CharacterizationCharacterization

A character is a reasonable A character is a reasonable facsimile of a human being.facsimile of a human being.

Two major types of Two major types of CharactersCharacters

Round CharacterRound Character A round character is a term A round character is a term

coined by E.M. Forster and is coined by E.M. Forster and is the direct opposite of a flat the direct opposite of a flat character. A round character is character. A round character is extremely realistic, behaving extremely realistic, behaving and speaking in a "real life" and speaking in a "real life" manner. The character is manner. The character is complex and increases in complex and increases in complexity throughout the complexity throughout the story. A round character is story. A round character is capable of contradiction and capable of contradiction and change with evidence of change with evidence of emotional and psychological emotional and psychological development. development.

Flat CharacterFlat Character a flat character is a term a flat character is a term

referring to a character who referring to a character who boasts no mental or boasts no mental or emotional development. emotional development. Much like a stock character, a Much like a stock character, a flat character exhibits strong flat character exhibits strong defining characteristics, defining characteristics, speech habits, and the like, speech habits, and the like, but still falls short of the but still falls short of the complexity of a round complexity of a round character. Nevertheless, they character. Nevertheless, they serve a purpose, usually to serve a purpose, usually to carry the plot along. carry the plot along.

6 ways to create vivid 6 ways to create vivid characterscharacters

Direct expositionDirect exposition Physical descriptionPhysical description Self-created environmentSelf-created environment Speech Speech ActionsActions Others’ reactionsOthers’ reactions

Direct ExpositionDirect Exposition This method simply tells the reader This method simply tells the reader

what the character is like, such as:what the character is like, such as:– a bullya bully– mischievousmischievous– generous and funnygenerous and funny

Physical descriptionPhysical description This method describes what a This method describes what a

character looks like, but will focus character looks like, but will focus on physical details that reveal on physical details that reveal character, such as:character, such as:– laugh lines around the eyeslaugh lines around the eyes– threatening tattoosthreatening tattoos– a fancy hairdoa fancy hairdo

Self-created environmentSelf-created environment This method describes part of the This method describes part of the

character’s environment that he or character’s environment that he or she controls and which thus she controls and which thus reveals personality, such as:reveals personality, such as:– the character’s homethe character’s home– the character’s vehiclethe character’s vehicle– the character’s clothingthe character’s clothing

SpeechSpeech This method uses what the This method uses what the

character says to reveal that character says to reveal that character’s personality.character’s personality.

Not only what is said, but also how Not only what is said, but also how it is said and to whom it is said is it is said and to whom it is said is important.important.

ActionsActions This method uses the character’s This method uses the character’s

acts to reveal the character’s acts to reveal the character’s personality.personality.

Actions may include major things Actions may include major things such as career choices but also such as career choices but also minor things such as how the minor things such as how the character reacts to a bad day.character reacts to a bad day.

Others’ ReactionsOthers’ Reactions This method shows how other This method shows how other

characters react to a character in characters react to a character in order to reveal personality.order to reveal personality.

This method sometimes requires This method sometimes requires us to “see through” another us to “see through” another character’s false impressions.character’s false impressions.