Introduction to Characterization

Introduction to
Characterization
Character Analysis Unit
9th Grade Honors English
Ms. Avina

Lecture Adapted from:

Lit Charts: Characterization
ReadWriteThink: S.T.E.A.L. Strategy
Indirect Characterization: Revealing Characters Subtly

In this lecture, we will be focusing on characterization. You have done some study on
the subject from the Webercise this week, but now we are going to review some
things you have learned as well as dive deeper into how to recognize and formulate
analysis of complex characters.

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Introduction to Characterization

Class Objectives & CA Content Standards

Addressed
Objectives: CA Content Standards:
•
• Students will be able to distinguish between CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL 9-10.6 Acquire and use accurately general academic
and domain-specific words and phrases, sufficient for reading, writing,
speaking, and listening at the college and career readiness level; demonstrate
direct and indirect characterization independence in gathering vocabulary knowledge when considering a word or
phrase important to comprehension or expression

• Students will be able to draw conclusions from • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.6. Use technology, including the Internet, to
produce, publish, and update individual or shared writing products, taking
a text that contribute to characterization advantage of technology’s capacity to link to other information and to display
information flexibly and dynamically.
elements • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.W.9-10.10. Write routinely over extended time frames
(time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single
sitting or a day or two) for a range of tasks, purposes, and audiences.
• Students will be able to write an indirect • CCSS.ELA-Literacy.SL.9-10.1. Initiate and participate effectively in a range
characterization analysis using a graphic of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with
diverse partners on grades 9–10 topics, texts, and issues, building on others’
organizer ideas and expressing their own clearly and persuasively.

These are the class objectives for today’s lesson. The first two deal with learning
English content, and the third objective helps you in developing language. To the
right, you will see the CA content standards that will be addressed within the lesson.

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Introduction to Characterization

For the next 2 minutes, make a list

of traits or characteristics that
describe YOU.

Quick-Write Pick one trait from your list and

provide a specific example. In what
Exercise: way does this trait contribute to
who you are?
Who am I?
I am hard-working:
When I go to school
For example: every day, I am eager to
expand my knowledge
and challenge my mind.

*Educational Hook (Interpersonal)

We will begin with a quick-write exercise. This exercise reflects on your personal self.
Really think about the traits that make you who you are and provide a specific
example. Does the trait you chose remind you of a time where you really projected
that trait?

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Introduction to Characterization

Think About This…

• Is there a character from a story you
read that you either related to or
found yourself mesmerized with
how they carried themselves
throughout the story?
• How we just described ourselves is
the same way we develop analysis of
literary characters!
*Educational Hook (Interpersonal)

Just think about this question. I know when I read stories, I find myself getting
attached to characters. They sometimes feel like real people. That is the power of
character development in stories, and writers put a lot of detail into who they want
their characters to be and become.

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Introduction to Characterization

What is Characterization?
• Characterization is the
representation of the traits,
motives, and psychology of a
character in a narrative.
• There are two types of
characterization: direct and
indirect.

Before we begin diving into aspects of characterization, let us review the definition of
the word. Remember there are two types of characterization. How many of you know
who these guys are in the photo? Well, they exhibit both types of characterization.
You will see how on the next slide.

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Introduction to Characterization

Direct vs. Indirect Characterization

Direct characterization:
character's qualities are explicitly • Example: The seven dwarfs’ names present
described by a narrator, another
character, or by the character him their character qualities.
or herself.

Indirect characterization: • Example: Without knowing their names, the

character's qualities are revealed
by his or her actions, thoughts, or seven dwarfs’ actions, dialogues, and facial
dialogue. expressions eventually reveal their personalities.

Let’s review the definitions of both direct and indirect characterization. Do you
remember them from the webercise? Here are the examples of how the seven
dwarfs relate to both types of characterization.

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Introduction to Characterization

Now You Try:

• Watch the video provided to the right from
Disney’s Pixar Inside Out and answer the
following:
• Can you identify a form of direct
characterization within the clip?
• Can you identify a form of indirect
characterization within the clip?
• Think, Pair, Share: Discuss your answers
and reasonings with a partner.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1oXx4delIY
*Progress Monitoring Question (Mastery)
*Dual-coding technique (Video Visual Aid)

Now you will try to detect both types of characterization within this clip. I will play
the clip, and try to pay attention to the characters and the ways they project
themselves or each other. After the video, you will share your answers and reasoning
with a partner.

