Boot Camp A.P. Literature Part 2- Characterization

Character Defined  A character is presumably an imagined person who inhabits a story, though there are exceptions to this simple definition.  Characters require motivation, sufficient reason to behave as they do if we are to believe they are realistic. George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an exception to the “rule.”

Types of Characters  Flat  Round  Static  Dynamic  Protagonist  Antagonist  Hero  Anti hero  Stock  Archetype

Stock Characters  Stereotypical characters that require little detail from the author since audiences know them so well.  Examples: Prince Charming, the mad scientist, the greedy explorer, the reckless police detective. Sampson and Gregory from Romeo and Juliet fit the stock definition of “the bragging solider” from Roman comedy.

The Archetype  The psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung, used the concept of archetype in his theory of the human psyche. He believed that universal, mythic characters—archetypes— reside within the collective unconscious of people the world over. Archetypes represent fundamental human motifs of our experience as we evolved; consequentially, they evoke deep emotions. 1.The hero 2.The mother 3.The innocent youth 4.The mentor 5.The lover 6.The rebel 7.The creator 8.The magician 9.The jester 10.The sage 11.The ruler 12.The explorer 13.The temptress 14.The villain Common Archetype examples **You can have archetypal situations too, like the journey.

Stock vs Archetype  A stock character although recognizable is also flat or cliché and can have a negative connotation  A stock character can be dependent upon its time period and may go out of date  Archetypes help establish more than just a superficial understanding of the character, they supply an undercurrent of theme, plot, or understanding which that time honored figure brings to the subconscious mind. If an archetype is a standard character that appears in may works of literature, what makes it different from the stock character?

Properly Using the Word Archetype Here are sentences showing when to use archetype vs archetypal Prometheus is an archetypal hero. The Garden of Eden is an archetype for settings of paradise and innocence. The coming-of-age story featured a loss of innocence, including an archetypal garden setting and snake figure. The archetype of the “hero’s journey” is featured in many adventure films today.

Practice with All The Pretty Horses  The novel as an archetypal plot: the coming of age tale or the hero’s journey? Both  Does it contain an archetypal character? The hero, the villain, maybe more  If it is a coming of age tale, what would be the garden setting and the snake? …

Round/Flat  Flat characters may be minor characters with a single unique role or physical attribute.  One way that round characters come to life is when we get differing perspectives from multiple other characters about them. Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim is a memorable flat character. He serves to remind others of their Christian duties and blessings.

Dynamic/Static  Dynamic characters change over the course of a work.  Static characters remain largely the same.  Major characters tend to be round and dynamic.  It is difficult to avoid making minor characters flat and static. John Grady and Rawlins in the film version of All the Pretty Horses Ebenezer Scrooge is an obviously dynamic character.

Hero / Anti-Hero  Heroic characters assume typical aspects of a hero. He or she is noble, brave, and lives a purposeful life.  Anti-heroes have become popular in modern literature. They are protagonists who lack heroic qualities, often to the point of irony. John Grady Cole is noble and moral Jay Gatsby lies, cheats, breaks the law, obsesses over a married woman. He’s a classic anti-hero.

Hero? Anti-Hero? Homer’s Odysseus is a hero in the classical sense. Gulliver is an anti- hero used for comic effect by Swift. Joyce’s Leopold Bloom is an ironic anti-hero for the 20 th century.

Characterization  Methods  Direct Characterization  Author tells the audience what the character is like.  Indirect Characterization  Author shows the audience what the character is like through description.  Stronger method as it causes the characters to “come alive.”

5 Methods of Indirect Characterization  Actions = what the character does  Appearance = what the character looks like  Private Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of view.  Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it.  What Others Say = public and private opinion of the character by others in the work.

A Character’s Purpose Main Character  To make a story rich and interesting  Used to develop a theme  Can reveal commentary on a society Supporting Character  Serves to advance the plot  Provides needed information  To reveal things about the main character

Annotating Indirect Characterization  ACT Actions = what the character does  APP Appearance = what the character looks like  THO Private Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of view.  SPE Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it.  OTH What Others Say = public and private opinion of the character by others in the work.

Directions for “Who’s Irish” and “Miss Brill”  Follow the handouts directions for Part 1 or Task 1 on identifying characterization and distinguishing between main and supporting characters.  Have your annotations with character chart ready for class on announced due date.  Use the indirect characterization annotation abbreviations

1. Select a character 2. Decide what is the effect of your selected character’s depiction in the story: Sympathetic? Catalyst for plot development? Reflection of a theme? Symbolic? Social commentary? Other? 3. Find examples of characterization that reflect your idea about the character. 4. Be very structured to build the understanding in an analysis Getting Started

Character Analysis  Identify the type of characters. Explain why.  For each character, provide one quote that exemplifies a method of indirect characterization.  Discuss what effect the characterization has on the story.  Use the task /part 3 prompts as guides.  “Who’s Irish” by Gish Jen  “Miss Brill” by Catherine Mansfield Select a character from one of the following characters ***To be completed in class when assigned but feel free to consider your options ahead of time.

Creating a Character based Thesis  Your thesis should mention both author and title by name.  Your thesis should directly address the prompt and name the element(s) you have chosen to address.  Your thesis should address the meaning of the work as a whole  Today, Effect might be to support a theme, or create a social commentary. Practice your writing your thesis