1. Character Creating Characters Character Development Speech Appearance Private Thoughts How Other Characters Feel Actions Direct and Indirect Characterization Practice Feature Menu

2. Creating characters—telling what human beings are like—is the whole point of writing stories. [End of Section] Creating Characters

3. Writers build characters by revealing speech appearanceprivate thoughts others’ reactions actions Character Development

4. Which methods of character development are being used? What do you think of the man based on this excerpt? Character Development Quick Check “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens [End of Section]

5. Speech Actions Description Character Development Quick Check Which methods of character development are being used? “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

6. He’s dangerous and desperate. He seems to be an escaped prisoner on the run. What do you think of the man based on this excerpt? Character Development Quick Check “Keep still, you little devil, or I’ll cut your throat!” A fearful man, all in coarse grey, with a great iron on his leg. A man with no hat, and with broken shoes, and with an old rag tied round his head. A man who had been soaked in water, and smothered in mud, and lamed by stones, and cut by flints... ; who limped, and shivered, and glared and growled; and whose teeth chattered in his head as he seized me by the chin. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

7. First-person narrators reveal their personal traits as they tell us what they think and feel Be aware that some first-person narrators mislead or lie to the audience. tell their own stories (using pronouns like I, me, and we) SoliloquyDramatic Monologue Speech

8. what characters say and don’t say Dialogue can reveal a lot about characters and their relationships with each other. Pay attention to how characters respond to each other [End of Section] Speech

9. Pay attention to language the writer uses to describe the characters’ looks, clothes, and demeanor. Does the description give you a positive or negative impression of the character? [End of Section] Appearance Which words contribute to this impression? The cold within him froze his old features, nipped his pointed nose, shriveled his cheek, stiffened his gait; made his eyes red, his thin lips blue.... from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

10. Writers can take us into the characters’ minds to reveal their thoughts and feelings. As you read, note whether the characters’ thoughts and feelings match their speech and actions. [End of Section] Private Thoughts

11. Watch how other characters in the story react to the character. Note [End of Section] how the others feel about the character what the others say about the character How Other Characters Feel

12. What characters do and how they treat each other often reveal the most about them. Observe characters’ actions to determine what their personality is like what motivates them how they deal with conflict [End of Section] Actions

13. Direct Characterization—Writers tell us directly what characters are like or what their motives are. Oh, but he was a tightfisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! a squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping, clutching, covetous old sinner! from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Indirect Characterization—Writers show us characters (through speech, appearance, private thoughts, other characters’ reactions, and actions) but allow us to decide what characters are like. Direct and Indirect Characterization

14. Quick Check My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? What kind of person do you think this character is? Direct and Indirect Characterization [End of Section]

15. Connecting with Characters Main Characters Subordinate Characters Flat Characters versus Round Characters Dynamic Characters versus Static Characters Conflict Motivation Practice Character Interactions Feature Menu

16. What draws readers into a story? Connecting with Characters Vivid, complex characters whose problems and triumphs draw forth our emotions and reveal some truth about humankind. [End of Section]

17. The action of the story revolves around the protagonist and the conflict he or she faces. Main Characters Protagonist—the main character of a story. Antagonist—the character or force the protagonist struggles against and must overcome. [End of Section]

18. Subordinate characters add depth and complication to the plot. Subordinate Characters Main character Friends [End of Section]

19. Flat characters have only one or two character traits that can be described in a few words Flat Characters versus Round Characters have no depth, like a piece of cardboard

20. Round characters have many different character traits that sometimes contradict each other Flat Characters versus Round Characters are much like real people, with several sides to their personality [End of Section]

21. Dynamic characters change or grow as a result of the story’s actions Dynamic Characters versus Static Characters learn something about themselves, other people, or the world as they struggle to resolve their conflicts The changes that a dynamic character undergoes contribute to the meaning of the story.

22. Static characters do not change or grow Dynamic Characters versus Static Characters are the same at the end of a story as they were in the beginning Subordinate characters are often static characters. [End of Section]

23. External conflict—struggle between a character and an outside force. character versus character Conflict character versus society character versus nature

24. Conflict Internal conflict—struggle between opposing needs or desires or emotions within a character. character versus himself character versus herself

25. What type of conflict does the character face? Conflict Quick Check “Y’all git some stones,” commanded Joey now and was met with instant giggling obedience as everyone except me began to gather pebbles from the dusty ground. “Come on, Lizabeth.” I just stood there peering through the bushes, torn between wanting to join the fun and feeling that it was a bit silly. from “Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier [End of Section]

26. Conflict Internal conflict. She has to decide whether to join in or not. What type of conflict does the character face? Quick Check “Y’all git some stones,” commanded Joey now and was met with instant giggling obedience as everyone except me began to gather pebbles from the dusty ground. “Come on, Lizabeth.” I just stood there peering through the bushes, torn between wanting to join the fun and feeling that it was a bit silly. from “Marigolds” by Eugenia W. Collier

27. Motivation—what drives a character’s actions. It Motivation explains behaviors is often based on character’s fears, conflicts, needs Motivation can be inferred by observing characters’ behavior, speech, actions. reveals personality [End of Section]

28. Think of a story you’ve read in which the protagonist faces powerful conflicts. Use a chart like the one here to map out the conflicts and their resolutions, as well as the protagonist’s motivations. Practice Protagonist Motivation Internal Conflict Resolution Motivation External conflict and antagonist Resolution [End of Section]

29. Who is the most unforgettable character you’ve ever met in a story? Write a few sentences about why you find the character so memorable. Before you begin, jot down your ideas on a chart like this one. Practice Most memorable character Most outstanding character Character’s appearance Important statements Important thoughts Important actions Reactions of other characters [End of Section]

30. Indirect. The writer is describing the character’s appearance. Direct and Indirect Characterization Quick Check Is this an example of direct or indirect characterization? My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

31. I think she’s strict and unfriendly. What kind of person do you think this character is? Direct and Indirect Characterization Quick Check My sister, Mrs. Joe, with black hair and eyes, had such a prevailing redness of skin that I sometimes used to wonder whether it was possible she washed herself with a nutmeg-grater instead of soap. She was tall and bony, and almost always wore a coarse apron, fastened over her figure behind with two loops, and having a square impregnable bib in front, that was stuck full of pins and needles. from Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

32. Dystopia Utopia: A place, state, or condition that is ideally perfect in respect of politics, laws, customs, and conditions. Dystopia: A futuristic, imagined universe in which oppressive control dominates the individual. Dystopias make a criticism about a current trend, societal norm, or political system.

33. Characteristics of Dystopian Society Propaganda is used to control the citizens. Information and freedom are restricted. A figurehead is worshipped. Citizens are under constant surveillance. Citizens fear the outside world. Citizens live in a dehumanized state. The natural world is distrusted. Citizens conform to uniform expectations. The society is an illusion of a perfect utopian world.

34. The Dystopian Protagonist Often feels trapped and is struggling to escape. Questions the existing social and political systems. Believes or feels that something is terribly wrong with the society in which he or she lives. Helps the audience recognize the negative aspects of the dystopian world through his or her perspective.

35. A Dystopian Movie Clip https://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=I J07DcGGmMghttps://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=I J07DcGGmMg

36. The End