Name: __________________________________________________________________________________________ Pd: _______
“F.Scott Fitzgerald wrote that, “Action is character .” What does he mean by this? Explain in your own words, and then discuss your response
with your partner.
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Two Types of Characterization
Direct: The author tells the audience what the characterization is
Ex: Ed Johnson scratched his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s newest engine performance diagnostic
computer. The old mechanic hated modern electronics, preferring the old days when all he needed was a stack of manuals and a
good set of tools.
Indirect: The reader must deduce the characterization by analyzing these five things: speech, thoughts, effects, actions, and looks.
Ex: “That Ed Johnson,” said Anderson, watching the old mechanic scratch his head in confusion as the sales rep explained Dralco’s
newest engine performance diagnostic computer. “He hasn’t got a clue about modern electronics. Give him a good set of tools and a
stack of yellowing manuals with a carburetor needing repair, and he’d be happy as a hungry frog in a fly-field.”
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Ways to Identify Indirect Characterization
SPEECH - What does the character say? How does the character speak?
THOUGHTS - What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
EFFECTS - What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to
the character?
ACTIONS - What does the character do? How does the character behave?
LOOKS - What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Based on these indirect examples, identify the characteristic they each support. Decide and discuss with your partner.
Indirect Characterization Examples
His eyes pleaded with her to understand what he was explaining, his breath slow in frequency, but
intense with each inhale. His downturned lips revealed the regret he had for what he had done.
Characteristic
He couldn’t stop telling her how much he appreciated the small loan she was giving him to get to the next
paycheck. Hugs, cheek kisses, and an offer to make dinner for her ensued, his gratitude oozing from him
with every word and motion.
After he arrived about 25 minutes late for the date, he proceeded to honk the horn from his car, forcing
me to traverse alone the 15 ice covered concrete steps of my building in my fanciest shoes I had donned
for our date.
This is said by Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. He is speaking to Scout, his young daughter.
Characterize Atticus. “First of all,” he said, “if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you’ll get along a lot
better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point
of view…until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
Now create two examples of indirect characterization on your own. Then have your partner guess the characteristic based on your indirect
examples. Have your partner discuss what in your example led him/her to the characteristic.
Your Indirect Characterization Examples
Characteristic
Now you’re going to apply it to Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet. Decide on a characteristic, and then find the listed number of
examples to support it. Defend your choice of textual evidence through your analysis. Choose a characteristic that you feel was most
prevalent in the first 25 pages, not just something that happened once.
Character
Characteristic
Textual Evidence: Quote “Start quote…End quote” (pg). OR
Describe a very specific event (pg).
Ex 1
Analysis
Old Henry
Ex 2
Ex 1
Young
Henry
Ex 2
Ex 1
Keiko
Ex 1
Mrs.
Beatty
Ex 2