Transcript Characterization - Mrs. Terry

Characterization
Indirect and Direct
Dynamic and Static
Get Out Your Composition Book
 Make sure your name and a label is on
both of the following so that I can
photograph them:
Making Connections Assessment
Character Double Bubble Map
Opening Activity Day One
 Choose one character from your book.
 In your composition book, create a bubble map with your
character’s name in the center.
 Based on what you have read so far, list 10 adjectives that you
would use to describe their looks, personality, behavior,
thoughts, feelings, etc.
Opening Activity, Day 2
 Read the excerpt from The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark
Twain on pages 43 and 44 in the teal Daybook.
 Complete the chart below for Huckleberry Finn. Be sure to
copy your evidence
word-for-word
from the text.
Words to Learn
 Narration
 Narrator
 Dialogue
 Quotation Marks
 Direct Characterization
 Explicit
 Indirect Characterization
 Implicit
Role of the Narrator
Characters
Narrative
1
2
Story
Narrator
3
Reader
Setting
Events
Communication
Barrier
Voices in the Story
Narrator: tells the story to the reader.
Narration: when the narrator speaks.
Character: people in the story.
Dialogue: when characters speak.
Don’t Write This Down
When are you going to let us in the classroom
the loud student asked. The sleepy student said Mr.
Morton said we can come in when we’re quiet.
Quiet down students said Mr. Morton. The students
were still very noisy students I thought you said you
wanted to come in and sit down said Mr. Morton.
Don’t Write This Down
“When are you going to let us in the classroom?”
the loud student asked. The sleepy student said, “Mr.
Morton said we can come in when we’re quiet.” “Quiet
down, students,” said Mr. Morton. The students were
still very noisy. “Students, I thought you said you
wanted to come in and sit down,” said Mr. Morton.
How are these passages different?
“Quotation Marks”
Character’s voices go in quotes.
It was hot. “Turn on the fan,” she said.
N
C
N
He said, “Point it toward us.” She didn’t.
N
C
N
Quotes show when characters speak.
Direct Characterizations
Narrator explicitly describes a character.
Ex: Kat was popular but snobby.
Tim was a nice, honest boy.
Explicit: Clearly stated.
Indirect Characterization
Character traits revealed indirectly through a character’s
actions, words, thoughts, appearance, and their effect on
other characters.
Ex: Jess left the pizza crust on her floor.
Tim helped old Ms. Jones with her bags.
Indirect characterizations are implicit.
Implicit: not clearly stated, implied.
Review
The narrator tells the story.
Dialogue: when characters speak.
Direct characterization: the narrator explicitly describes
the character.
Indirect characterization: character’s traits are revealed
through S.T.E.A.L.
Methods of Indirect Characterization
S.T.E.A.L.
We can learn about characters through the following:
 S: say (what they say)
 T: think (what they think)
 E: effect (the effect they have on other characters)
 A: actions (their actions)
 L: looks (their appearance and non-verbal communication)
Practice
1.
2.
3.
Read the passage.
Write what indirect character trait is shown.
Explain your answer.
Example
Mr. Morton was teaching the students about characterizations.
Kyle let out a big yawn. “Indirect Characterizations are implied,
not explicitly stated,” said Mr. Morton.
1. Kyle is bored or tired.
Ex: He yawned, which shows he’s tired.
1
After class, Kelly asked Dana a question, “I’m sorry,
Dana, but my little brother was sick and my parents made me
stay home and watch him yesterday. Can I see your reading
notes?” Dana huffed and rolled her eyes. She replied to
Kelly, “Uh, I don’t know where they are right now.”
2
While playing football with his friends, Evan overthrew the
ball and accidently broke his mom’s picture window. Nobody
was home, but all of the other boys soon found excuses to leave.
When Evan’s mom came home, she asked what had happened.
Evan looked her in the face and said, “A bird smashed into the
window, Mom.”
3
Kevin was in excruciating pain from football practice. He
had been getting terrible sleep ever since training started. He
could hardly sleep ten minutes before the pain caused him to roll
around. His body was telling him to quit the team, but Kevin
refused to hear it. He had one goal in mind: to make the team.
Kevin wouldn’t stop until his body stopped him.
4
Tim was walking around the store when he bumped
into a display of soup cans, knocking them all over. Tim
bought two cartons of eggs then got hit by the automatic
door on the way out. It almost broke the eggs. Tim let out a
sigh of relief. While walking through the parking lot, Tim
tripped over the curb and landed on the eggs, getting them
all over his shirt.
5
Kim had a bunch of outfits and accessories. It took her
forever to decide which combination might impress Kevin.
She called her sister several times for advice. Still, Kim could
not decide on the right outfit to wear.
