Transcript Characters - Culver City Middle School

Characters
Page 84
Characterization
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The way a writer reveals a character
Direct Characterization
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The author tells the reader
Ex. “Bob was ocd, obsessive
compulsive.”
Indirect Characterization
The author lets the reader decide what
a character is like.
(Show me, Don’t Tell me!)
Describe the Character’s
appearance.
Show the character in action
Actions reveal character
Allow the reader to hear the
character speak.

Napoleon Dynamite: Stay home and eat
all the freakin' chips, Kip.
Kip: Napoleon, don't be jealous that I've
been chatting online with babes all day.
Besides, we both know that I'm training to
be a cage fighter.
Napoleon Dynamite: Since when, Kip?
You have the worst reflexes of all time.
Kip: Try and hit me, Napoleon.
Napoleon Dynamite: What?
Kip: I said come down here and see what
happens if you try and hit me.
Reveal the character’s thoughts
and feelings

Ashley did not like the looks of the
squash pudding but she decided to
eat it anyway.
Setting
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Setting reveals character.
Ex.:
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Ms. Verge in classroom.
Ms. Verge at the park with her
children.
Ms. Verge passed out in an alley.
Motivation

The reasons (motives) for a
character’s actions.
Page 129 Mrs. Flowers
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Taut-tightly stretched
Benign- kindly
Infuse-fill
Intolerant-unwilling to accept
something
Illiteracy- inability to read or write.
Protagonist

The main character
Antagonist

The character who blocks the
protagonist
Man vs. Self
Man vs. Man
Round Character

A character who
seems real
because he or she
has many different,
fully developed
traits
Flat Character

A easily described,
one-dimensional
character.
Dynamic Character

A character who
grows, matures, or
changes in the
story.
Static character

A character who is
still the same at
the end of story.
Stereotype or Stock Character

A character who
represents a fixed
idea or a bias
about a group of
people; for
example, a fast
talking used-car
salesman.