Literary Elements
Characterization: the way an author builds / creates a character
There are two parts to every character:
o Physical Traits
o Personality Traits
A Character Sketch is used to display these character traits:
_____Physical Traits
Old woman
Worn, creased clothing
Rimmed hat
Mud boots
Carries a rifle
/
Personality Traits
tough / enforcer
hopeful
playful
kind-hearted
uneducated?
There are four ways that we can learn about a character:
o The author or narrator tells us
Her clothes seem like real dusty leather, worn and
creased for years and years with rimmed hat and boots
for ignoring mud.
o Other characters tell us
o What the character says
“…Only left it outta hope.” and “What ye two pups need
first is a good sleeping and a good feeding.”
o What the character does
We hear a chuckle from up on the rock. The old woman
is laughing to herself…She winks at me, actually winks.
Characters are EITHER…
o Stagnant: the character’s personality does not change
throughout the story
o Dynamic: the character’s personality changes over the
course of the story