This document discusses characterization in fiction writing. It contrasts direct characterization, where the author directly states a character's traits, with indirect characterization, where a character's personality is inferred from their speech, thoughts, actions, effects on others, and appearance. Five methods of indirect characterization - speech, thoughts, effect on others, actions, and looks - are outlined. Key terms related to character analysis are also defined, such as protagonist, antagonist, flat/round/dynamic/static characters, stereotypes, and inference of traits.

1. Name: Period: Mr. George/English 7

2. Characterization Notes
How characters are revealed...
Show
vs.
Tell
Name: Period: Mr. George/English 7

4. What Traits Did
We Infer?

5. What Traits Did
We Infer?

6. What Traits Did
We Infer?
Possible Traits
curious, inquisitive,
fun-loving, interested
friendly, good-natured,
nice, hospitable,
sociable, jolly, trusting,
nieve

7. What Traits Did
We Infer?
Possible Traits
curious, inquisitive,
fun-loving, interested
friendly, good-natured,
nice, hospitable,
sociable, jolly, trusting,
nieve

8. What Traits Did
We Infer?
Possible Traits Possible Traits
uninterested, curious, inquisitive,
indifferent, mean, fun-loving, interested
cruel, barbaric, brutal, friendly, good-natured,
fiendish, heartless, nice, hospitable,
vicious, merciless, sociable, jolly, trusting,
ruthless, harsh nieve

10. Direct Characterization:
Definition: The writer tells us directly what
the character is like.

11. Direct Characterization:
Definition: The writer tells us directly what
the character is like.
Examples: (Notice the author is directly telling the audience the personality of each character)
“The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did
not disobey their mother.”
"Ed Johnson, the old mechanic, hated modern electronics,
preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of
manuals and a good set of tools."
"Bart was a liar and a cheat."

13. Indirect Characterization:
Definition: the writer shows things that
reveal the personality of a character.

14. Indirect Characterization:
Definition: the writer shows things that
reveal the personality of a character.
There are five
different methods
of
Indirect
Characterization

16. Speech: What does the character say? How does the character
speak?

17. Speech: What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?

18. Speech: What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?
Effect: The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed
through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters
feel or behave in reaction to the character?

19. Speech: What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?
Effect: The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed
through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters
feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character
behave?

20. Speech: What does the character say? How does the character
speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts
and feelings?
Effect: The effect of others toward the character. What is revealed
through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters
feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character
behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character
dress?

21. S.
T.
E.
A.
L.

22. S.
Study Tip:
Use this T.
mnemonic device
to remember the
five types of
E.
indirect
characterization
A.
L.

24. Other Terms You Should Know:

25. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction

26. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story

27. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.

28. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.

29. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.
Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.

30. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.
Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.
Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.

31. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.
Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.
Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.
Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people

32. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.
Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.
Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.
Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people
Infer : to figure out based on clues-- like to infer the personality of a character

33. Other Terms You Should Know:
Protagonist : the main or principal character in a work of fiction
Antagonist : the character who works against the protagonist in the story
Flat Character : a character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop
in the course of a story.
Round Character : this character is fully developed - the writer reveals good and bad
traits as well as background.
Dynamic Character : a character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the
story's action.
Static Character : a character who does not change at all, or who remains almost
entirely the same, throughout the course of a play or story.
Stereotype : a generalized belief about a group of people
Infer : to figure out based on clues-- like to infer the personality of a character
Adjective : a word that describes a noun (funny, tall, skinny, peculiar-- any character
trait)