character unit 1: fiction. what is fiction? fiction is a category of literature that includes any...
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
CharacterCharacter
Unit 1: FictionUnit 1: Fiction
![Page 2: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
What is fiction?
• Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story.
![Page 3: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
What are the two main forms of fiction?
• The two main forms of fiction are the short story and the novel.
![Page 4: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
What are your favorite types of fiction?
• Realistic fiction
• Science fiction
• Fantasy
• Horror
• Historical fiction
• Sports fiction
• Mystery
• Westerns
![Page 5: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
What are the purposes of fiction?
• To entertain readers
• To show readers new and different ideas
• To provide readers with an escape from reality
• To teach readers to be understanding and sympathetic
• To help readers explore unknown worlds
![Page 6: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
What are the elements of fiction?
• Plot
• Point of view
• Characters
• Setting
• Conflict
• Theme
![Page 7: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Characters
• Characters are imaginary people or animals who take part in the action of a literary work.
![Page 8: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
What do you think makes fictional characters seem like real people? What makes a character memorable?
Turn and Talk
I have tried every device I know to breathe life into my characters, for there is little in fiction more rewarding than to see real people interact on a page.
—James A. Michener
I have tried every device I know to breathe life into my characters, for there is little in fiction more rewarding than to see real people interact on a page.
—James A. Michener
![Page 9: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
* Characterization
• The act of creating or describing a character is called characterization.
• Writers use three major techniques to form a character:– Showing what characters say, do, or think– Showing what other characters (and the narrator)
say or think about them– Describing what physical features, dress, and
personality the characters display
![Page 10: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
• In this excerpt, readers get to know Gary by what he says and does.I leaned forward and said, “Well, I think we have lots of talent.” “Oh? like who, for example?” she said. I said, “Well, I could do something.” “You?” she said. “Or I could get together with some other kids and we could do a skit.” “Like what?” she said. I said, “Oh, I don’t know. Something about the school burning down. It all
depends.”“That doesnt sound funny to me,” she said. Marcy didn’t think it was funny either. What burned my toast was her saying “You?” when I volunteered to be in her
talent show. I was only being helpful… —from “Gary Keillor,” by Garrison Keillor
I leaned forward and said, “Well, I think we have lots of talent.” “Oh? like who, for example?” she said. I said, “Well, I could do something.” “You?” she said. “Or I could get together with some other kids and we could do a skit.” “Like what?” she said. I said, “Oh, I don’t know. Something about the school burning down. It all
depends.”“That doesnt sound funny to me,” she said. Marcy didn’t think it was funny either. What burned my toast was her saying “You?” when I volunteered to be in her
talent show. I was only being helpful… —from “Gary Keillor,” by Garrison Keillor
Characterization
![Page 11: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
• In this excerpt, readers learn about Joby by what the narrator says about him.
…At midnight a peach stone…struck once, like panic, which jerked the boy upright. In silence he listened to his own heart ruffle away, away, at last gone from his ears and back in his chest again.
…he turned the drum on its side, where its great lunar face peered at him whenever he opened his eyes.
His face, alert or at rest, was solemn. It was indeed a solemn time and a solemn night for a boy just turned fourteen in the peach field near the Owl Creek not far from the church at Shiloh.
—from “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh,” by Ray Bradbury
…At midnight a peach stone…struck once, like panic, which jerked the boy upright. In silence he listened to his own heart ruffle away, away, at last gone from his ears and back in his chest again.
…he turned the drum on its side, where its great lunar face peered at him whenever he opened his eyes.
His face, alert or at rest, was solemn. It was indeed a solemn time and a solemn night for a boy just turned fourteen in the peach field near the Owl Creek not far from the church at Shiloh.
—from “The Drummer Boy of Shiloh,” by Ray Bradbury
Characterization
![Page 12: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
• In this excerpt, readers get to know Lemon Brown based on the description of his physical appearance.
The person who called himself Lemon Brown peered forward, and Greg could see him clearly. He was an old man. His black, heavily wrinkled face was surrounded by a halo of crinkly white hair and whiskers that seemed to separate his head from the layers of dirty coats piled on his smallish frame. His pants were bagged to the knee, where they were met with rags that went down to the old shoes. The rags were held on with strings, and there was a rope around his middle.
—from “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” by Walter Dean Myers
The person who called himself Lemon Brown peered forward, and Greg could see him clearly. He was an old man. His black, heavily wrinkled face was surrounded by a halo of crinkly white hair and whiskers that seemed to separate his head from the layers of dirty coats piled on his smallish frame. His pants were bagged to the knee, where they were met with rags that went down to the old shoes. The rags were held on with strings, and there was a rope around his middle.
