CONSIDERING CHARACTERIZATION IN PROSE FICTION

 Direct characterization relies on the narrator’s descriptions and judgments about a specific character.

 vs  Indirect characterization relies on the observations of characters within the work. What kinds of observations?

 Actions-how he acts when alone and with others;  Speech-what he says and doesn’t say;  Mannerisms-body language, ticks, habits, and such;  What others say about him or her.

 View the following clip from Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird.  Pay attention to the various characters within the scene as well as the characters who are mentioned but who are not present. What inferences can you draw about each one?

 Dill Mr. Radley   Jem Scout Boo Aunt Stephanie  Calpurnia

 Dynamic characters change within the text.

 vs  Static characters encounter the opportunity for change through their experiences, but these experiences never provoke change within the character.

 Sympathetic characters are those with whom we associate, forming a bond through which we vicariously share their experiences. We also get a sense of their attributes which we would perhaps like to have more of for ourselves.

 Unsympathetic characters are ones we seldom identify with, for they represent those qualities that we dislike.

 Neutral characters are neither sympathetic nor unsympathetic although we may feel some sympathy for them, trapped as they are in the duty of their roles.

 Ambiguous characters keep us on our toes as we guess whether they will be good or bad. Heroes can also be ambiguous as their very human internal struggles reflect the outer conflict.

 For further knowledge on various types of sympathetic, unsympathetic, neutral and ambiguous characters click the link below.

http://changingminds.org/disciplines/storytelling/charac ters/character_types.htm

Key Point

A narrator’s bias regarding a character must be evaluated in terms of textual evidence to support truth or falsity of that bias.

Questions for Discussion

How does the reader learn about a particular character, directly or indirectly?

What do we learn about character directly or indirectly?

Why is important that we learn certain characteristics in a direct or direct manner?

Is it possible for a static character to be a protagonist?

Is it possible for an unsympathetic character to be a protagonist?

• • • • • Written Response Recall your favorite literary work. Can you identify characters that are sympathetic, unsympathetic, neutral and ambiguous characters? Why are they portrayed by the author in such ways?

Are the various characters static or dynamic? How does the characterization of each help the author communicate the work’s overall theme?

Extension Reflect on what was discussed after the clip from To Kill a Mockingbird. With your fresh perspective how does the scene seem different concerning characterization?