CHARACTER NOTES

Based on Character: Revealing Human Nature and Give-and-Take

by John Leggett

CHARACTER

character:

definition: a person in a story, poem, or play definition: a set of qualities that make someone special purpose:

characters tell us what human beings are like

examples:
__________________ __________________ __________________

Well learn to describe a characters character.

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HOW DO WE LEARN ABOUT CHARACTERS?

OAATS

THERS THOUGHTS

& WORDS REVEAL CHARACTER

others thoughts and words

What do the other characters think about the character? What do they say about the character?

http://blissfullydomestic.com/wp-content/gallery/inspired-bliss/women-gossiping.

PPEARANCE

REVEALS CHARACTER

appearance

What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

http://www.ocean.edu/images/man_business_attire.jpg

CTIONS

REVEAL CHARACTER

actions

What does the character do? How does the character act?

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HOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

REVEAL CHARACTER

inner thoughts and feelings

What does the character think? How does the character feel?

http://www.attributemagazine.com/index/images/stories/Staff/kat-thinking.jpg

FOUR WAYS

PEECH

REVEALS CHARACTER

first-person narration

definition: characters tell their own stories by speaking directly to the reader what they tell:

facts, backgrounds, thoughts, and feelings pronouns, such as I, me, my, we, and us

look for:

http://www.freedomscientific.com/LSG/imgs/200610_images/talking%20girls.jpg

FOUR WAYS

PEECH

REVEALS CHARACTER

dialogue

definition: a conversation between characters pay attention to:

what characters say about themselves and how they respond to each other I got an A in Mr. Andersons class, said Kelly. You are such a kiss-up! replied Tara.

look for:

http://www.d.umn.edu/~cwjohnso/images/GirlsReading_000.jpg

FOUR WAYS

PEECH

REVEALS CHARACTER

dramatic monologue
definition: a character speaks to silent listeners it is a poem within a play or story

soliloquy
definition: a character speaks thoughts aloud only the audience/reader hears the speaker is onstage alone in play

HOW DO WRITERS EXPLAIN CHARACTERS?

direct & indirectly

TWO TYPES OF CHARACTERIZATION

direct characterization indirect characterization

definition: readers are told directly what a character is like look for:

adjectives

definition: readers must use their own judgment to decide what a character is like, based on given evidence look for:

OAATS

WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF CHARACTERS?

protagonist, antagonist, and subordinate

PROTAGONIST

protagonist

definition: the main character also known as (AKA):

hero

ANTAGONIST

antagonist

definition: the character or force that blocks the protagonist aka:

villain external conflict internal conflict

SUBORDINATE CHARACTERS

subordinate characters

definition: characters who play an important role in the story, but are not part of the main plot AKA:
supporting roles extras

STOCK CHARACTERS

stock characters

definition: characters that play a minor role in the story and fulfill a stereotype example:

evil stepmothers

HOW ARE CHARACTERS DESCRIBED?

flat or round dynamic or static

HOW COMPLEX IS THE CHARACTER?

flat characters round character

definition: character with only one or two character traits sample traits:

definition: character with many different character traits sample traits:

outgoing and popular

loving mother, but cruel teacher

DOES THE CHARACTER CHANGE?

dynamic character static character

definition: character that changes as a result of the storys events often:

definition: character that does not change much during the story often:

protagonist or antagonist

subordinate characters

WERE FINISHED!
Adapted from:

Holt Literature and Language Arts: Third Course