The 5 Methods of The 5 Methods of CharacterizationCharacterization

1.1. Physical DescriptionPhysical Description

Identifies anything physical about Identifies anything physical about the character.the character.

Includes height, skin, hair and eye Includes height, skin, hair and eye color, short/tall, skinny/fat, wear color, short/tall, skinny/fat, wear glasses?, how he/she walks/stands, glasses?, how he/she walks/stands, anything physical about the anything physical about the character.character.

Example of physical Example of physical description:description:

“ “ Inside the floating cloak he was tall, Inside the floating cloak he was tall, thin, and bony: and his hair was red thin, and bony: and his hair was red beneath the black cap. His face was beneath the black cap. His face was crumpled and freckled, and ugly crumpled and freckled, and ugly without silliness.”without silliness.”

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

Description of Jack, Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell.Description of Jack, Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell.

2. Thoughts, Speech, and 2. Thoughts, Speech, and Action of the CharacterAction of the Character

The way a character thinks about The way a character thinks about himself/herself, other characters, or himself/herself, other characters, or life in general can tell you a lot about life in general can tell you a lot about that character’s worldview as well as that character’s worldview as well as his/her expectations for themselves his/her expectations for themselves and others.and others.

By looking at what the character says By looking at what the character says also reveals his/her point of view.also reveals his/her point of view.

Analyzing the character’s actions is a Analyzing the character’s actions is a method of discovering a character’s method of discovering a character’s motivation.motivation.

ThoughtsThoughts

““The desire to squeeze and hurt was The desire to squeeze and hurt was over-mastering.”over-mastering.”

Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesRalph fights to get near Robert, as Ralph fights to get near Robert, as the boys relive the pig hunt, Chapter the boys relive the pig hunt, Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees.7: Shadows and Tall Trees.

SpeechSpeech

““I don't care what they call me, so I don't care what they call me, so long as they don't call me what they long as they don't call me what they used to call me at school...They used used to call me at school...They used to call me Piggy.”to call me Piggy.”

Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesPiggy, Chapter 1: The Sound of the Piggy, Chapter 1: The Sound of the Shell.Shell.

SpeechSpeech

Pay attention to the tone and diction of Pay attention to the tone and diction of the character when he/she speaks.the character when he/she speaks.

Is the character serious? Sarcastic? Is the character serious? Sarcastic? Shy? Obnoxious? Ignorant? Etc…all Shy? Obnoxious? Ignorant? Etc…all these qualities can be conveyed these qualities can be conveyed through the characters dialogue or through the characters dialogue or speech.speech.

Example of a Character’s Example of a Character’s ActionsActions

““I painted my face--I stole up. Now I painted my face--I stole up. Now you eat--all of you--and I—”you eat--all of you--and I—”Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesJack tosses piece of meat to Simon Jack tosses piece of meat to Simon and shouts in frustration and rage, and shouts in frustration and rage, Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair. Hair.

3. Thoughts, Speech, and 3. Thoughts, Speech, and Actions of Other CharactersActions of Other Characters

The way other characters think about, speak to, and act upon the character you are analyzing reveals important information about your character.

Reactions include verbal responses and physical or emotional treatment.

Character reactions can tell you if the character you are analyzing is liked or disliked, popular, honest, trust-worthy etc…

Example of Thoughts, Speech, and Example of Thoughts, Speech, and Actions of Other CharactersActions of Other Characters

““We've got to have rules and obey them. After We've got to have rules and obey them. After all, we're not savages. We're English, and the all, we're not savages. We're English, and the English are best at everything.”English are best at everything.”

Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesJack shows respect for democracy and the Jack shows respect for democracy and the conch, Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain. conch, Chapter 2: Fire on the Mountain.

““Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!”him in!”

Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesThe boys relive the thrill of hunting by The boys relive the thrill of hunting by encircling Robert as if he were the pig, encircling Robert as if he were the pig, grabbing at him and chanting, Chapter 7: grabbing at him and chanting, Chapter 7: Shadows and Tall Trees.Shadows and Tall Trees.

44. Direct Comments the . Direct Comments the Narrator Makes about the Narrator Makes about the

charactercharacter ““Piggy, for all his ludicrous body, had brains. Ralph Piggy, for all his ludicrous body, had brains. Ralph

was a specialist in thought now, and could recognize was a specialist in thought now, and could recognize thought in another.” thought in another.” Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesRalph who calls an emergency assembly respects Ralph who calls an emergency assembly respects Piggy as an equal and adopts his way of thinking, Piggy as an equal and adopts his way of thinking, Chapter 5: Beast from Water. Chapter 5: Beast from Water.

““His mind was crowded with memories; memories of His mind was crowded with memories; memories of the knowledge that had come to them when they the knowledge that had come to them when they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they closed in on the struggling pig, knowledge that they had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon had outwitted a living thing, imposed their will upon it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.”it, taken away its life like a long satisfying drink.”Lord of the FliesLord of the FliesJack and the hunters after slaying the pig, Chapter Jack and the hunters after slaying the pig, Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair.4: Painted Faces and Long Hair.

5. Reactions the character has to incidents or events during the time in which the story takes place or before the story takes place; this can include conflicts.

Example of Character’s Example of Character’s Reaction to an Action or Reaction to an Action or

Incident:Incident:“He began to dance and his laughter became a bloodthirsty snarling.”

Lord of the Flies

Jack gives way to his primal impulses when the boys go on a pig hunt, Chapter 4: Painted Faces and Long Hair.

Using the 5 methods to Using the 5 methods to describe a characterdescribe a character

Analyze the way an author uses Analyze the way an author uses these 5 methods of characterization these 5 methods of characterization when writing a description of a when writing a description of a character in the stories you read. By character in the stories you read. By looking at all 5 methods you can give looking at all 5 methods you can give an in-depth description of the an in-depth description of the character instead of a flat character instead of a flat description that includes only basic description that includes only basic information.information.