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Characterization. Characterization. The act of creating and developing a character A person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work. Characters. Types of Characters. Protagonist : The major character who is the most important character in a story, poem, or plays
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Characterization • The act of creating and developing a character • A person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work Characters
Types of Characters • Protagonist: The major character who is the most important character in a story, poem, or plays • Also known as the main character
Types of Characters • Antagonist: The principal character in opposition to the protagonist or hero of a story. • “The Bad Guy”
Types of Characters • Minor Character: The character who takes part in the action, but is not the focus of attention
Types of Characters • Flat Character: One-sided character and often stereo-typical • SHAPE: Sheet of paper
Flat Character • EXAMPLE: In a story about a friendly teacher named Sandra Smith, Louis Drud is a janitor in her building. Louis is always tired and grumpy whenever Sandra runs across him and says hello.In this example Louis Drud is a flat character.
Types of Characters • Round Character: Opposite of a flat character • Is fully developed and exhibits many traits (often both faults and virtues) • SHAPE: Ball
Round Character • Example: A character in a story named Elaine never cuts anybody a break. She tells her friends and coworkers that charity and compassion have no place in society. On the other hand, Elaine can never pass up feeding a stray kitten or puppy, and always tries to find a good home for lost or abandoned pets.In this example Elaine is a round character.
Types of Characters • Dynamic Character: A character who changes or grows during the course of the work • SHAPE: Butterfly
Dynamic Character • Example: Ebenezer Scrooge, in “A Christmas Carol” by Dickens, was very stingy with his money. He worked his employees very, very hard for little pay. After his experiences with the ghosts that visited him, he changed his ways, paying his employees a more than fair wage, providing days off work and actually giving gifts.
Types of Characters • Static Character: A character who does not change • SHAPE: Rock
Static Character • EXAMPLE: Bert, a bumbling salesman, never takes the time to organize his files, properly record his sales, or follow up with customers. Finally, his boss gets fed up and fires him. Bert struggles for two months to find a new sales position. During that time, his car is repossessed for nonpayment and he maxes out his credit cards. Bert finally finds a new sales position but, before a week passes, he is called into a conference with his new boss. Bert is informed he must get organized or he’ll be fired. A week later the new boss fires Bert after he fails to follow up with an important customer.
How Authors Reveal Character A writer can reveal a character in the following ways: • Letting the reader hear the character speak • “I can’t go to the movies,” she said, “I have to finish my report.” • Describing how the character looks and dresses • She slung her purse over her shoulder and walked away, her stride made uneven by broken sandal thongs, thin elbows showing through holes in the oversized sweater, her jeans faded and baggy.
How Authors Reveal Character • Letting the reader listen to the character’s inner thoughts and feelings • Jasmine’s heart raced when she saw all the people sitting in the audience. She was nervous, but she just kept telling herself, “You can do this. You know your lines. You’ll do fine.” • Revealing what other people in the story think or say about the character • There was just something about Thomas that made me feel comfortable. I knew I could tell him anything, and he wouldn’t judge me.
How Authors Reveal Character Showing the reader what the character does—how he or she acts • David got up from the bench and offered his seat to the man holding a sleeping toddler with one arm and a bag of groceries in his other hand. Telling the reader directly what the character’s personality is like (cruel, kind, sneaky, brave, and so on) • Although Mrs. Flint often frowned at our “uncivilized” behavior, she was a kind and generous woman.
What Have You Learned? Are the following statements true or false? True ____________— A character in a story can be an animal. ____________— An author may reveal a character by describing how the character looks or dresses. ____________— Authors never directly reveal what the character’s personality is like. True False