Summary:
 Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the
personality of a character. Characterization is revealed
through direct characterization and indirect characterization.
Remember: Types of Characterization
Direct Characterization tells
the audience what the
appearance and personality of
the character is.
Example: “The patient boy and
quiet girl were both well mannered
and did not disobey their mother.”
Explanation: The author is directly
telling the audience the personality
of these two children. The boy is
“patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
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Indirect Characterization
shows things that reveal the
personality of a character in the
following ways:
The things they say
The things they do
Through their thoughts
How they look
The way other characters react
to them
Applying Your Learning
 Go back to the bubble map that you created in the opening
activity to describe Huckleberry Finn.
 Look at the traits you used to describe Huck.
 Decide if the trait was developed through direct or indirect
characterization and label it (DC or IC).
Finding Characterization in Children’s
Stories
 Read the story together.
 When you are finished, look back through the book for any
examples (words, lines, even pictures) of direct and indirect
characterization.
 Write down at least three examples and label them direct or
indirect.
 For each example of indirect characterization, label it with an
S, T, E, A, or L.
 Explain what is revealed about the character through each of
your examples. In other words, what do we learn about the
character from this passage?
Assessment #1:
 S.T.E.A.L. Map
 Copy the template on the following slide (or just create a list
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if you do not like to make maps).
Find examples of the five methods of characterization used in
your first-quarter reading book.
Copy the five passages word-for-word from the text into the
map.
Below each passage, explain what that example shows us
about the character’s personality by making inferences based
on the text.
For additional help, refer to the sample map that follows the
template. Remember that we did this together in class.
S.T.E.A.L. Map
SPEECH
-Cite detail or example from
text including page #
-Explain what it tells you about
the character
Character
THOUGHTS
-Cite detail or example from
text including page #
-Explain what it tells you about
the character
ACTIONS
-Cite detail or example from
text including page #
-Explain what it tells you
about the character
EFFECT
-Cite detail or example from
text including page #
-Explain what it tells you
about the character
LOOKS
-Cite detail or example from
text including page #
-Explain what it tells you about
the character
S.T.E.A.L. Map Example for
The Cut-Ups by James Marshall
SPEECH
“Do you have the snake?”
“I thought you had it!” (pg 3)
This shows us that Spud and Joe
are devious and seek attention.
Characters:
Spud Jenkins, Joe
Turner, Lamar J.
Spurgle, Mary
Frances Hooley
THOUGHTS
“At that moment, Lamar J.
Spurgle, who’d had enough of
kids to last a lifetime…” (10).
This shows that Spurgle is
mean and grouchy.
ACTIONS
“They fell all over themselves trying
to make a nice impression” (8).
This shows that Spud and Joe are
impressed by Mary Frances
and want her attention.
EFFECT
“They made their mothers old
before their time” (2).
This shows that they are
inconsiderate and selfish.
LOOKS
Mary Frances Hooley wore
large sunglasses and “drove her
own sports car” (7) .
This shows that Mary Frances
was cool and unique.
Practice Grade-Level Story
 “All the Years of Her Life” by Morley Callaghan
Characterization Practice
“All the Years of Her Life” by Morley Callaghan
“She came in, large and plump, with a little smile on her friendly face…her blue
eyes never wavered, and with a calmness and dignity that made them forget that
her clothes seemed to have been thrown on her, she put out her hand and said
politely, “I’m Mrs. Higgins. I’m Alfred’s mother”” (58).
 1. Is this example primarily direct or indirect characterization? Based on this
excerpt, list three things that the author tells us about Mrs. Higgins.
“When she reached out and lifted the kettle to pour hot water in her cup, her
hand trembled and the water splashed on the stove. Leaning back in the chair,
she sighed and lifted the cup to her lips…” (60).
 2. Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What do we learn
about Mrs. Higgins in this passage? Write down specific words and phrases to
prove it.
“She came in, large and plump, with a little smile on her friendly face…her
blue eyes never wavered, and with a calmness and dignity that made them
forget that her clothes seemed to have been thrown on her, she put out her
hand and said politely, “I’m Mrs. Higgins. I’m Alfred’s mother”” (58).
1. Is this example primarily direct or indirect characterization? Based on this
excerpt, list three things that the author tells us about Mrs. Higgins.
“When she reached out and lifted the kettle to pour hot water in her cup, her
hand trembled and the water splashed on the stove. Leaning back in the chair,
she sighed and lifted the cup to her lips…” (60).
2. Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What do we learn
about Mrs. Higgins in this passage? Write down specific words and phrases to
prove it.
Types of Characters
Characters experience varying amounts of change over the
course of a story.
• Static characters that do not experience basic
character changes during the course of the story.
