Character SketchCharacter Sketch

Characterization:Characterization:

Direct and IndirectDirect and Indirect

We can learn a lot about We can learn a lot about characters from the way they characters from the way they

look, talk, and actlook, talk, and act

AndAnd

We can learn a lot about We can learn a lot about characters by the way others characters by the way others

talk about and think about talk about and think about someonesomeone

There are 2 Main types of There are 2 Main types of CharacterizationCharacterization

DirectDirect IndirectIndirect

Direct CharacterizationDirect Characterization

When the author When the author tells specifically tells specifically about a character or about a character or his/her traits.his/her traits.

We don’t have to We don’t have to infer what the infer what the author means author means because the author because the author states it directly to states it directly to usus

ExamplesExamples The gentle giant stood 7 The gentle giant stood 7

foot 2 inches as he foot 2 inches as he towered over the rest of towered over the rest of the crowd.the crowd.

Despite his great height, Despite his great height, he felt insecure in a he felt insecure in a large group of people.large group of people.

In fact, he often said, “I In fact, he often said, “I get really nervous get really nervous around new people.”around new people.”

What did the author directly What did the author directly tell the readers about the tell the readers about the

character?character?1.1.

2.2.

3.3.

The gentle giant The gentle giant stood 7 foot 2 inches stood 7 foot 2 inches as he towered over as he towered over the rest of the the rest of the crowd.crowd.

Despite his great Despite his great height, he felt height, he felt insecure in a large insecure in a large group of people.group of people.

In fact, he often said, In fact, he often said, “I get really nervous “I get really nervous around new people.”around new people.”

Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

When the author does When the author does NOT directly tell the NOT directly tell the reader about a reader about a character’s traits, but character’s traits, but rather, the reader rather, the reader must figure out the must figure out the traits based on…traits based on…

the character’s words, the character’s words, actions, dialectactions, dialect

other character’s other character’s thoughts or feelings thoughts or feelings about the characterabout the character

ExamplesExamples The southern man The southern man

yelled to the raccoons, yelled to the raccoons, “Ya’all git on outta “Ya’all git on outta here.”here.”

Jesse turned down the Jesse turned down the side road creeping side road creeping along at a snail’s pace along at a snail’s pace just dreading going just dreading going home.home.

Jacob’s boss Jacob’s boss continually gave him continually gave him the graveshift.the graveshift.

What do we learn indirectly What do we learn indirectly about the characters in the about the characters in the

examples?examples?1.1.

2. 2.

3.3.

ExamplesExamples The southern man The southern man

yelled to the raccoons, yelled to the raccoons, “Ya’all git on outta “Ya’all git on outta here.”here.”

Jesse turned down the Jesse turned down the side road creeping side road creeping along at a snail’s pace along at a snail’s pace just dreading going just dreading going home.home.

Jacob’s boss Jacob’s boss continually gave him continually gave him the graveshift.the graveshift.