Character

Two Ways to Analyze

• Direct Characterization – The author comes out and directly tells us what a character is like • Sergeant Randolph was the cruelest drillmaster in the regiment • Indirect Characterization – Authors show their characters in action and the reader has to decide what a character is like

5 Ways of Indirect Characterization

1. Appearance

• • Describe how the character looks – How they dress – Physical features Example: – Wanda’s hair was pink, and every pink hair stuck up from her head. Underneath all that pink hair, though, was a pair of innocent blue eyes.

2. Action

• • Show the character in action – What they do – How they do it Example: – Toni glanced around, then tossed the empty soda can on the grass and kept walking.

3. Speech

• • Listen to the character speak – What do they say?

– How do they say it?

Example: – “I don’t have to do what you say,” declared Darlene, pinching the new baby sitter.

4. Thoughts and Feelings

• • Tells us the character’s inner thoughts and feelings – What goes through his/her head? – How do they feel about various story events? Example: – Ashley didn’t like the looks of the squash pudding but decided to eat some to please the cook.

5. Other’s reactions

• • Show the reader how others react to the character – Is the character liked or hate? – Is the character taken advantage of or not? Example: – “Go wake up my sister?” Lulu said. “Sure, Mom. Just give me armor and a twenty foot pole, and I’ll be all set to go.”

In Conclusion

• All of these things help to determine what motivates a character – We wonder what makes people behave the way they do. – These character clues help us determine a character’s motivation