Name: _______________
Date: ______________________
#: ___________
Characterization
Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization can be direct
or indirect.
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.”
Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is
“patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of
indirect characterization. You can remember them by using the acronym STEAL:
1.
Speech
What does the character say? How does the character speak?
2.
Thoughts
What do the character’s private thoughts reveal about him or her?
3.
Effect on
What do other characters say or think about the character? What do they do in reaction others
to the character?
4.
Actions
What does the character do? How does the character behave?
5.
Looks
What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Using the chart on the chart on the next page, find an example of each method of characterization in the novel Okay for
Now. Then explain what you learned about the character from each example.
Name: _______________
Date: ______________________
#: ___________
Characterization chart
Way
character is
revealed
Narrator tells the
reader about the
character
directly
(direct
characterization)
What the
character says
What the
character thinks
The character’s
effect on others
(what other
characters say,
think, or do in
response to the
character)
The character’s
actions
The character’s
looks
Example
Pg.
#
What you learned about the
character from this example