How do you meet new people?

If a new student arrived at our school tomorrow, how would you learn about him or her?

Literary Device: Characterization

How do you meet the characters in a story?

There are FOUR methods of characterization…

What a character does, What a character says or thinks, What the narrator says about the

character, and What other characters say about

the character (the “middle school method”)

1. What the character does

The reader can learn about a character from his/her actions.

For example, if a character solves most of his problems with violence, we can assume this character will struggle with anger management in other situations.

2. What a character says or thinks

A reader can gain insight into a character based upon what she says or thinks.

A character’s thoughts often reveal their most true character traits.

3. What the narrator says about the character

The narrator can describe a character’s appearance so that the reader may interpret how that character behaves or how that character wants to portray himself.

4. What other characters say about the character (the “middle

school method”) Many times in

middle school, people learn the most about other people based upon stories that people pass on.

This is the least reliable method of characterization.

It frequently reveals how a character fits in with his or her peer group.

Now, you try…

Example 1: “Most of the boys of the village

were tall, broad, and strongly built. Rudi was small and slim. But to make up for it, he was quick.”

Banner in the Skyby James Ramsey

Ullman

Example 2: “Mr. Hoo moved aside a full

ashtray with a show of distaste and rearranged the clues.”

The Westing Game

by Ellen Raskin

Example 3:“Bullet’s not interested,” Cheryl said, warning

Jackson to keep his mouth closed.

“I think you underestimate Bullet,” Jackson said. “He’s smart enough, and he can’t as hard-hearted as he acts. Nobody could be.”

The Runnerby Cynthia Voigt

Example 4: “That’s a bad thing to do,” M&M

said. “Taking something that doesn’t belong to you.”

That Was Then, This Is Now

by S. E. Hinton

How do your characters reveal themselves in your

novel?

Examine characterization as your Critical Stance approach

to literature…