—from “The Treasure of Lemon Brown,” by Walter Dean Myers
Characterization
![Page 13: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Motivation
Characterization is the presentation of the nature of the people in a story. Characterization is really the presentation of motives. We understand a person if we understand what makes him act the way he does.
—Ayn Rand
Characterization is the presentation of the nature of the people in a story. Characterization is really the presentation of motives. We understand a person if we understand what makes him act the way he does.
—Ayn Rand
![Page 14: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Motivation• To understand characterization, readers need to
recognize motivation.
• A motivation is a force that drives a character to think, feel, or behave in a certain way.
• Characters can be motivated by– the desire to succeed– the need for revenge– the burden of guilt or shame– the hope of redemption
![Page 15: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Major Characters
• The characters around whom a story is centered are the major characters.
• Major characters– play important roles in the plot of a story– are complicated characters– undergo some type of change
during a story
![Page 16: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Major Characters
• Major characters can be protagonists or antagonists.– The protagonist is the main character in a story.– The antagonist struggles against the protagonist.
• This struggle creates a story’s conflict.
– The protagonist and antagonist are complicated characters.
– Like real people, each has his or her own strengths and weaknesses.
![Page 17: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
The Protagonist
• The protagonist– is motivated by a goal, aspiration, or desire– uses his or her strengths to overcome conflicts or
obstacles that stand in the way of this goal
![Page 18: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
The Antagonist
• The antagonist– is motivated by a goal, aspiration, or desire
• Often this goal is to frustrate, challenge, hurt, or destroy the protagonist.
– uses his or her strengths to stop the actions of the protagonist
![Page 19: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Minor Characters
• Minor characters play less important roles in a story.
• Minor characters– are uncomplicated – remain unchanged throughout a story– interact with the major characters – provide clues about the major characters by
highlighting or contrasting the qualities of the major characters
![Page 20: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Round and Flat Characters
• In addition to being classified as major or minor, characters can also be classified as round or flat.
![Page 21: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Round Characters
• Round characters– tend to be the major characters in a story– show a wide range of emotions and can be
unpredictable– have their own desires and motivations
![Page 22: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Flat Characters
• Flat characters– tend to be the minor characters in a story– are often stock characters or stereotypes whose
emotions and behavior are predictable– are valuable to understanding the desires and
motivations of the major or round characters
![Page 23: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Static and Dynamic Characters
• Finally, characters can be classified as static or dynamic.
• A static character does not change over the course of a literary work.
• A dynamic character changes as a result of the story’s events.
![Page 24: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
SUMMARY: Character
• Authors create characters by– showing what the characters say, do, and think– showing what others say or think about the characters– describing the characters’ physical features
• There are several different types of characters:– protagonists and antagonists– major and minor characters– round and flat characters– dynamic and static characters
![Page 25: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
• The Methods of Characterization Chart on the next slide was completed for the character Greg Ridley. – Greg Ridley is a major character in “The Treasure of
Lemon Brown.”
• After you view this chart, – choose a character from your independent book– complete your own Methods of Characterization
Chart using the blank template on the subsequent slide
Methods of Characterization
![Page 26: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
The Character (Draw a The Character (Draw a picture of your character.)picture of your character.)
What the Character SaysWhat the Character SaysWhat the Character What the Character ThinksThinks
What the Writer Says What the Writer Says About the Physical About the Physical Features, Dress, and Features, Dress, and Personality of the Personality of the CharacterCharacter
What the What the Character DoesCharacter Does
What Other Characters Say or Think About the CharacterWhat Other Characters Say or Think About the Character
He is upset that he can’t play basketball.
He is stubborn—he won’t take his fathe
r’s advice.
Greg Ridley
“You really think that treasure of yours was worth fighting for? Against a pipe?”
He helps Lemon Brown fend off the men that try
to steal his treasure.
Lemon Brown says, “You OK for a youngster.”
![Page 27: Character Unit 1: Fiction. What is fiction? Fiction is a category of literature that includes any work of prose that tells an invented or imaginary story](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062722/56649f385503460f94c5425b/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Complete the chart for a character from your own book.
The Character (Draw a The Character (Draw a picture of your character.)picture of your character.)
What the Character SaysWhat the Character SaysWhat the Character What the Character ThinksThinks
What the Writer Says What the Writer Says About the Physical About the Physical Features, Dress, and Features, Dress, and Personality of the Personality of the CharacterCharacter
What the What the Character DoesCharacter Does
What Other Characters Say or Think About the CharacterWhat Other Characters Say or Think About the Character