Lecture on characterization in literary fiction with examples from pop culture.

1. What happened to you Mr. White?
If the main character and their motives
are believable, we follow the plot.
For Years.

2. The
Challenge
Writers have a real challenge. With words alone they must
create characters we can tell apart and believe in. But those
characters have to be interesting too, which means they
have to change. And so we need to know their motives and
to see deep enough into their hearts and minds to believe
they can change.
Good writers are psychologists, philosophers, sociologists,
anthropologists and historians all rolled into one. Critics,
readers and movie-goers are still enjoying Jane Austin’s 19th
century characters.
Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L
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3. Main
Bonus
Point Opp:
Character
Analysis

4. Motive,
Free Will &
Character
Fans of Breaking Bad enjoyed debating Mr.
White’s true motives. He turned to dealing
drugs because he wanted to leave something
for his family. But does he continue in the
criminal life for that reason? Or does he enjoy
the excitement and power? Did the diagnosis
bring out a hidden part of him?
That’s part of what makes him interesting. We
wonder who he is at his core – a caring father
and husband or a bold battler who loves living
on the edge? Or somehow both.
What makes a person change, or resist change?
How do different people deal with crisis, threat,
opportunity and gifts? Do we discover ourselves
or make ourselves as we deal with life’s hills and
valleys?
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5. Introduction to Character. ENGL 151L 5
1. Names &
nicknames
Names suggest character. T'Challa. Darth Vader. Albus Dumbledore. Mary
Poppins. June-May. Lane A Dean Jr. Performers change names to fit their
public persona. John Legend was born John Stephens. Helen Mirren’s birth
name was Ilyena Vasilievna Mironov.
2. Physical
appearance,
esp. the face
Physical descriptions reveal inner qualities as well as emotional states: a
smile, a laugh, a blush, a nervous tic, posture, body language, even clothes
and accessories.
3. How they act
under pressure
The way a character deals with obstacles & conflicts reveals much, to readers
and to the character themselves, as is true with life. Plots provide those
obstacles and conflicts. If nothing happens, no one changes.
4. Their
Thoughts
In fiction, some types of narration let us hear characters’ thoughts. In plays,
monologues may do the same. We learn of fears, doubts, hopes, dreams,
biases, delusions, realizations, etc.
5. What others
say about them
The narrator may tell us what to think of a character. (This is more common
in 19th Century Lit, when values were clear and agreed upon.) Other
characters’ opinions and reactions tell us a lot too.
6. What
Influenced them
In their memories or flashbacks we may find out about people, experiences,
books, music, jobs, places etc. that shaped a character.
Some of the Ways Writers Bring Characters to Life

6. Use the
previous
slide to
analyze how
a piece
creates its
characters
The previous slide provides a tool to analyze (take
apart) characterization in anything with characters.
Even a commercial. In your first essay, you could use
each of the 6 criteria as a paragraph/section. See page
95 for more criteria that might apply to your piece.
What if the author doesn’t use a criteria at all? Fine,
skip that one, or discuss the absence if you feel it’s a
weakness or it relates in some wat to your reactions.
For example, I myself enjoy descriptions of characters’
facial expressions. If a writer leaves that out, I notice. I
can’t SEE the person. Or how we don’t find out much
about what other people think (#5) of Lane Dean Jr.
because of the type of narration. How did that work
for you?
Main Bonus Points Analysis: 1) Consider a character in the
film/series/book you chose. Using the previous slide, list
the 4 main ways the character is brought to life. Give
examples or quotes.
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7. Anger, happiness, grief, resolve
Descriptions and close-ups of facial expressions reveal so much
about what a character is feeling and how they’re changing. Here
is Viola Davis showing how it’s done, from the film version of
August Wilson’s play Fences (which we’ll be watching soon.)
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8. Find a Face
Main Bonus Points Analysis: 2) Describe or paste in a picture of a
character in your piece whose face really fits their personality. Here is
Charles Dickens’ (pretty judgmental!) description of the infamous
Ebenezer Scrooge:
Oh! But he was a tight-fisted hand at the grind-stone, Scrooge!
. . . The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his
pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his
eyes red, his thin lips blue; and spoke out shrewdly in his
grating voice. A frosty rime was on his head, and on his
eyebrows, and his wiry chin. He carried his own low temperature
always about with him; he iced his office in the dogdays; and
didn't thaw it one degree at Christmas.
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9. Types of Characters
Covered in more detail on pp 95-97
Protagonist
(hero)
Leading character. Might be the “good guy,” larger than life, but in most
modern literature is ordinary. Usually dynamic/round.
Antagonist
(villain)
Opponent of the main character. Blocks them in some way. Could be
dynamic/round but also Static/flat or even a stock character.
Dynamic/
Round
Changes because of the action of the plot. Interesting. Raises questions
we want answered. May surprise us. Most protagonists and many
antagonists are round.
Static/Flat Does not change. Could still be interesting. May have one or two qualities
easily summarized. May change somewhat but no big surprises.
Stock and
Archetypes
Stereotypes, usually in “formula” fiction (detective, romance, sci-fi). The
tough newspaper editor, mean boss, goofy grandparent, loyal servant,
sadistic drill sergeant, snarky android. With a good writer / actor stock
characters can come alive.
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Main Bonus Points Analysis: 3) Put the main characters in
the film/series/book you’re analyzing into this chart.
Include at least 2 recurring minor characters.

10. Conflict, problems, obstacles all create plot and keep us wondering what will
happen. And just as in life, they reveal and change people. In “See You
Yesterday” a whiz-kids’ time travel experiment turns into a high-stakes mission
when a brother is killed. In “Recitatif,” childhood friends wrestle with conflicts
past and present as we wonder who they really are. And in “Good People” an
unexpected pregnancy sends a young couple on a journey into their hearts,
minds and perhaps even souls.
Conflict, problems and obstacles – where would we be without them?
Main Bonus Points Analysis: 4 & last: Describe one crisis or conflict that really
shows who one of your main characters is. This question can also be done by
itself (5-10 pts depending on level of detail).
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11. Character
Questions
for an Essay
 How much did your reaction have to do with the main
character(s)?
 What 3 words/phrases describe your response? Can you
pinpoint 3 quotes to fit each word? For example, if a
character seemed “confident” find something they say
or think that shows that.
 What ways from slide 5 does this author used most?
 Which ways do they use least or not all? Is that a
problem? That is, would you like the story more if there
was more characterization?
 Did you expect to be interested in the main character or
not? Did you get what you expected?
 Did a choice a character made surprise you? Looking
back, do we see their motive for that choice?
 What scene reveals the main character’s central
conflict?
 Who changes the most? Why? Who fails to change?
 What plot events reveal who the main character is,
down deep?
Also see “Questions about Character” on p. 101. And
questions found after the stories.
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