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Introduction to Characterization

Direct Characterization:
A Closer Look
• An author provides the reader with a very specific description of a character.
• Example:
Jimmy's the worst. He acts nice when you first meet him, but then he'll ask you for
money and never return it, and eat all your food without any offering anything in return,
and I once saw him throw a rock at a puppy. Thank God he missed.
• Another speaker is used to explicitly describe Jimmy.
• Jimmy is described directly through distinct characterizations: “[he] is the worst…he’ll ask
you for money and never return it." Readers know exactly the kind of person the character
described is like. Jimmy is cruel and selfish (… and that poor puppy ).

*Dual-coding technique (use of examples/elaboration to deepen levels of engagement with content

Let’s take a closer look into direct characterization. Remember, that the text would be
specific in mentioning the traits of the character. The narrator, character himself, or
other characters are usually the ones to state descriptions. Let’s look at the example
here. Who is providing the direct characterization? What are they saying about
Jimmy?

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Introduction to Characterization

Direct Characterization:
Comprehension Check
• “The first thing Rainsford's eyes
discerned was the largest man
Rainsford had ever seen--a gigantic
creature, solidly made and black
bearded to the waist. ‘Ivan is an
• What are some phrases that give
incredibly strong fellow,’ remarked the you direct, specific information
general, ‘but he has the misfortune to about the character of Ivan?
be deaf and dumb. A simple fellow,
but, I'm afraid, like all his race, a bit of
a savage.”
-Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous
Game”

*Progress Monitoring Question (Understanding)

Now, it’s your turn. Let’s read this passage from Connell’s “The Most Dangerous
Game” together. As I read, I want you to underline any thing you feel contributes to
the character.

*He is a huge, muscular man with a very long black beard. Zaroff openly describes
him as strong, deaf (unable to hear), and dumb (mute--unable to speak).

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Introduction to Characterization

What a character
says

Indirect Characterization: The character’s

A Closer Look thoughts

• Rather than explicit description, readers must make How the character
interacts with
inferences when identifying indirect characterization in others
literature.
• Inferences: the process of arriving at a conclusion
The character’s
using known evidence or premises and logically actions
forming an opinion or interpretation.
• Contributions to indirect characterization include: The character’s
appearance

*Dual-coding technique (visual aid of the S.T.E.A.L. elements)

Now, let’s look at the second form of characterization. With indirect characterization,
we as readers need to make inferences within the text. What are inferences? I have
provided the definition in the slide. With indirect characterization being the most
common form, it is important to understand how to detect it’s elements when we are
reading. So, how do we know what to look for? Let’s look at the five elements that
contribute to indirect characterization.

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Introduction to Characterization

Self-Questioning Organizer (S.T.E.A.L.)

Type of Indirect Focusing Questions Examples Explanation
Characterization
What does the character say? How
Speech does the character speak?

What is revealed through the

Thoughts character’s private thoughts and
feelings?
What is revealed through the
Effect on others character’s effect on other people?
How do other characters feel or
toward the character behave in reaction to the character?
What does the character do? How
Actions does the character behave?

What does the character look like?

Looks How does the character dress?

STEAL Self-Questioning Chart *Table Organizer

I have created a S.T.E.A.L. chart to help you remember the elements of indirect
characterization. This graphic organizer is something you will use and complete later
on in the lecture. I advise you to click the link below the chart and download the
worksheet to keep for regular reference.

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization:

SPEECH
• What does the character say?
• How does the character speak?

• Example: What inferences can

you make about the two people
in the comic to the right based
on their dialogue and tone?

*Dual-Coding Technique (interacting with visual comic image as a humorous example)

The first element we will look at is “Speech.” These are the focusing questions to look
for when detecting indirect characterization. I want you to read the comic strip to the
right. What inferences can you make about the two characters based on their tone
and dialogue?

*The man’s tone is full of urgency. This can conclude that he is worrisome and
dependent on the woman and technology. The woman—just by her one question—
shows that she too prioritizes social media to the highest regard.

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization:

THOUGHTS
• What is revealed through the
character’s private thoughts
and feelings?
• Requires extra attention to figure out
what the character is like
internally/psychologically based on
how they think.

The next element is thoughts. These are the focusing questions when attempting to
detect a character’s identity through their thoughts and feelings.

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization

Now You Try
• Example:
“Bill sighed as he looked at the offer of a gym
membership. He really should join. But just
thinking about it made beads of sweat collect at the
top of his bald spot.”
• Underline the thoughts/feelings mentioned
in the passage. What inferences can be
made about Bill’s personality based on his
thoughts/feelings?
*Progress-Monitoring Question (Understanding)

Now that we tried analyzing the speech element together, I want you to try making
inferences based on thoughts. Read the passage on the slide carefully and underline
what you think contributes to indirect characterization.

*Bill’s thoughts about the gym makes him sweat. This could mean that Bill feels
anxious or nervous about the gym. Even though he knows he should join, the thing
stopping him is his own anxious setbacks.

