Developing characters from the

novel

Why is character development important?

Characters help the author to develop the theme

characters are developed in 4 ways by asking about:

• 1: Physical appearance

• 2: Thoughts, speech, and actions

• 3: Other characters

• 4: Narrator’s observations

Physical appearance• What does

the character look like?

• What are his or her expressions, gestures, or body language?

Ask:• What does the

character think, say, or do?

• How does he treat others?

• What is important to him?

Thoughts, speech, and actions

Other characters

Ask:

• What do others say about the character?

• How do they treat him?

Narrator’s revelations Ask:

• What does the narrator say or imply about the character?

• Does the narrator hold a high opinion of or disapprove of the character?

Questions to ask:• Physical appearance: what does the character look

like? What are his facial expressions or body language saying about him?

• Thoughts, words, and actions: What does the character think, say, or do? What is important to him?

• Other characters-:What do they say about the character? How do they treat him?

• Narrator’s comments-:What does he say about the character? How does he treat him?