Characterization and Character Traits

What is characterization?

• Character traits

• What a character says and thinks

• The process in which the author tells the personality of a character.

• What a character looks like and what are his actions

What is indirect characterization?

• The process by which the narrator tells the audience what the personality of the character is.

• The process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.

What is direct characterization?

• The process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.

• The process by which the narrator tells the audience what the personality of the character is.

Once upon a time there was a beautiful young girl named Cinderella. Cinderella lives with her evil stepmother and stepsisters who force her to clean day and night. After many harrowing adventures Cinderella meets her prince charming and lives happily ever after.

• Direct

• Indirect

John Proctor from The Crucible

PROCTOR, with a cry of his whole soul: “Because it is my name! Because I cannot have another in my life! Because I lie and sign myself to lies! Because I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? I have given you my soul; leave me my name!”

• Direct

• Indirect

Melinda Sordino from Speak

My room belongs to an alien. It is a postcard of who I was in the fifth grade. It is a demented phase when I thought that roses should cover everything and pink was a great color. (thinks Melinda)

• Direct

• Indirect

Which of the following is an example of direct characterization?

• He tapped his foot anxiously.
• "I wouldn't  trust that man," said Ma.
• Frank was a shy, quiet person.
• Every time he earned a high grade, he would hang the test on his wall.

What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization?

• Indirect characterization shows the characters' actions to reveal traits.
• Direct characterization reveals character traits through thoughts only
• Indirect characterization relies on the reader's ability to determine the setting and plot
• Indirect characterization is seldom used in creative writing. 

What type of characterization is the following example?
Tiffany loved when her teachers gave her creative projects.  She was very artistically talented. Her favorite things to do were paint, write music, play her guitar, and mold pottery.

• direct characterization
• indirect characterization

How are the character's traits revealed?
Mr. Timpelton walked through the airport in his crisp army uniform and duffel bag.  After being deployed for a year in Iraq, he was anxious to see is family.  He wiped his hands nervously on his pants, breathed a deep sigh, and begin to head to the airport welcoming area.

• actions
• thoughts
• statements
• interactions with other characters