Characterization, Setting and POV Using text and inference to establish place and time and increase understanding

Character vs. Characterization  Character is someone or something involved in the main elements of the story and can offer action or insight into the events of the story  Characterization is how the character is portrayed.  Thoughts, actions, how other characters think of or respond

Types of Characterization Direct  Author uses cues to supply the reader with a specific picture of the character (moral representation) of a character (Character’s character)  Example: Some versions of Poe’s The Masque of the Red Death he specifically states Prince Prospero is a devil or Satan worshipper; Maupassant specifically said Mme. Loisel was selfish and self-centered. Indirect  Author allows the reader to experience the events of the story and draw their own conclusions of a Character’s character  Example: No explanation is offered except for dialogue between two characters; a character is portrayed as pushing another down in the hallway

Flat vs. Round Flat  One dimensional  Character is limited  See one side or characteristic of the character  Probably will not change over the course of the story/novel Round  Three dimensional  Character is a complete pictured and as complicated as you and me  Identify with the character  Enough information to determine flaws or virtues

Static vs. Dynamic Static  Stays the same  Limited portrayal in story and does not allow for change or growth  Uninteresting and serve a specific purpose related to the plot and main character(s) Dynamic  Changes as a result of the events in the story  Portrayed early in one way and develops over the time the story covers and as a result of events in the plot  Typically the main character(s) and changes are clearly explained

Effects of Characterization Direct  Reader is told how to think or feel  No need for interpretation  May allow for character change; may be a steadfast character  Few differences in how the character is interpreted Indirect  Reader can draw their own conclusions  Reader uses own moral compass to determine the character of a character  Characterization is arguable with supporting evidence

Why does it matter?  Knowing the characters:  Draws the reader in deeper  Generates emotional connections and invests the reader  Builds understanding and can be an author’s bread and butter  Deepens the effects of POV  Can push the reader to examine or redefine their own beliefs or values

Setting  More than place and time  Location and date can be important, but it needs to go beyond  Many effective stories are not set on a specific date in one singular location (A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away; Harry Potter has no specific dates and jumps locations several times per book)

Beyond Place and Time  Authors create more rich settings by:  Using sensory details (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell)  Make allusions and ties to familiar while also creating rich and vivid details  Draw on realistic or common locations, but offer details from the perspective of the character(s)  Focus as much development on the setting as the characters

Setting As Character  Can setting be a character?  What value does setting offer that can give it a life of its own and be considered a character?  How can setting evolve throughout a storyline in similar patterns as characters?

Effect of Setting  Gives the reader a fully developed image of the characters’ environment  DIRECTLY influences the characters’ actions and can play a role in the development of plot points  Without setting there is little frame of reference for the reader and leaves the story feeling incomplete (reader’s mind wonders)

Point of View  Four types:  1 st person  2 nd person  3 rd person limited  3 rd person omniscient

1 st Person  I, me, my statements  Only get the opinion of the character or those trusted by the character  Narrator is typically the round, dynamic character  Bias  Limits feelings about other characters and forces many of them into flat, static territory

2 nd Person  You, your statements  Forces the reader to actively participate in the story/novel and relies on the readers instincts or thoughts  Events presented that readers are unfamiliar with will leave them confused or disinterested  Difficult perspective to write from  Most popular/common occurrence is in Choose Your Own Adventure stories

3 rd Person Limited  He, She, him, her, his, they, them statements  Narrator is NOT involved in the events of the story  Can be told from another place and time  Does not offer insight into ALL characters thoughts or feelings  May follow one character intensively while mentioning others at times to further the plot (Harry Potter)

3 rd Person Omniscient  He, she, him, her, his, they, them statements  Narrator is NOT involved in the story  No sense of time and place beyond the character’s  Offers information into the thoughts, feelings and experiences of ALL main characters, but frequently focuses on a singular character the other’s orbit OR jumps between characters through organized chapters or textual cues

Effects of POV  POV can leave the reader predisposed to the author’s opinion  Allows the author to participate in direct or indirect characterization to advance the plot  Consider Twilight, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games

Elements Together  Characters are affected by the setting  Reader’s interpretations are affected by the type characterizations provided  Setting details can be determined by the POV of the work (1 st person will set a limited setting, 3 rd person will create a rich and full picture)  Setting can be a factor in the characterization (Harry Potter)

Where we will begin  Characterization  Assignment:  Watch or refer to one television show or movie and determine the type of character the main characters are. Provide evidence to support your assertion. Use the graph provided.