1. What Do You Need to Know About Characters?
Feature Menu
Characters
Protagonist and Antagonist
Subordinate Characters
Characters and Conflict
Character Motivation
Characterization
Direct Characterization
Indirect Characterization
Your Turn

2. Characters
Characters are the people we meet in a story, poem, or play. We learn about them through their traits and their interactions with others.

3. Characters
Characters’ traits are the qualities that make up their personalities.
romantic
shy
competitive
moody
You get to know characters by observing their traits.

4. Characters
Interactions among characters show how they relate to each other and affect one another.
As Brandon walked down the hall, he saw Melanie struggling with her books. He stopped for a second, as if he might help, then laughed loudly and continued on his way.
As Brandon walked down the hall, he saw Melanie struggling with her books. He stopped for a second, as if he might help, then laughed loudly and continued on his way.
That’s not a very positive interaction. He doesn’t act like a caring person would act.
Paying attention to characters’ interactions helps you make judgments about their personality traits.
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5. Characters Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist in a story is the main character, the one you sometimes want to root for.
An antagonist is a character who tries to keep the protagonist from succeeding.

6. Characters Protagonist and Antagonist
Quick Check
Who is the protagonist?
Daniel sat at the end of the bench, hanging his head. He couldn’t believe he’d had to sit through another game without playing. He thought of all the time he’d spent practicing and looked up at his little brother in the stands, waiting patiently for him to get into the game. Everyone knew he was too good to be riding the bench.
Coach Adams smirked at Daniel’s disappointment and chuckled to himself.
Who is the antagonist?
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7. Characters Protagonist and Antagonist
Quick Check
Who is the protagonist?
Daniel sat at the end of the bench, hanging his head. He couldn’t believe he’d had to sit through another game without playing. He thought of all the time he’d spent practicing and looked up at his little brother in the stands, waiting patiently for him to get into the game. Everyone knew he was too good to be riding the bench.
Coach Adams smirked at Daniel’s disappointment and chuckled to himself.
Daniel. He’s the main character, and readers probably will feel sympathy toward him.

8. Characters Protagonist and Antagonist
Quick Check
Daniel sat at the end of the bench, hanging his head. He couldn’t believe he’d had to sit through another game without playing. He thought of all the time he’d spent practicing and looked up at his little brother in the stands, waiting patiently for him to get into the game. Everyone knew he was too good to be riding the bench.
Coach Adams smirked at Daniel’s disappointment and chuckled to himself.
Who is the antagonist?
Coach Adams. He tries to keep Daniel from succeeding by keeping him out of the game.

9. Characters Subordinate Characters
Many stories also have subordinate, or minor, characters to help move the story.
friend
neighbor
relative
teacher
Subordinate characters provide depth and complications that move the plot forward.

10. Characters Subordinate Characters
Subordinate characters are sometimes round, flat, or static.
round
flat
static
Their role is to advance the plot or to help us better understand the main character.

11. Characters Subordinate Characters
Round characters have many different traits.
stylish
studious
mischievous
shy
Like real people, they have more than one side to their personalities.

12. Characters Subordinate Characters
Flat characters have just one or two traits.
grumpy
grouchy
They can be described in a word or two.

13. Characters Subordinate Characters
Static characters don’t change during the course of the story.
angry
still angry
They help us better understand the main character.

14. Character Subordinate Characters
Quick Check
Which boy is the best example of a flat character? Why?
Max wished he could cheer up Daniel. There was nothing Max hated more than a sour mood. He could turn anything into a joke, and usually did.
Daniel, on the other hand, was more complicated than that. Sure, he wanted to laugh at his problems, but he felt torn between goofing around with his friends and helping his family now that his father was ill. Still, he knew Max meant well and didn’t want to let his friend down.
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15. Character Subordinate Characters
Quick Check
Which boy is the best example of a flat character? Why?
Max wished he could cheer up Daniel. There was nothing Max hated more than a sour mood. He could turn anything into a joke, and usually did.
Daniel, on the other hand, was more complicated than that. Sure, he wanted to laugh at his problems, but he felt torn between goofing around with his friends and helping his family now that his father was ill. Still, he knew Max meant well and didn’t want to let his friend down.
Max. He has few traits. He doesn’t like a sour mood and turns anything into a joke.

16. Characters and Conflict
A conflict is a struggle.
Two characters sometimes oppose each other.
Sometimes a character struggles against a whole group.

17. Characters and Conflict
A conflict can exist inside a character.
A character might struggle with an internal conflict to overcome fear or to gain confidence.
A character may also struggle with an external conflict or outside force.

18. Characters and Conflict
Quick Check
What conflict does Daniel encounter? Is it an internal or external conflict?
When the team won the championship, the crowd went wild. It was Daniel who cheered the loudest and longest for his old teammates. He had wanted so badly to get on the court to impress his brother, but Joe’s grin told him that he was happy to have some company up in the stands.
Daniel even offered Coach Adams a thumbs-up, but the coach simply sneered at his former player, just like he always had. Daniel shrugged.
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19. Characters and Conflict
Quick Check
What conflict does Daniel encounter? Is it an internal or external conflict?
When the team won the championship, the crowd went wild. It was Daniel who cheered the loudest and longest for his old teammates. He had wanted so badly to get on the court to impress his brother, but Joe’s grin told him that he was happy to have some company up in the stands.
Daniel even offered Coach Adams a thumbs-up, but the coach simply sneered at his former player, just like he always had. Daniel shrugged.
Daniel encounters a conflict with the coach’s attitude. It is an external conflict with the coach.

