WHO ARE YOU?

CHARACTERIZATION IN SHORT STORIES

Characterization is a technique used by writers to add
detail to help develop more of a character’s personality as
the story progresses. It also shows any changes a character
may undergo during the story.

Most stories have a protagonist who is the main character of the story, and a
antagonist who opposes the main character.

There are two main “types” of characters:

 A round character has several sides to his/her personality
 A flat character does not develop, and usually only has one major characteristic
that can describe them.

How does a writer reveal character?

A writer reveals character by presenting the personal traits of characters in the story.
These are often internal traits (or external traits. The author may reveal character
in several ways, either through direct or indirect characterization:

 What a character says (__indirect_________)

 What a character does (___indirect______)
 What a character thinks (___indirect____)
 What a character looks like (_indirect__)
 What is said about the character (_____direct_____)
 How others react to the character (________indirect________)

In a character analysis, where you are analyzing what a character is like, you may
want to look at the following:
POTENTIAL INTERNAL CHARACTER TRAITS
· Careless · Desiccated · Faithless
· Able · Caring · Despondent · Fanciful
· Absent-minded · Caustic · Determined · Fearful
· Active · Cautious · Devoted · Fearless
· Adventurous · Changeable · Diligent · Feisty
· Affable · Charismatic · Disaffected · Ferocious
· Affected · Charming · Disagreeable · Fidgety
· Affectionate · Cheerful · Discerning · Fierce
· Afraid · Civilised · Discontented · Fighter
· Aggressive · Clever · Finicky
· Alert · Clumsy · Discouraged · Flexible
· Ambitious · Coarse · Discreet · Foolish
· Amiable · Dishonest · Forgetful
· Angry · Cold-hearted · Disillusioned · Forgiving
· Animated · Committed · Disloyal · Formal
· Annoyed · Communicative · Dismayed · Fortunate
· Anxious · Compassionate · Disorganized · Foul
· Apologetic · Competent · Disparaging · Frank
· Appreciative · Complacent · Disrespectful · Fresh
· Argumentative · Conceited · Dissatisfied · Friendly
· Arrogant · Concerned · Distressed · Frightened
· Attentive · Confident · Domineering · Frustrated
· Austere · Confused · Doubtful · Fun loving
· Average · Conscientious · Dreamer · Funny
· Awkward · Considerate · Dreamy · Furious
· Consistent · Dull · Fussy
· Babyish · Contented · Dutiful
· Bad · Cooperative · Garrulous
· Bashful · Courageous · Eager · Generous
· Bewildered · Cowardly · Easygoing · Gentle
· Blasé · Crafty · Effervescent · Giddy
· Creative · Efficient · Gives up easily
· Blowhard · Critical · Eloquent · Giving
· Boastful · Cross · Embarrassed · Glamorous
· Bold · Cruel · Encouraging · Gloomy
· Boorish · Cultured · Energetic · Glum
· Bored · Curious · Enthusiastic · Good
· Bossy · Equable · Graceful
· Brainy · Dainty · Ethical · Greedy
· Brave · Dangerous · Evil · Gregarious
· Bright · Daring · Exacting · Grouchy
· Brilliant · Daring · Excessive · Grumpy
· Brutish · Dark · Excitable · Guilty
· Busy · Dauntless · Excited · Gullible
· Decisive · Expert
· Calm · Deferential · Exuberant · Handsome
· Candid · Demanding · Happy
· Capable · Demanding · Facetious · Hard-working
· Carefree · Dependable · Fair · Hardy
· Careful · Depressed · Faithful · Harried
· Harsh · Kind · Organized · Risk-taking
· Hateful · Kindly · Outspoken · Rough
· Haughty · Overweight · Rowdy
· Healthy · Lackadaisical · Rude
· Helpful · Languid · Patient · Ruthless
