Understanding Characters

1. Understanding Characters

2. What is a “character” in literature? • An odd or unusual person • Any person in a story • A famous person

3. What is a “character” in literature? • An odd or unusual person • Any person in a story • A famous person

4. Goal of a writer Make characters seem real

5. Giving characters personalities with… • A character’s appearance • The character’s actions • The character’s words; dialogue • The character’s thoughts • The thoughts and comments of other characters

6. Major characters and minor characters • Round/complex characters are fully developed • Flat characters are not fully developed

7. What can be a character? • Animals • People • Things • Made up creatures

8. An animal At the first step upon the cold surface, Buck’s feet sank into a cold mushy something very like mud. He sprang back with a snort. More of this white stuff was falling through the air. He shook himself, but more of it feel upon him. He sniffed it curiously, then licked some up on his tongue. It bit like fire, and the next instant was gone. This puzzled him. He tried it again, with the same result. The onlookers laughed uproariously, and he felt ashamed. He knew not why, for it was his first _______.

9. Things It stood there, tall and erect, giving orders. No one ignored it. Everyone obeyed its commands. With green it said, “Okay, it’s your turn. Get moving.” With yellow it warned, “Get ready to stop. I’ll soon be turning red, and when I do, you had better not move.” Red was its strongest command. “Stop! Do not even think of moving!”

10. Things Gear the loud alarm bells- Brazen bells! What tale of terror, their turbulency tells! In the startled ear of Night How they scream out their afright! Too much horrified to speak, They can only shriek, shriek, Out of tune.

11. Character’s appearance • A character’s ID card: Donna Harris Height: 5’9” Weight: 135 lbs. Eyes: brown Hair: brown Date of birth: August 12, 1975

12. Character’s appearanceDonna Harris She was tall and graceful. She wore a blue suit and dark glasses. She carried several packages under her arm. Nervously, she glanced at her watch now and then.

13. A character’s looks can help us “see” him or her.

14. What else do writers use to help us understand characters? • A character’s family, friends and neighbors • A character’s actions, speech and thoughts • A character’s work, sports and hobbies

15. What else do writers use to help us understand characters? • A character’s family, friends and neighbors • A character’s actions, speech and thoughts • A character’s work, sports and hobbies

16. Donna Harris She moved in long, quick strides. A faint smile played across her lips. She juggled the bundles to glance at her watch again. Finally, she reached a long, black limousine. The driver leaped out and opened a door for her. “Okay, John,” she said. “Let’s get home before Jill does. You know how impatient ten-year-olds can be.” She thought, “I hope they’ve delivered the birthday cake. I’d hate to see Jill disappointed.”

17. What especially makes a character come to life? • The character’s actions • The character’s opinions • The character’s thoughts

18. What especially makes a character come to life? • The character’s actions • The character’s opinions • The character’s thoughts

19. Appearance Will Thomas sat in the hotel lobby, holding a newspaper in front of him. He wasn’t reading. His eyes darted from the page to the door again and again. He wore a plain brown topcoat. His shoes were well worn and needed a shine. His eyeglass frame was held together with adhesive tape. He went completely unnoticed, and that was the way he wanted it.

20. Plus Actions His eyes narrowed suddenly. He lowered the newspaper slightly and peered over it. There was a commotion at the door. Someone important seemed to have arrived. Will Thomas raised his hand to his mouth. “The bird has come to roost,” he muttered. In his earphone, he heard Malcolm whisper, “Got it. Stand by.” There was no obvious change in Will Thomas. Every muscle tensed, but there was no evidence. “Okay,” said the tiny voice in his ear. “He’s all yours. Bring him in alive.”

21. Actions show feelings He gave Donna the diamond necklace to wear at a party. She looked at it and then threw her arms around her friend, kissed him warmly and fled with her treasure.

22. Actions show feelings He gave Donna the diamond necklace to wear at a party. She looked at it and then threw it down on the ground, slapped him in the face and then fled the room.

23. How do the characters feel? (look at what they say and do) He asked, “Are you sure you had it when leaving the dance?” “Yes, I felt it when I was in the hall of the Ministry.” “But if you had lost it on the street we’d have heard it drop. It must be in the cab.” “Yes, quite likely. Did you get its number?” “No. Didn’t you notice it either?” “No.” “They looked at each other aghast. Finally Loisel got dressed again. “I’ll retrace our steps on foot,” he said, “to see if I can find it.” And he went out. She remained in her evening clothes, without the strength to go to bed, slumped in a chair in the unheated room, her mind a blank. Her husband cam in about seven o’clock. He had no luck.

24. How can an author reveal a quiet character’s personality? • Through actions • Through dialogue • Through thoughts

25. How can an author reveal a quiet character’s personality? • Through actions • Through dialogue • Through thoughts

26. Through a Character’s Thoughts He had been walking for 5 days. As he looked around he thought about his family, would they wonder where he was? He looked down at his feet, and thought about how he couldn’t feel them anymore, he was glad to see they were still there. He looked over the valley and felt as though he would never make it. It was -50o, and he couldn’t feel his nose or hands either. He was aware of the panic he was starting to feel, and he was afraid of the panic. But his panic kept growing until all he could imagine was his body completely frozen.

27. Through Other Character’s Thoughts and Actions Nan waved her hands wildly as she talked to Rob. “Mother wants to grow corn in the front yard! Can you imagine what Elaine will say?” “Who cares? You don’t have to listen to Elaine,” Paul said. He stood at the window. “Oh, don’t I?” Nan asked. “You’re wrong about that. You don’t have to listen to Elaine because you’re at work in the city all day. I do have to listen to Elaine; she’s the only person over ten I get to talk to all day.” “Except for Mother.” “I wasn’t counting her,” Nan said. “That’s cruel.” “I’m sorry. It’s just that it’s not easy for me. I don’t want corn in the front yard. I do care what the neighbors think. You don’t. And Mother doesn’t, either. She doesn’t care what anyone thinks. She lives in a world of her own.” She pushed the screen door open and ran into the yard.