Character Development in Stories

What is direct characterization?

• Reactions of other characters give us information we need
• We learn about a character through their physical appearance
• We learn about a character through their thoughts
• An author tells you directly about a character

Indirect Characterization involves...

• Learning about characters through their thoughts and actions
• An author telling us that a character is shy
• An author's comments
• A listing of a character qualities from the author

How is the character's traits revealed?
Marcy sat in class, drumming her fingers on her desk.  Thinking back to that morning, she felt remorse over the way she had talked to her mom.

• actions
• thoughts
• statements
• interactions with other characters

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.

Mrs. Travers was worried that her students were not understanding what she was teaching in class. She decided she would work late after school every single night trying to create the best lessons for her students. She even started coming in early in the mornings as well. Because of this, she started to see a huge increase in her student's grades, and eventually this led to her earning a "Teacher of the Year" award!

What experience did Mrs. Travers have that helped her develop throughout the story?

• She tried nothing and her students ended up learning better because of it.

• She found that if she worked really hard before and after school to make better lesson plans, her student's performance would improve.

• She asked other teachers to help her figure out why her students weren't learning.

• She curled up into a ball and cried until the school year was over.

Mr. MacKinnon wanted to find a way to seem more "hip" and "cool" so that his friends would like him more. He went and got a fresh new haircut, some cool new clothes, a drone, and a PS4.

He then invited all of his friends over to his house to hang out and try out his new stuff. Everyone came and they had a good time, but they were curious to know why he bought all of the new stuff, and changed his style. He admitted that he wanted them to think he was cool. His friends told him he didn't need to buy new things to be their friend. They liked him for who he was. Mr. MacKinnon was pleased to hear this.

What experience did Mr. MacKinnon have that helped him develop throughout the story?

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of old things to impress everyone.

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of new things to impress everyone.

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of new things to impress everyone, but he found out he just had to be himself.

• Mr. MacKinnon bought a bunch of old things to impress everyone, and he found out he was a better person now.

One day Mrs. Bergeson was walking down the 3-5 hallway on her way to lunch. When she walked into teacher's lounge, she found no one else was there yet. She was the first one! This never happened, and this was a big deal because the school had bought all the teachers lunch today and it was pizza! Mrs. Bergeson found herself overcome with hunger and greed and realized what she wanted to do. She wanted ALL of the pizza. She grabbed every pizza box and sneaked out the back door. She ran outside and around the school and made it back to her room and locked the door without anyone noticing. She ate all of the pizza and was so full that she couldn't move. When the other teachers came to the teacher's lounge looking for the pizza, they noticed she was the only one that wasn't there. They made their way to her room and found her sitting sadly (with a stomach ache) surrounded by empty pizza boxes. Mrs. Bergeson was arrested for the theft of the other teacher's happiness and hope and was sentenced to buy each teacher their favorite kind of pizza forever.

What experience did Mrs. Bergeson go through that led to her character development?

• Mrs. Bergeson was excited for lunch, but she found out it was pizza and immediately became disappointed. She then found out it was good and was sad she missed out.

• Mrs. Bergeson was angry for lunch, and when she found out it was pizza, she stole all of it for herself. She was then arrested and glad she committed the crime.

• Mrs. Bergeson was scared for lunch, and when she found out it was pizza, she screamed and ran for her life. She ran so far that she made it to her house.

• Mrs. Bergeson was excited for lunch, and when she found out it was pizza, she stole all of it for herself. She was then arrested and sorry she committed the crime.

Yellow Feather

My grandfather never called me by my English name. He liked to call me Yellow Feather in Pomo language. He said a yellow feather fell on his feet as he held me for the first time in his arms.

"Oh, how I miss watching yellow birds flying in Talahalusi, the beautiful land," Grandpa would tear up every time he remembered my birth in Napa Valley.

Then, he would talk about the wooden baskets he wove as I left him at the balcony and went to school. "Your grandmother's baskets were always more beautiful," he would say. My grandfather always looked curiously at my phone and wished I would pay attention to the birds instead.

We had moved from Napa Valley years ago, and now my grandfather was staying with us. Although he had brought his basket making materials with him, they lay mostly unwoven in his room. He spent much of his time sitting on the bench in the backyard.

I pressed my nose to the kitchen window, fogging the glass with my breath as I watched him sitting straight and stiff on the bench. On an impulse, I slid open the back door. Leaving my phone by the back door, I walked out and sat beside him on the bench.