20. Character Motivation
A character’s motivation is the reason he or she behaves in a certain way.
Many things—fears, needs, or conflicts—may contribute to a character’s motivation.
feelings
experiences
others’ actions
feelings

21. Character Motivation Quick Check
What are Coach Adams’s motivations for keeping Daniel on the bench?
Coach Adams looked down the bench at Daniel and couldn’t help but laugh at how depressed his player looked. He knew he shouldn’t be so mean, but Daniel was just too perfect; Coach felt like he was doing him a favor by teaching him that he couldn’t win at everything.
Besides, when he was Daniel’s age, he’d spent plenty of time on the bench— thanks to Daniel’s father, who’d stolen his starting position.
Payback felt good.
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22. Character Motivation feelings experiences others’ actions Quick Check
What are Coach Adams’s motivations for keeping Daniel on the bench?
Coach Adams looked down the bench at Daniel and couldn’t help but laugh at how depressed his player looked. He knew he shouldn’t be so mean, but Daniel was just too perfect; Coach felt like he was doing him a favor by teaching him that he couldn’t win at everything.
Besides, when he was Daniel’s age, he’d spent plenty of time on the bench— thanks to Daniel’s father, who’d stolen his starting position.
Payback felt good.
feelings
experiences
others’ actions

23. Characterization
Characterization is how an author reveals characters’ personalities and brings them to life.

24. Characterization Direct Characterization
When writers use direct characterization, they tell us directly what characters are like or what their motives are.
She was one of those people who could set you at ease as soon as she entered the room.
She was warm-hearted, genuine and kind.
She was one of those people who could set you at ease as soon as she entered the room.
She was warm-hearted, genuine, and kind.

25. Characterization Indirect Characterization
When writers use indirect characterization, they show the characters’ traits, allowing the reader to make inferences based on observations.
As she walked down the hall, her classmates scurried out of her path.
The corners of her mouth turned down, and her eyes were slits. She slammed shut each open locker door she passed.
As she walked down the hall, her classmates scurried out of her path.
The corners of her mouth turned down and her eyes were slits. She slammed shut each open locker door she passed.

26. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Writers show us characters by revealing
dialogue
appearance
private thoughts
others’ reactions
actions

27. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Dialogue can reveal a lot about characters and their relationships with each other. Pay attention to
what characters say and don’t say, and
how characters respond to each other.

28. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Pay attention to language the writer uses to describe a character’s appearance, including looks, clothes, and behavior.
Her icy eyes were spaced narrowly, just above her sharp nose. They were framed by thin brows whose arch formed severe peaks at her forehead. Two tight, pinched lips and a sharp V of a chin finished off her face.
Her icy eyes were spaced narrowly, just above her sharp nose. They were framed by thin brows whose arch formed severe peaks at her forehead. Two tight, pinched lips and a sharp V of a chin finished off her face.
Does the description give you a positive or negative impression of the character?
Which words contribute to this impression?

29. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Writers can take us into a character’s mind to reveal the private thoughts and personality traits of that character.
As you read, pay close attention to any descriptions of a character’s thoughts and feelings.

30. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Watch for how other characters react to a character. Pay attention to
how others feel about the character, and
what others say about the character.

31. Characterization Indirect Characterization
How characters behave, including how they treat each other, often reveals a lot about them.
Observe characters’ actions to determine
what their personalities are like,
what motivates them, and
how they deal with conflict.

32. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Quick Check
How does the author show the character’s traits?
“Just keep driving and no one gets hurt,” he growled.
He wore head-to-toe black, from his heavy leather boots to the wool ski mask that obscured his face. Beads of sweat dampened his mask, and the white sack he clutched so tightly was soaked through with red dye.
His breathing was rapid and anxious, and his eyes darted furiously from the rearview mirror to the passenger’s side window.
Based on this excerpt, how would you characterize this man?
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33. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Quick Check
How does the author show the character’s traits?
“Just keep driving and no one gets hurt,” he growled.
He wore head-to-toe black, from his heavy leather boots to the wool ski mask that obscured his face. Beads of sweat dampened his mask, and the white sack he clutched so tightly was soaked through with red dye.
Speech
Description
His breathing was rapid and anxious, and his eyes darted furiously from the rearview mirror to the passenger’s side window.
Actions

34. Characterization Indirect Characterization
Quick Check
“Just keep driving and no one gets hurt,” he growled.
He wore head-to-toe black, from his heavy leather boots to the wool ski mask that obscured his face. Beads of sweat dampened his mask, and the white sack he clutched so tightly was soaked through with red dye.
His breathing was rapid and anxious, and his eyes darted furiously from the rearview mirror to the passenger’s side window.
Based on this excerpt, how would you characterize this man?
He looks and sounds angry, dangerous, desperate, and threatening.

35. Analyze Character Character 1 Character 2 Your Turn
Are you a good judge of character?
Analyze two characters from a movie, TV show, or story. First, describe the character types. Then, write a brief sketch of each character. Share your sketches with a partner.
Character 1
Character 2
antagonist or protagonist
subordinate
internal or external conflicts
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36. The End