Characterization Facts and Information
What is Characterization?
Characterization is when the author reveals the personality or appearance of a character
Which kind of characterization is being used? "No Mom! I refuse to clean up my room! I don't care that you think it's dirty, I'm not doing in!"
Indirect: speech is being used to show that the character is very stubborn and persistent.
Is the characterization in Born a Crime direct or indirect?
What kind of characterization (indirect or direct) is being used in this quote from the narrator in Stranger than Fiction? " Harold Crick was a man of infinite numbers, endless calculations and remarkably few words" (Doran, Stranger Than Fiction)
Direct - the narrator is directly characterizing the character, making it direct
What is Direct Characterization?
Direct Characterization is when the author directly describes the character
ex. Jane was a beautiful girl. She had blond hair and blue eyes.
What kind of characterization is being used in the quote? "Jennifer was quiet in school and always got good grades"
Direct- the author tells us that she is quiet and shy
What kind of indirect characterization is being used in the quote? " Where my grandfather was big and boisterous, my grandmother was calm, calculating, with a mind as sharp as anything" (Noah, 37)
Speech- we can see through the way he talks about his grandparents being opposites of each other. His grandmother is thought out, and his grandfather does what he pleases without worrying about the consequences.
In Season 3, Episode 16 of The Office, Dwight, one of the main characters says "Whenever I'm about to do something, I think, 'Would an idiot so that?' and if they would, I do not do that thing". What kind of characterization is this?
Indirect characterization through speech- we can see that Dwight is very thoughtful and likes to be considered smart
What is Indirect Characterization?
Indirect Characterization is when the author doesn't directly state the description, instead using actions, speech, and looks, to show characterization
What kind of characterization is being shown through the example? "The girl froze on stage, pausing for a second before running off in tears"
Indirect: actions are used to show that the girl was very nervous and timid up on stage
This quote takes place after Trevor mom breaks the law and needs to pay a fine, "She scrape together the money, pay the fine, and go right back about her business" (Noah, 24). What form of indirect characterization is being used in the quote?
Actions- we can see through the description of her actions that she was relentless and rebellious. She did things the way she wanted to.
In Season 3, Episode 2 of Friends, one of the main characters, Ross, refuses to let Phoebe, another main character, believe that evolution doesn't exist. Throughout the whole episode, Ross keeps bring up reasons and trying to convince her that it happened. Is this indirect or direct characterization and what does it show about Ross?
Indirect- it shows that Ross is persistent and refuses to give up on what he believes in.
What are Protagonist and Antagonists?
Protagonist- the main character, the hero
Antagonist- the villain, the bad guy
Is direct or indirect characterization being used in the quote? "John was patient when helping his little brother build his Lego dragon"
Direct- the author directly states that John is patient, and shows this by describing John while helping his brother.
What can we say about Dinky's characterization based on this quote, which is what he used to say to Trevor when he was a child, "'If you don't hit your woman, you don't love her.'" (Noah, 37)
Through this quote, we can see that Dinky is abusive and ignorant.
In Season 2, Episode 5 of Grey's Anatomy, Meredith, a resident surgeon, tells Derek, a Neurosurgeon, and she has figured out Derek was cheating on her. She responds with "Pick Me, Choose Me, Love Me". Is this indirect or direct characterization, and what does it say about Meredith?
Indirect- through her speech, we can see that she is very desperate in her attempt to get Derek back
What are Flat and Round Characters?
Flat- simple characters than remain unchanged
Round- characters that are complicated and change throughout the story