CHARACTERIZATION
is the process by which the writer
reveals the personality of characters.
DIRECT
CHARACTERIZATION
“The talented cheerleaders
won 1st place.”
INDIRECT
VS. CHARACTERIZATION
“Did you see our cheerleaders?
They are the best at stunts,” said
Jamie.
Reader infers they are talented.
Direct Characterization
tells the audience what the personality
of the character is.
Example: “The patient boy and
quiet girl were both well mannered
and did not disobey their mother.”
The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these
two children.
Indirect Characterization
shows things that reveal the
personality of a character.
Example: “The boy waited so patiently
until his mother was finished shopping,
and the girl used her manners when
answering her father,” observed the
store clerk in surprise.
Indirect Characterization
Five different methods of 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.
Effect on
What is revealed through the character’s effect on other
others toward
people? How do other characters feel or behave in
the character
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?
Indirect Characterization
Speech
What does the character say?
How does the character speak?
Example: “I learned
Spanish
from my grandma
Mijito
don’t cry
she’d tell me”
From “In a Neighborhood in Los Angeles”
by Francisco X. Alarcon
Indirect Characterization
Thoughts
What is revealed through the character’s
private thoughts and feelings?
Example: “but still
I feel her
with me
whispering
in my ear
mijito”
From “In a Neighborhood in Los Angeles
by Francisco X. Alarcon
Indirect Characterization
Effect on
others
toward
the
character
What is revealed through the character’s
effect on other people?
How do other characters feel or behave in
reaction to the character?
Example: “Mexico’s mountains
deserts
ocean
in her eyes
I’d see them
in her braids
I’d touch them
in her voice
smell them”
From “In a Neighborhood in Los Angeles”
by Francisco X. Alarcon
Indirect Characterization
Actions
What does the character do?
How does the character behave?
Example: “my grandma
would chat
with chairs
sing them
old
songs
dance
waltzes with them
in the kitchen”
From “In a Neighborhood in Los Angeles”
by Francisco X. Alarcon
Indirect Characterization
Looks
What does the character look like?
How does the character dress?
Example: “my grandma
wears moons
on her dress
Mexico’s mountains
deserts
ocean
in her eyes”
From “In a Neighborhood in Los Angeles”
by Francisco X. Alarcon
CHARACTER
RELATIONSHIPS
enemy
friend
PROTAGONIST
relative or
loved one
antagonist
hero or
mentor
CHARACTER
RELATIONSHIPS
Character’s Relationship
Evidence of Relationship
Francisco loves his grandmother
“I feel her/with me/whispering/in
my ear/mijito”
She teaches him about his culture.
“I learned/Spanish/from my
grandma”
“I learned/to point out/in
flowerpots/mint leaves”
She teaches him about nature.
She teaches him to be playful.
“my grandma/would chat/with
chairs/sing them/old/songs”
She makes him feel loved.
“mijito/don’t cry/she’d tell me”