1. Characterization

2. Characterization review
Characterization: revealing the personality of a character; making that character seem real to the reader.
Direct characterization: writing adjectives into description to evaluate the character for the reader.
Example: (narrator)
What words describe Johnnie?
Indirect characterization: presenting a character talking and acting and letting the reader infer what kind of person the character is.
Example: (same narrator)
How could we describe Johnnie now?
Characterization review
Read both characterizations and then describe Johnnie based on each method of characterization.

3. Round Characters: characters that are describe in depth with many details and are well-rounded characters. The main character in a story is almost always round. If you feel like you know a character extremely well then they are most likely a round character. Flat Characters: These characters are not described very well. You are not given very much information about these characters. These characters usually have one or two traits. These characters can be described easily often with one word. Dynamic Characters: This character experiences a dramatic change in their personality, their outlook on life, personality, or values. Static Character: a character that remains unchanged in their ideas or personality traits.
Character Types

4. Round Character
A well-developed, lifelike character with realistic emotions, conflicting feelings, and multiple traits. Example Carrie doesn't know what to do. She thinks that her friend Veronica may be getting abused. Carrie keeps finding large bruises and marks on her legs and arms. When she tries to talk to Veronica about this, Veronica covers the marks and tells Carrie that she can’t talk about it. Carrie is concerned that if she doesn't do anything, it might get worse, but she also doesn't want to do anything to threaten her friendship with Veronica. Carrie demonstrates multiple, realistic sides to her personality. She is emotionally conflicted. This makes her a round character.

5. Flat Character
An one-dimensional character that does not display emotional depth and has a single set of traits. Example Vince was exhausted from doing laps. His throat was dry and scratchy and the summer sun pounded down on him. He finally summoned the courage to ask Coach Lewis if he could get a drink of water and Coach Lewis laughed, "You can get everyone some water, water boy." Coach Lewis had a reputation for winning, but he also had a reputation for doing whatever it took to win. Coach Lewis is not a warm guy. We know that he is tough, but we do not learn why. No internal struggle with his feelings is revealed; therefore, he is a flat character.

6. Dynamic Character
A character who has an important inner change Example At the beginning of the story, Jenny does not appreciate the life that she has until a family emergency causes her to stay at her aunt's house. Things are much different at her aunt's house and everyone who lives there appreciates everything that they get, since they don't get very much. When Jenny is finally able to return home, she has a new perspective and a more appreciative attitude. Notice that Jenny didn't just change her shoes or something little? She underwent a serious and important change in the course of the story; therefore, she is a dynamic character.

7. Static Character
A character that does not change significantly. Example Mr. Hero was defending the streets of Urbanity City during one of Despair-O's attacks. Despair-O built an army of robot ninjas and was using them to steal money and valuables. Mr. Hero fell for one of Despair-O's tricks and was captured; however, he soon devised a clever escape trick, shut down Despair-O's robot army, and captured the villain. Did you notice that neither Mr. Hero nor Despair-O make any significant character changes throughout the course of the text? This makes them static characters.

8. When Vince got to the party, he was a little bit worried that he couldn't find his friends. Vince wasn't really an awkward person, but he found it a bit awkward to stand around at a party with a bunch of people he hardly knew. Then he bumped into one of the football players, Greg. Greg was a big guy with red hair and he always gave Vince problems. "Hey, Vince? Want a drink?" Vince looked down at his soda. "No thanks, Greg. I've got to drive." Greg walked closer to Vince and puffed out his chest. "C'mon Prince Vince, you're going to turn me down?" Vince’s cousin had died in an alcohol related car accident, and he wouldn't make the same mistake. ”I’m going to have to turn you down. Not tonight, Greg," Vince said as he walked passed Greg. Greg crushed a can in his hand and grunted.

9. Practice 1. Who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist?
Greg Vince
2. Is Greg a dynamic character or a static character?
Dynamic Static
3. Is Vince a dynamic character or a static character?
4. Is Greg a flat character or a round character?
Flat Round
5. Is Vince a round character or a flat character?

10. Characterization by Shoe…
Buzzfeed had an article about a shoe store employee who got really bored one shift and took pictures of the shoes and posted them on snapchat with descriptions of who would buy them… He (unknowingly?) used great examples of  characterization!

11. Shoe #1

12. Shoe #2

13. Shoe #3

14. Shoe #4

15. Characterization Activity
Pick one shoe and write a character description for each character keeping in mind what you have learned today. You need to come up with the name, age, and four other pieces of information about your “character” based only on their choice of shoes.

16. Choose a shoe for your characterization!1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10