He didn't acknowledge me, although I felt the flick of his gaze on me as I stared out at the woods that sheltered the span of land behind our house. It was nothing like the rolling green valleys I remembered from Napa, and I suddenly realized he was homesick. Not only that, but I began to feel a longing for Napa that I couldn't account for, a yearning that sang through my veins. A bird sand a sweet song from a nearby tree, and my grandfather tilted his head and smiled a little.

"You can hear that, Yellow Feather, now that you don't have your phone," he said with a chuckle.

For the first time, I realized that he held the key to a world that I needed to know about.

"Grandfather, will you teach me our history?" I said.

I could tell my question had caught him off guard, but he merely nodded, squeezing my hand as we listened to the birdsong.

How does Yellow Feather change during the story?

• A. He becomes more attached to the modern world.

• B. He becomes more appreciative of his grandfather.

• C. He becomes less interested in the past.

• D. He becomes interested in learning about birds.

The New Bicycle

Savannah could hardly wait to arrive home from the store with her new bicycle. She had saved her chore money for over six months to have enough to buy a bicycle. She was so excited; she was going to ride the bicycle all day. Finally, I have a bicycle, and no one else will ever ride it, she thought.

As Savannah and her mom arrived home, Savannah was happy to see several children playing outside. Anna, one of Savannah's friends in the neighborhood, was out playing. Often, Anna and Savannah played together because neither of them had a bicycle like the other girls. Now, Savannah had a bicycle, and this made her happy.

Savannah rode and rode her bicycle. She rode on the sidewalk and in the driveway. She was very happy with her purchase. Anna quietly watched as Savannah rode her new bicycle. Although she did not say anything to Savannah, Anna seemed unhappy. While riding her bicycle, Savannah noticed that Anna seemed gloomy. As she rode over to Anna, Savannah remembered how she felt sad when the other girls had a bicycle and she did not. She remembered how she felt bad that she could not join in on the fun of the group. As Savannah rode next to where Anna was standing, she asked, "Would you like to take turns with me riding my new bicycle?"

Anna began to smile. She said, "Oh, I would love to take turns riding your bicycle! This will really be fun!" Anna hopped onto Savannah's bicycle and headed down the street, smiling at her friend.

While Anna was riding the bicycle, Savannah thought how happy she was that she had a new bicycle. She thought how she had planned to never let any other person ride her bicycle. Now Savannah felt very differently. She thought how happy she was to be sharing her bicycle and bringing happiness to her friend. Savannah found that her bicycle had brought more happiness than she had dreamed.

Which sentence in the passage best shows that Savannah understands how Anna feels?

• A. Often, Anna and Savannah played together because neither of them had a bicycle like the other girls.

• B. Although she did not say anything to Savannah, Anna seemed unhappy.

• C. As she rode over to Anna, Savannah remembered how she felt sad when the other girls had a bicycle and she did not.

• D. While Anna was riding the bicycle, Savannah thought how happy she was that she had a new bicycle.

Lorenzo had been the star of the Broncos football team ever since the first grade. His teammates knew he was the Most Valuable Player, even when the coach gave the award to someone else. Lorenzo could play whatever position the team needed him to play. He could play quarterback, running back, or wide receiver. He could also play three positions on defense, and his tackles were fierce.

In sixth grade, LaShonda tried out for the team. She was very fast and taller than most of the boys. Lorenzo hoped the coach would cut her, but she worked very hard during tryouts, taking hits and making plays. The coach was impressed, and he gave her a spot on the team.

"I don't care what Coach says," Lorenzo told his friends Mack and Juan. "She's going to make us lose a lot of games. Girls just don't belong on this team."

In the first game of the year, Lorenzo played quarterback. He had helped the team score two touchdowns, but the Broncos were still down by three points with one minute left in the game. On the next play, Lorenzo held the ball and looked for someone to throw it to. Suddenly, a huge player on the other team broke through the pack and started coming after Lorenzo. Lorenzo ran! If he got tackled, his team would lose, but the other player was coming at him fast.

Then, from his left, Lorenzo saw LaShonda running hard toward him. She darted past Lorenzo, leaped at the player who had been chasing him, and knocked him to the ground. Lorenzo threw the ball to a receiver in the end zone. The receiver caught the ball, and the Broncos won the game.

After the game, Lorenzo found LaShonda as she was getting into her mom's car. "I think we're going to have a new Most Valuable Player this year," he told her.

How does Lorenzo change by the end of the passage?

• A. He accepts LaShonda as a player on his team.

• B. He stops talking to the new girl on the team.

• C. He is impressed with LaShonda during tryouts.

• D. He turns into a much better quarterback.