• Dynamic characters that experience changes
throughout the plot of a story. Although the change
may be sudden, it is expected based on the story’s
events.
A story’s characters fall within a range—from very static characters that
experience no change to very dynamic characters that undergo one or
more major changes.
Characterization
Reading Journal Instructions and Examples
Objective:
 Throughout this quarter, you will be writing in response to the
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independent novel that you have selected.
The journals will be based on different literary elements that we
are learning in class.
Each journal entry must include a direct passage (also called a
quote or an excerpt) from the book that demonstrates that
particular literary element.
Each response should also weave in textual evidence.
Journal entries will be evaluated weekly. After they are scored,
you will have the option to revise and edit to improve your score,
but for each entry you wish to revise, you must complete an action
plan that must be signed by you, your parent, and me.
Assessment #2, Part One:
 Draw a line down the middle of the next available page of
your composition book. Include these headings:
Left Side: Text
Right Side: Response
 Find a passage in your book that reveals something about the
personality, thoughts, feelings or motivations of a character
INDIRECTLY through either S.T.E.A.L. or a combination of
two or more of these methods.
 I would recommend selecting a passage that is at least 2-3
sentences in length so that you have more to analyze.
 Copy the passage on the left side.
Assessment #2, Part Two:
 On the right side, explain what this passage reveals about the
character and why you made those conclusions using evidence
from the passage for support. In addition, explain how these
characteristics affect the outcome of the story. If you don’t
know yet, make an inference and support it with evidence
from text.
 To earn a 9 or a 10, go on to explain whether this is a
dynamic or static character. Again, support your position
with evidence from the text.
Characterization
(an acceptable example, level 8)
Text
“Great rosebushes of red bloomed
on Victor’s cheeks. A river of
nervous sweat ran down his palms.
He felt awful. Teresa sat a few
desks away, no doubt thinking he
was a fool. Without looking at Mr.
Bueller, Victor mumbled, “Frenchie
oh wewe gee in September” (Soto,
17)
Response
The first thing this passage tells us
about Victor is that he obviously
doesn’t know French. It also shows
that he gets nervous very easily,
especially around Teresa, the girl he has
a crush on. In this scene, Victor is
trying to impress Teresa by pretending
to be something he’s not. This shows
us that he is willing to risk
embarrassment to get her attention.
This behavior seems pretty normal for
a teenaged boy with his first crush.
Characterization
(an exceptional example, level 10)
Text
“Her face as she sat there was a
frightened, broken face utterly
unlike the face of the woman who
had been so assured a little while
ago in the drugstore... When she
reached out and lifted the kettle to
pour hot water in her cup, her hand
trembled and the water splashed on
the stove. Leaning back in the
chair, she sighed and lifted the cup
to her lips”
(Callaghan, 3).
Response
This passage shows that Mrs. Higgins is not
the picture of calm confidence that she
displayed in the drugstore. Through years of
dealing with Alfred’s poor decision making,
she has obviously learned how to master the
art of friendly persuasion, but it is all just a
façade. These lines from the text show us that
she is afraid, most likely for Alfred’s future,
for her daughter’s future, and for her own
physical and emotional well-being. Callaghan
describes her face as “broken,” which suggests
that she just cannot bear any more pain; she
has been hurt beyond repair. It could also
symbolize the broken bond between her and
her son. Her trembling shows her fear and
suggests that she has been aged beyond her
years because of the stress that Alfred has
caused in her life. When she leans back and
sighs, it is as if with hopeless resignation. She
accepts her bleak reality, takes a sip, and life
goes on.
Characterization
(an exceptional example, level 10)
Text
“Her face as she sat there was a
frightened, broken face utterly
unlike the face of the woman who
had been so assured a little while
ago in the drugstore... When she
reached out and lifted the kettle to
pour hot water in her cup, her hand
trembled and the water splashed on
the stove. Leaning back in the
chair, she sighed and lifted the cup
to her lips”
(Callaghan, 3).
Response
This passage shows that Mrs. Higgins is not
the picture of calm confidence that she
displayed in the drugstore. Through years of
dealing with Alfred’s poor decision making,
she has obviously learned how to master the
art of friendly persuasion, but it is all just a
façade. These lines from the text show us that
she is afraid, most likely for Alfred’s future,
for her daughter’s future, and for her own
physical and emotional well-being. Callaghan
describes her face as “broken,” which suggests
that she just cannot bear any more pain; she
has been hurt beyond repair. It could also
symbolize the broken bond between her and
her son. Her trembling shows her fear and
suggests that she has been aged beyond her
years because of the stress that Alfred has
caused in her life. When she leans back and
sighs, it is as if with hopeless resignation. She
accepts her bleak reality, takes a sip, and life
goes on.