· Hesitant · Lazy · Patriotic
· Honest · Leader · Peaceful · Sad
· Hopeful · Lean · Perseverant · Safe
· Hopeless · Left-brain · Persistent · Satisfied
· Hospitable · Liar · Persuasive · Scared
· Hot-tempered · Licentious · Perverse · Scheming
· Humble · Light · Pessimistic · Scrawny
· Humorous · Light-hearted · Picky · Scruffy
· Limited · Pitiful · Secretive
· Ignorant · Lively · Plain · Secure
· Ill-bred · Logical · Playful · Self-centered
· Imaginative · Lonely · Pleasant · Self-confident
· Immaculate · Loquacious · Pleasing · Self-controlling
· Immature · Loud · Polite · Selfish
· Immobile · Lovable · Poor · Sensitive
· Impartial · Loving · Popular · Sentimental
· Impatient · Loyal · Positive · Serious
· Impolite · Lucky · Precise · Sharp
· Impudent · Pretty · Sharp-witted
· Impulsive · Malicious · Prim · Shiftless
· Inactive · Mannerly · Primitive · Short
· Inconsiderate · Mature · Proper · Shrewd
· Inconsistent · Mean · Proud · Shy
· Indecisive · Meek · Prudent · Silly
· Independent · Merciful · Punctual · Simple
· Indiscriminate · Messy · Purposeful · Sincere
· Indolent · Meticulous · Quarrelsome · Skillful
· Industrious · Mischievous · Sly
· Inefficient · Miserable · Quick · Smart
· Inimitable · Moody · Quiet · Sneaky
· Innocent · Mysterious · Soft-hearted
· Insecure · Rational · Solitary
· Insincere · Nagging · Rawboned · Sorry
· Insipid · Naïve · Reasonable · Spendthrift
· Insistent · Naughty · Reckless · Spoiled
· Insolent · Neat · Relaxed · Sterile
· Intelligent · Negligent · Reliable · Stern
· Intolerant · Nervous · Religious · Stingy
· Intrepid · Nice · Repugnant · Strange
· Inventive · Noisy · Repulsive · Strict
· Reserved · Strong
· Jealous · Obedient · Resourceful · Stubborn
· Jolly · Obese · Respectful · Studious
· Jovial · Obliging · Responsible · Submissive
· Joyful · Observant · Restless · Successful
· Open · Rich · Superstitious
· Keen · Optimistic · Rigid · Supportive
· Suspicious · Thrilled · Understanding · Warm
· Sweet · Timid · Unforgiving · Weak
· Tired · Unfriendly · Wicked
· Tactful · Tireless · Ungrateful · Wild
· Tactless · Tolerant · Unhappy · Wise
· Talented · Touchy · Unkind · Wishy-washy
· Talkative · Tough · Unmerciful · Withdrawn
· Tall · Trusting · Unselfish · Witty
· Tardy · Trustworthy · Unsuitable · Worried
· Temperate · Truthful · Upset · Wrong
· Thankful · Useful
· Thorough · Ugly · Young
· Thoughtful · Unconcerned · Vacant
· Thoughtless · Uncoordinated · Violent · Zany
· Thrifty · Undependable · Virtuous
 I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE:
POINT OF VIEW
Point of view is sometimes called the angle of narration. This
describes how the story is told. Point of view is classified by
who is doing the talking:

First Person
 The story is told by one of the characters in the story
 Usually marked by the pronounced use of the pronoun “I”

First Person Participant is a major character telling the story

First Person Observer is a minor character telling the story.

In first person narration, the narrator can only relate what the narrator’s character can
see and feel. To have more scope in describing the events the author can use the
third person.

Third Person:
 Story is told from the point of view of a narrator outside of and uninvolved in
the action of the story.
 Uses “he,” “she, ” “it”

Third Person Objective:

 recounts the action_, but not the thoughts or feelings of the characters.
 Can’t “see” inside character’s heads

Third Person Omniscient:

 Recounts the thoughts and the feelings and emotions of the characters
 Narrator is “ God” – like;
 Omni = all and Scient = knowledge