Warmup Describe your character traits Use three adjectives

Warm-up: Describe your character traits. Use three adjectives and three action verbs. Why did you choose these?

Characterization

Character Traits When you first meet a real person or a character in a book, you form judgements about that person. You might say something about the person such as “He’s nice, ” or “She’s friendly. ” “Nice” and “Friendly” are examples of character traits. They are words that we used to describe a person’s “character” or personality.

Characters do things. They feel things. They hear things. They say things. They think things. They go places. They can walk, run, leap, and jump. They may sit and rock in a rocking chair. They may just lie in bed, sleep, and dream. But the important thing is that characters act. And these actions show us what kind of people these characters are: friendly, excited or sad.

Analyzing Character Traits We try to figure out what a character in a book is like by paying attention to the clues the author gives us. This is called “making inferences. ” The writer can let us know what a character is like through direct and inderect characterization.

Defining Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through direct characterization and indirect characterization.

Direct Characterization vs. Indirect Characterization

Direct Characterization tells the audience what the 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. ”

Activity! Write down your answer to identify direct characterization of Jimmy was a mischievous boy and creative too. He could take a discarded box or old blanked and turn it into something adventurous. But sometimes his imagination gets the better of him, and he'd find himself in big trouble. Answer: mischievous, creative and imaginative

Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of indirect characterization: STEAL Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak? Thoughts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? Effect on others toward the character. Actions Looks What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? What does the character do? How does the character behave? What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Indirect Characterization S T E A L Denise wore her best flower dress to the park. While playing in the park, she saw a frog. She said, “Cool, this could be my next pet. ” Denise then picked up the slimy bull frog. She could hardly stand to hold it even for a moment. She held it out at arm’s lenght from her body and quickly carried it to her brother.

Student Discussion What is easier to understand? What creates a more vivid image? What is more active? What is more passive? What does direct or indirect say about the author style?

Group Work In groups of 5, find examples from the story of “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan and fill out the direct and indirect characterization chart. Find one example of direct characterization and write on paper. Fill out the STEAL chart and give textual evidence from the story of each. Present to the class.

Writing about a character Pick a character from “Two Kinds” either the daughter or mother and write an essay on their character. Thesis 3 body paragraphs Conclusion When finished with rough draft, peer edit and type on computer.