CharacterizationBringing characters to life
Objective:Students will be able to identify the two types of characterization used in literature and understand how they establish character traits. CharacterizationDefinition: the process of conveying information about characters in fiction – their character traits.
What can readers learn through characterization?
How are character traits presented?
Two Types of CharacterizationDirect Characterizationthe writer makes direct statements about a character’s personality and tells what the character is like.  Think adjectives.Indirect Characterizationthe writer reveals information about a character and his/her personality through that character’s thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him/her.  Think verbs.DescriptionsActions
Examples of CharacterizationDirectCharacterizationGary is a nice and caring person.Gary can sometimes be very mean or rude. IndirectCharacterizationGary watched his little brother for two hours while their mother was ill, taking care of his every need.  He did this without being asked and he did not ask for anything in return. “The next thing I know, Gary was tearing up my rose garden,” said Beatrice his elderly grandmother as she gave her statement to the police.  She was still badly shaken after the attack. ShowingTelling
What kind of person is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
What kind of person is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
What kind of person is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
What kind of person is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
What kind of person is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel.When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
Your Turn!We will now read a short story by Langston Hughes entitled “Thank You, Ma’am”Directions: Using the graphic organizer, identify the character traits of the two main characters.Give examples/quotes from the story to support your claims.Identify the type of characterization as either direct or indirect.
Characterization

Characterization

  • 1.
  • 2.
    Objective:Students will beable to identify the two types of characterization used in literature and understand how they establish character traits. CharacterizationDefinition: the process of conveying information about characters in fiction – their character traits.
  • 3.
    What can readerslearn through characterization?
  • 4.
    How are charactertraits presented?
  • 5.
    Two Types ofCharacterizationDirect Characterizationthe writer makes direct statements about a character’s personality and tells what the character is like. Think adjectives.Indirect Characterizationthe writer reveals information about a character and his/her personality through that character’s thoughts, words, and actions, along with how other characters respond to that character, including what they think and say about him/her. Think verbs.DescriptionsActions
  • 6.
    Examples of CharacterizationDirectCharacterizationGaryis a nice and caring person.Gary can sometimes be very mean or rude. IndirectCharacterizationGary watched his little brother for two hours while their mother was ill, taking care of his every need. He did this without being asked and he did not ask for anything in return. “The next thing I know, Gary was tearing up my rose garden,” said Beatrice his elderly grandmother as she gave her statement to the police. She was still badly shaken after the attack. ShowingTelling
  • 7.
    What kind ofperson is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
  • 8.
    What kind ofperson is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
  • 9.
    What kind ofperson is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
  • 10.
    What kind ofperson is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel. When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
  • 11.
    What kind ofperson is Liz?My friend Liz is a true best friend. She always supports me in everything I want to do. When I wanted to go up North, she said she thought it would be a great experience and that it would help me develop my sense of adventure.Liz is not only a great supporter. She also trusts me to give her my honest opinion and to say what I feel.When she was upset with her sister one time, she asked what I thought about it and I said she should wait and then she would find out the real reason why her sister was mad at her. And it happened that way. She knew she could trust me.
  • 12.
    Your Turn!We willnow read a short story by Langston Hughes entitled “Thank You, Ma’am”Directions: Using the graphic organizer, identify the character traits of the two main characters.Give examples/quotes from the story to support your claims.Identify the type of characterization as either direct or indirect.