Characterization

What is it?  Way author reveals the personality of the character.  There are two ways to do this.

Direct Characterization  Most obvious way  Tells the audience the character. Ex: The red-shoed clown honked his horn at the spectators and laughed. Direct: Clown is wearing red shoes. Clown honked his horn.

Indirect Characterization  Reveals the true nature of the character.  Sometimes the author means it; Sometimes they don’t.  Ex: The red-shoed clown honked his horn at the spectators and made them laugh.  Indirect: The person dressed as a clown does so to make people laugh.

STEAL Chart  Speech  Thoughts  Effect on others toward the character.  Actions  Looks  What does the character say? How does the character speak?  What is revealed through the thoughts and feelings?  What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?  What does the character do? How does the character behave?  What does the character look like? How does the character dress?

Where the Wild Things Are  We will read and find examples to fill in the STEAL Chart.

Wild Things STEAL  Speech:  Thoughts  Effect on others toward the character:  Actions  Looks