Transcript characters
Literary Elements Bellringer (11/28/11) • Welcome back! • Have your library book on your desk. Character • character – person, animal, or other creature in a story. Character • protagonist – the main character or hero of a story. • antagonist – the person standing in the way of the protagonist or villain Character • anti-hero – a protagonist that does not have the moral values or personality traits of a typical hero. Character • characterization – the process writers use to describe characters Characterization • round (dynamic) characters – interesting, complex, fully developed, growing • flat (static) characters – simple, undeveloped or stereotypical Flat vs. Round Characters • List character traits for a heroic warrior. • List character traits for an evil ogre. Round Character Characterization • Direct characterization – when an author tells you directly about the character’s personality • The patient boy and the quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother. Characterization • Indirect characterization – when an author reveals a character’s personality through his or her actions or dialogue – can use Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, and Looks (STEAL) • “That Ed Johnson,” said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic computer. “He hasn’t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he’d be happy as a hungry frog in a flyfield.” Characterization • Use the STEAL method to identify indirect characteristics of the people in the photographs Assignment • Read “Thank You, Ma’am” by Langston Hughes and think about how the author uses indirect characterization to describe Roger and Ms. Jones. • Draw a STEAL chart and identify indirect characteristics from the story that describe Roger. Characterization Assignment • 1. Choose two stock characters from the list below and list their common traits in two columns. – shushing old librarian – bully jock – bookish nerd – ditzy prom queen – wicked witch – lying politician – the “bad boy” celebrity – the angelic child • 2. Now draw an arrow from one column to the other, swapping the traits to make the characters rounded. • 3. Complete a STEAL chart for one of the characters. • 4. Write a short scene where the two characters meet for lunch. Use indirect characterization to help the reader learn who the characters are. *YOU MAY NOT USE DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION TO TELL ABOUT YOUR CHARACTERS. Character #1’s Name Indirect Characterization Speech Thought Effect on others Action Look Example from the What this tells us story about the character plot – the sequence of events in a story (what happens) Chronological order Flashback In the middle of things Plot • exposition – background information at the beginning of a story • character • setting – the time and place of a story Plot • rising action – introduces and increases the major conflict in the story – conflict – the problem the main character faces • internal – within the character • external – forces outside the character Plot • climax – turning point of a story – will the character turn back or continue on? Plot • falling action – events or action that occurs after the climax Plot • resolution – the point at which the conflict is resolved Other Plot Elements • suspense – uncertainty that makes the reader want to know more • foreshadowing – clues left by the author about what will happen later • dramatic irony – when the reader knows something important that the character doesn’t • theme – the message/lesson of a story or poem. Literary Elements Quiz • • • • theme foreshadowing flashback conflict – internal – external • • • • rising action suspense Resolution Character – Protagonist – Antagonist • characterization – direct – indirect • • • • • • • plot dramatic irony climax exposition setting falling action point of view Point of View • point of view – the perspective of who is telling the story – first person • uses pronouns like I • narrator is a character in the story • more personal (feels like we are there) – second person • uses pronouns like you • the reader is the main character • more informal or persuasive – third person • uses pronouns he, she, and it • narrator is outside of the story • more objective (factual), formal Point of View • 3 types of third person – omniscient • “all-knowing”, God-like • tells what several characters think – limited • thoughts of only one character – Objective • Like a video camera • only tells the actions or words—what can be seen or heard—of the characters – narrator does not know their thoughts