1. ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE CHARACTERS & CHARACTERIZATION

2. ELEMENTS OF LITERATURE CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERS CONFLICT POINT OF VIEW THEME PLOT SETTING

3. CHARACTERIZATION CHARACTERIZATION IS THE WAY THE WRITER PORTRAYS THE CHARACTERS IN A BOOK, PLAY, OR MOVIE. TWO WAYS AUTHORS PORTRAY CHARACTERS: DIRECT CHARACTERIZATION – TELLS EXACTLY WHAT THE CHARACTER IS LIKE EX: SUSIE IS THE MEANEST GIRL ON THE PLAYGROUND! INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION – HINTS TO THE CHARACTERS PERSONALITY THROUGH THEIR SPEECH, THOUGHTS, APPEARANCE, AND/OR ACTIONS.

4. INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION S S peech What does the character say? How does the character speak? T T houghts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings? E E ffect on others What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character? A A ctions What does the character do? How does the character behave? L L ooks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

5. CHARACTERIZATION QUICK CHECK QUICK CHECK I’m tired of being ignored, Maura thought. When I walk into a room, it’s like no one sees me. No more— I’m going to get noticed at the dance. When the big night came, though, nothing went right. Maura’s dress didn’t fit correctly, and her shawl had a hole in it. Worst of all, as she walked into the gym, the heel broke on her right shoe, sending her sprawling across the floor. Which three methods of indirect characterization appear in this passage?

6. CHARACTERIZATION QUICK CHECK QUICK CHECK I’m tired of being ignored, Maura thought. When I walk into a room, it’s like no one sees me. No more— I’m going to get noticed at the dance. When the big night came, though, nothing went right. Maura’s dress didn’t fit correctly, and her shawl had a hole in it. Worst of all, as she walked into the gym, the heel broke on her right shoe, sending her sprawling across the floor. Which three methods of indirect characterization appear in this passage? The writer uses thoughts and feelings appearance actions

7. MOTIVATION Motivation is the reason why people do the things they do. In real life, we may never know why people act in certain ways. What could possibly have made your brother think he could dance? Why did your best friend suddenly find a new best friend?

8. MOTIVATION In literature, you will find plenty of clues to characters’ motivations. Use the clues to find out what makes a character tick.  Uncover a character’s motivations by paying attention to : Then, think about the outcome of the character’s actions.

9. MOTIVATION Which words reveal Sheila’s motivation for working after school? Quick Check “Hey Sheila,” said Jesuka. “I haven’t seen you at the mall all week. Where have you been?” Sheila shrugged. “I’m babysitting for Mrs. Davies.” “Babysitting? Why are wasting your time with some crying kid? You should be with your friends.” “My parents said that if I want to take ballet lessons, I have to pay for them myself.”

10. MOTIVATION Sheila’s words show that she wants to earn money to pay for ballet lessons. Quick Check “Hey Sheila,” said Jesuka. “I haven’t seen you at the mall all week. Where have you been?” Sheila shrugged. “I’m babysitting for Mrs. Davies.” “Babysitting? Why are wasting your time with some crying kid? You should be with your friends.” “My parents said that if I want to take ballet lessons, I have to pay for them myself.” Which words reveal Sheila’s motivation for working after school?

11. TYPES OF CHARACTERS MAJOR/ MAIN CHARACTERS MINOR CHARACTER ROUND CHARACTER FLAT CHARACTER

12. MAIN CHARACTERS Protagonist—the main character of a story. The action of the story revolves around the protagonist and the conflict he or she faces. Antagonist—the character or force the protagonist struggles against and must overcome.

13. THE PROTAGONIST IS USUALLY… THE CENTRAL CHARACTER A CHARACTER THE READER CAN IDENTIFY WITH HAS A ROUNDED PERSONALITY (WE HEAR WHAT THEY SAY, WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT THEM, WE KNOW WHAT THEY THINK AND HOW THEY FEEL) A CHARACTER WITH A DYNAMIC PERSONALITY

14. THE ANTAGONIST… THE ANTAGONIST IS NOT ALWAYS HUMAN, BUT CAN BE A GROUP OR FORCE AS WELL. THE ANTAGONIST IS NOT ALWAYS HUMAN, BUT CAN BE A GROUP OR FORCE AS WELL. THE ANTAGONIST IS THE MIRROR OF THE PROTAGONIST. WHATEVER THE PROTAGONIST DOES THAT IS GOOD. THE ANTAGONIST IS THE MIRROR OF THE PROTAGONIST. WHATEVER THE PROTAGONIST DOES THAT IS GOOD. THE ANTAGONIST WILL WORK TO COUNTERACT. USUALLY THE ANTAGONIST ATTEMPTS TO DISGUISE HIM/HER/ITSELF. THIS USUALLY CREATES THE SUSPENSE IN A STORY. THE ANTAGONIST WILL WORK TO COUNTERACT. USUALLY THE ANTAGONIST ATTEMPTS TO DISGUISE HIM/HER/ITSELF. THIS USUALLY CREATES THE SUSPENSE IN A STORY.

15. MINOR/ SUBORDINATE CHARACTERS Subordinate characters add depth and complication to the plot.

16. FLAT VS. ROUND Flat characters Have no depth, like a piece of cardboard Have only one or two character traits that can be described in a few words

17. FLAT VS. ROUND Round characters Have many different character traits that sometimes contradict each other Are much like real people, with several sides to their personality

18. DYNAMIC VS. STATIC Dynamic characters change or grow as a result of the story’s actions learn something about themselves, other people, or the world as they struggle to resolve their conflicts The changes that a dynamic character undergoes contribute to the meaning of the story.

19. DYNAMIC VS. STATIC Static characters Do not change or grow Are the same at the end of a story as they were in the beginning Subordinate characters are often static characters.

20. TYPES OF CONFLICT External conflict—struggle between a character and an outside force. Man vs. Man Man vs. Society Man vs. Nature

21. TYPES OF CONFLICT Internal conflict—struggle between opposing needs or desires or emotions within a character. Man vs. Self

22. CONFLICT What type of conflict does the character face? Quick Check “Y’all git some stones,” commanded Joey now and was met with instant giggling obedience as everyone except me began to gather pebbles from the dusty ground. “Come on, Lizabeth.” I just stood there peering through the bushes, torn between wanting to join the fun and feeling that it was a bit silly. from “Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier

23. CONFLICT – QUICK CHECK Internal conflict. She has to decide whether to join in or not. What type of conflict does the character face? Quick Check “Y’all git some stones,” commanded Joey now and was met with instant giggling obedience as everyone except me began to gather pebbles from the dusty ground. “Come on, Lizabeth.” I just stood there peering through the bushes, torn between wanting to join the fun and feeling that it was a bit silly. from “Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier

24. TIME TO PRACTICE! Think of a story you’ve read or movie you’ve seen in which the protagonist faces powerful conflicts. Use a chart like the one here to map out the conflicts and their resolutions, as well as the protagonist’s motivations. Protagonist Motivation Internal Conflict Resolution Motivation External conflict and antagonist Resolution Next, identify the primary and secondary characters; the antagonist, static and dynamic characters. Also, identify how the dynamic characters change over the course of the story.