Vocabulary Character: person in a story, play, or movie Characterization: The way a writer tells you about character. • Direct characterization: writer tells the reader what the character is like • Indirect characterization: writer shows the reader what the character is like • Reaction: response of one character in the story to another, thereby providing further information about the character

Vocabulary Part 2 Motivation: The reasons characters do the things they do. Feelings, needs, wishes, and pressures from other story characters are all forces that can motivate a character. Inference: is an educated guess based on evidence from the text. Static Character: when a character does not change during the course of the story. Dynamic Character: when a character changes during the course of the story.

Vocab. Activity Word Character Definition person in a story, play, or movie Picture Sentence Characters are in every movie and play that I see.

Characterization

Types of Characters protagonist (heroes), The main character around whom most of the story revolves.

Types of Characters antagonists The person who the protagonist is against. This is often the villain, but could be a force of nature, set of circumstances, an animal, etc.

Types of Characters Major: These are the main characters. They dominate the story. Often there are only one or two major characters.

Types of Characters Minor: These are the characters who help tell the major character’s tale by letting major characters interact and reveal their personalities, situations, stories. They are usually static (unchanging).

Character Analysis in 10 Easy Steps

Pay attention to the character’s ethics. Step 1 Pay attention to the character’s ethics. Does the character make just or unjust choices?

Step 2 Decide whether the character’s actions are wise or unwise. Is the character continually making poor or good decisions.

What is the character’s motivation? Step 3 What is the character’s motivation? As you are looking over the pros and cons of each character’s internal thoughts and external actions, you will want to also consider why the character is acting or thinking in a particular way. Has the author given you any clues about the character’s past?

Consider the effects of the character’s behavior on other characters. Step 4 Consider the effects of the character’s behavior on other characters. How does the character treat others. (good/bad)

Look for repeatedly used words that describe the character. Step 5 Look for repeatedly used words that describe the character. Those words often give insight into a character’s psychology and motivations.

Be aware of items associated with the character. Step 6 Be aware of items associated with the character. They may say something about his or her state of mind.

Step 7 Read between the lines. Often what a character does not say is as important as what he or she does say.

Is the character Static or Dynamic? Step 8 Is the character Static or Dynamic? A character is considered static when he or she does not experience change of any kind, does not grow from beginning to end.

Consider the historical time period of the character. Step 9 Consider the historical time period of the character. Refrain from making modern judgments about the past; put the character’s actions and thoughts in context. A female character living in England in the 1800s obviously could not make the choices that she could today, for both political and social reasons.

Finally, what does the author think? Step 10 Finally, what does the author think? Look for any of the author’s own judgments about the characters he or she has created.

Analyzing Characters by Comparing Differences and Similarities Rikki-Tikki-Tavi & Nagaina (Rikki-Tikki-Tavi)

Analyzing Characters by Comparing Differences and Similarities Kevan & Bitterly (Smallest Dragon Boy)