CharacterizationDescribing Appearance

Describing Speech

Showing Actions and Behavior

Revealing Thoughts and Feelings

Including Other Characters’ Views

How Do Characters in Conflict Influence the Plot of a Story?

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Directly Describing Character Traits

Characters and Conflict

Your Turn

Just like real people, characters in stories have qualities, or character traits, such as

Characterization

The way a writer reveals the personality of a character is called characterization.

courage

kindness

laziness

Characterization

Notice how the writer characterizes Leo as a smart dog.

“Today is the day I’ll get that pesky squirrel,” thought Leo. “I know he’ll be checking out that little bit of dog food I left in my bowl—just for that purpose! If I hide under the steps, he won’t see me. Then I can pounce when he gets near the bowl!”

Characterization

A writer can reveal character traits in six ways:

1. Describing appearance

2. Describing speech

3. Showing actions and behavior

4. Revealing thoughts and feelings

5. Including other characters’ views

6. Directly describing character traits

Characterization

1 Describing appearance

Devon has a unique sense of style. She wears mismatched colors but still manages to look great!

Who but Devon would cut the sleeves off a man’s woolen shirt and create a stylish jacket? Her belt buckle, large and showy, seems to say, “Look at me! I like how I look!”

Look for details that describe how a character looks and dresses.

How characters talk and what they say helps reveal their personalities.

Characterization

2 Describing speech

“What’s your name, son?” growled the sergeant. “Speak up! In battle we have to be able to hear each other clearly!”

The sergeant’s voice softened as he continued, “We’re all in this training together. We work as a unit to help each other when needed.”

How characters act and react can tell a lot about their personalities.

Characterization

3 Showing actions and behavior

Jinx pounced on the ball, spun around, and raced to the other end of the yard. Movement in the bushes caught his eye, and off he dashed, returning several seconds later.

Once again eyeing the ball, he rolled on it several times, jumped up, and pawed it furiously.

Characterization

4 Revealing thoughts and feelings

Rosa’s words were a blur. Ruben was having a difficult time focusing on what she was saying. “She’s so beautiful,” he thought. “Why can’t I tell her how I feel? We’ve been friends for so long. Surely, she knows that I like her—a lot.”

Writers may show what a character is really thinking and feeling.

Pay attention to what other characters say about the main character.

Characterization

5 Including other characters’ views

“Grandpa is never too busy to play with us,” said Dana. “He tells the best stories and always makes us laugh.”

“All of my friends want to hang out with him when he’s visiting,” added Andy. “We’re lucky to have a Grandpa who is so much fun!”

A writer sometimes just tells you what the character is like.

Characterization

6 Directly describing character traits

The teachers liked Jamal. He was smart and respectful, and he had a good sense of humor. When called upon in class, Jamal would usually know the answer.

His classmates were equally fond of him, so there was little doubt who the next class president would be.

How does the writer reveal Eric’s character traits?

Characterization

Quick Check

“Oh no, here comes Eric!” little Ronnie yelled. “Hide me!” Eric pushed his way through the crowded bus, knocking aside several of the smaller children. Big for his age, he towered above the others. “Okay,” he growled, “everybody listen up. This seat is mine. I’d better not catch anyone else sitting in it!” “I shouldn’t have to ride the bus with these creeps,” he thought.

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Characters and Conflict

A story’s plot has a main conflict, or struggle

• between characters

• within a single character

• both

or

or

Characters and Conflict

In an external conflict, characters struggle with forces outside themselves.

other characters

nature society

• make a difficult choice

Characters and Conflict

An internal conflict is a character’s emotional struggle to

“I have to tell Coach Simms about my hurt shoulder,” thought Rose. “I can’t keep pretending everything’s okay. But what if he benches me? What if I don’t get to play anymore this season? My team needs me, and I need to play!”

• overcome a fear

Who is the protagonist?

The antagonist opposes the main character.

Characters and ConflictThe main character in any conflict is called the protagonist.

Amy couldn’t wait to tell her family the good news. She had secretly tried out for the school play and had just been told she got the lead! “No sister of mine is going to make a fool out of herself in front of everyone!” exclaimed Alex. “Go back up there right now, and tell them they made a mistake!”

Who is the antagonist?

• Is this an external or internal conflict?

• Who is the antagonist?

Characters and Conflict

Quick Check

Tara was deep in thought as she walked to her locker. Only three more days of school left, and then she was free for the summer! “Hey, Stick!” yelled Kayla from the other end of the hall. “Who dressed you this morning? Whoever it was must have been playing a joke!” Kayla laughed as Tara ran into a nearby classroom.

Characters and ConflictA character’s traits, or qualities, determine how he or she handles conflict.

In an adventure story filled with danger, the main character might be

• brave• physically strong• confident

These traits will affect the character’s actions and the choices that he or she makes.

How do Ilsa’s traits affect how she handles conflict?

Characters and Conflict

Quick Check

Known throughout the kingdom for her intelligence and bravery, Ilsa rode far ahead of the others. Suddenly, she fell from her horse and faced two enemy attackers!

With little thought for her own safety, she yelled to warn the others. Sword flashing, she struck an overhead tree limb. Both surprised attackers were pinned under the weight of the branch.

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Think of a conflict between two characters from a movie, book, or TV show. List several of each character’s traits in outlined heads like the ones on the right.

Identify which character won the conflict, and explain how that character’s traits influenced the outcome.

Analyze Characters

tough smart brave

hardworking generous

foolish wicked

self-centered mean

tricky

Your Turn

The End