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization:

EFFECTS ON OTHERS TOWARD A
CHARACTER
• What is revealed through the
character’s effect on other people?
• How do other characters feel or
behave in reaction to the character?
• These relationships can show
personalities of both characters or just
the one in focus.

Here is the third element: effects on others toward a character. The focusing
questions provided emphasis on how the outside world views the character. How do
you find out information from others when looking for recommendations of food
places or movies? It kind of works the same way for characters. They provide a profile
for us to get an idea into who the character is and what traits they display.

Example: If a silence falls over a room upon a character’s entrance, it could suggest
admiration (at their person or appearance). It could also suggest terror (if the arriving
character is powerful and cruel).

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization:

ACTIONS
• What does the character do?
• How does the character
behave?
• Actions of characters could
reveal their personalities and
motivations.

The fourth element is “looks.” The focusing questions are meant to reflect the
character’s motivations and personalities. What motivates a character? What do they
do to achieve their goals?

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization:

Now You Try
• Example:
“Katerina Ivanovna had just begun, as she always
did at every free moment, walking to and fro in her
little room from window to stove and back again,
with her arms folded across her chest, talking to
herself and coughing.” –Crime and Punishment
• What are the actions that Katerina is displaying in the
passage?
• What inferences can you make about the character of
Katerina based on her actions?
*Progress-Monitoring Question (Understanding)

Now you will try to make inferences based on actions. Read the passage carefully and
underline any signals to Katerina’s actions. Answer the following questions on the
slide.

*Through Katerina’s pacing and her frenzied, tragic activity with her children,
Dostoevsky indirectly reveals her anxiety, fierce will to survive and, ultimately,
desperation.

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Introduction to Characterization

Types of Indirect Characterization:

LOOKS
• What does the character look like?
• How does the character dress?
• Physical details about a character could
grant insight into their personality—
including facial expressions, clothing,
and the way they carry themselves.
• Can you identify some appearance
details about the characters in the
photo?
*Dual-Coding Technique (Using image examples that students engage with)

The final element is “looks.” Though this seems to be direct characterization because
of the details needed to describe them, we are still trying to make inferences based
on their appearance. Facial expressions and clothing detail can show the way
characters carry themselves. Based on the photo here, can you make some inferences
about the four characters based on the aspects I mentioned?

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Introduction to Characterization

Indirect Characterization:
Comprehension Check
• “He stretched out his arms toward
the dark water in a curious way,
and, far as I was from him, I could
• Analyze the indirect characterization
of Gatsby in the passage.
have sworn he was trembling.
Involuntarily I glanced seaward— *Remember to think of the S.T.E.A.L.
and distinguished nothing except a method.
single green light, minute and far • What elements do you detect and
away, that might have been the end how do they contribute to Gatsby’s
of a dock.” –The Great Gatsby character?

*Culminating Activity/Question (Synthesize information)

Now let us do a full indirect characterization analysis. I want you to think about
S.T.E.A.L. elements when reading this passage from The Great Gatsby. Underline any
methods you feel are being used to contribute to the character of Gatsby. What
elements did you find and how do they contribute to the character’s complexity?

*Nick isn't describing Gatsby character directly, instead he's describing how Gatsby is
behaving, what Gatsby is doing (action). But that physical description (looks)—Gatsby
reaching out with trembling arms toward a distant and mysterious green light—
communicates fundamental aspects of Gatsby's character: his overwhelming
yearning and desire (thoughts), and perhaps also the fragility inherent such yearning.
Nick is narrating, therefore this is his perception on Gatsby (effect on others toward
character).

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Introduction to Characterization

Your Turn! :
Character Analysis Activity
• Using the Self-Questioning Visual Organizer displayed
earlier in the lecture, conduct an indirect characterization
analysis of Louise Mallard from Chopin’s “The Story of
an Hour.”
• Download the word document of the table by
clicking the link below and filling it out with your
chosen quotes/examples and explanations that
represent each element in S.T.E.A.L.
STEAL Self-Questioning Chart

*Culminating Activity & Question (Organize/synthesize information)

Now that we are concluding this lecture, I want you to practice what you learned
about characterization. You will use the S.T.E.A.L. chart from slide #11 to conduct an
indirect character analysis of Lousie Mallard from “The Story of an Hour”. We read
this story for the webercise, but with our new information, we will be able to be
experts in locating elements that make Louise into the character she is. Download the
table by clicking the link in blue and fill out the S.T.E.A.L. elements with examples and
your explanations. Just think of everything we learned and worked through in this
lecture.

*Bonus Question: Can you identify a form of DIRECT characterization within the
story? Where?

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