality.
Analyzing Character Traits
 We try to figure out what a
character in a book is like by paying
attention to the clues the author
gives us.
 This is called “making inferences.”
 The writer can let us know what a
character is like through direct and
indirect characterization.
Indirect Characterization
 In indirect characterization the
writer shows you what the
character is like by revealing:
 appearance
 actions
 words
 thoughts & feelings and the
 reactions of other characters.
Appearance
 We often infer a lot about
characters from the clothes
they wear, their facial features,
their body language, and their
mannerisms.

Erasto was the priest of his


-respected village. When he appeared before
-proud the commission, he towered
-dignified
above them, wearing his finest
Action
 You know the expression,
“Actions speak louder than
words”? Much of what we learn
about characters is revealed to
us through what they do.

Denise picked up the slimy bull


frog. She could hardly stand to
-squeamish
hold it even for a moment. She held -sensitive
it out at arm’s length from her -nervous
Words
 We often get to know
characters because of what
they say to each other.
Anita threw her arms around
-thoughtful
-compassionate Tony and gave him a big hug.
-appreciative “Thank you so much for being
there for me,” she said. “I don’t
think I could have faced my
parents without you.”
Thoughts and Feelings
 When an author lets us get
inside the mind of a character,
we can often learn a great deal
about him or her.
Butch looked around the
neighborhood. “This would be a
-loyal safe place to play catch with
-concerned Bobby,” he thought. “Why
-playful doesn’t Bobby throw the ball?
He must be in a bad mood or
Other Character’s Comments
or Reactions
 Sometimes other characters will
tell us something useful about
the character we’re reading
about.
“You wouldn’t believe what
Lisa did yesterday,” Sara said to
her sister. “When we went into -demanding
-pushy
the bridal shop, she pushed all -assertive
the women aside and demanded
that the sales lady help us
Direct Characterization
 In direct characterization the
writer tells you directly what the
character is like.

Betsy was a determined


three year old, who
knew what she wanted
and often got her way,
if she cried loudly
Comments by the Narrator

Jimmy was a mischievous boy and


creative too. He could take a
discarded box or old blanket and
turn it into something
-mischievous adventurous. But sometimes his
-creative imagination got the better of him,
-imaginative
and he’d find himself in big
trouble.
Which method of
characterization is being used?

Org the ugly was usually angry.

Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
He stood up stiffly and glared at the sky.

Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
He raised his slimy fists and beat them
against his huge, hairy chest.
Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
“I feel just like a dark sky!” Org
shouted.
Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
“I haven’t seen him this angry in a long
time,” said Org’s wife to the cook.
Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
Org leaned against a tree trunk and thought
about how mean and ugly and mad he felt.

Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
Suddenly, he wrapped his arms around the tree. He pulled
and tore at it until it ripped out of the earth, roots and all.

Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator
Which method of
characterization is being used?
All the gentle woodland creatures in the forest
shook their heads sadly at Org and his hateful ways.

Words
Actions
Appearance
Thoughts and feelings
Other characters’ comments or reactions
Direct comments by narrator

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