2 of 14

Characterization:

Characterization is the way an author describes a character.

3 of 14

Direct Characterization

Indirect Characterization

4 of 14

Direct Characterization

The author or narrator makes direct statements about a character’s traits.

TELLING

5 of 14

“The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother.”�

The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”�

6 of 14

Character traits Brainstorm

Positive

Negative

7 of 14

Indirect Characterization:

The author or narrator reveals a character’s traits through his or her actions, speech, or thoughts.

SHOWING

8 of 14

Jim was very unlike any other businessman. He made sure that all his clients got what they had paid for. �

Jim is honest and hardworking.�

9 of 14

Direct or Indirect? Where is the evidence?

Wisam looked out the window and saw his friends playing basketball across the street. He sighed and looked back down at his math study guide. I need to be ready for this test tomorrow, he reminded himself. He glanced at his friends one more time, then turned his chair around to face the other direction and continued to study his math notes until it was time for bed.

10 of 14

Partner discussion success criteria

Ask each other questions about your ideas

What made you say _______________?
What do you think about __________________?

Link your ideas to your partner’s

I agree that _________________.
That makes me think of _____________________.
I respectfully disagree with ________________.

11 of 14

SPEECH/DIALOGUE - What does the character say?��THOUGHTS - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?��EFFECT ON OTHER CHARACTERS- how does the character treat others?How do others react to them? ��ACTIONS/BEHAVIOR - What does the character do? How does the character behave?��LOOKS- What does the character look like? How does the character dress?�

WAYS TO SHOW YOUR CHARACTER’S PERSONALITY

12 of 14

He gave her a shove. But she did not move; rather she let herself be moved only by him and nothing else.

1. Name:�Margot �Trait:�__________	How is it shown? (Speech, thoughts, actions, effect on others, looks)	Evidence from the text ________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

13 of 14

Now she stood, separate, staring at the rain and the loud wet world beyond the huge glass.

1. Name:�Margot �Trait:�__________	How is it shown? (Speech, thoughts, actions, effect on others, looks)	Evidence from the text ________________________________ _________________________________ _________________________________

14 of 14

One method of indirect characterization that Ray Bradbury uses to describe Margot is __________. The text states, _____________�_____________________________________________________�_____________________________________________________.

This shows that Margot is ________________ because _______�_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.