Boot Camp A.P. Literature

Part 2- Characterization

Character Defined A character is

presumably an imagined person who inhabits a story, though there are exceptions to this simple definition.

Characters require motivation, sufficient reason to behave as they do if we are to believe they are realistic.

George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an exception to the “rule.”

Types of Characters Flat Round Static Dynamic Protagonist Antagonist Hero Anti hero Stock Archetype

Stock Characters Stereotypical characters

that require little detail from the author since audiences know them so well.

Examples: Prince Charming, the mad scientist, the greedy explorer, the reckless police detective.

Sampson and Gregory from Romeo and Juliet fit the stock definition of “the bragging solider” from Roman comedy.

The Archetype

The psychologist, Carl Gustav Jung, used the concept of archetype in his theory of the human psyche. He believed that universal, mythic characters—archetypes—reside within the collective unconscious of people the world over. Archetypes represent fundamental human motifs of our experience as we evolved; consequentially, they evoke deep emotions.

1. The hero2. The mother3. The innocent youth4. The mentor5. The lover6. The rebel7. The creator8. The magician9. The jester10.The sage11.The ruler12.The explorer13.The temptress14.The villain

Common Archetype examples

**You can have archetypal situations too, like the journey.

Stock vs Archetype

A stock character although recognizable is also flat or cliché and can have a negative connotation

A stock character can be dependent upon its time period and may go out of date

Archetypes help establish more than just a superficial understanding of the character, they supply an undercurrent of theme, plot, or understanding which that time honored figure brings to the subconscious mind.

If an archetype is a standard character that appears in may works of literature, what makes it different from the stock character?

Properly Using the Word ArchetypeHere are sentences showing when to use archetype vs archetypal

Prometheus is an archetypal hero.

The Garden of Eden is an archetype for settings of paradise and innocence.

The coming-of-age story featured a loss of innocence, including an archetypal garden setting and snake figure.

The archetype of the “hero’s journey” is featured in many adventure films today.

Practice with All The Pretty Horses The novel as an archetypal plot: the

coming of age tale or the hero’s journey? Both

Does it contain an archetypal character? The hero, the villain, maybe more

If it is a coming of age tale, what would be the garden setting and the snake? …

Round/Flat Flat characters may be

minor characters with a single unique role or physical attribute.

One way that round characters come to life is when we get differing perspectives from multiple other characters about them.

Charles Dickens’ Tiny Tim is a memorable flat character. He serves to remind others of their Christian duties and blessings.

Dynamic/Static Dynamic characters

change over the course of a work.

Static characters remain largely the same.

Major characters tend to be round and dynamic.

It is difficult to avoid making minor characters flat and static.

John Grady and Rawlins in the film version of All the Pretty Horses

Ebenezer Scrooge is an obviously dynamic character.

Hero / Anti-Hero Heroic characters assume

typical aspects of a hero. He or she is noble, brave, and lives a purposeful life.

Anti-heroes have become popular in modern literature. They are protagonists who lack heroic qualities, often to the point of irony.

John Grady Cole is noble and moral

Jay Gatsby lies, cheats, breaks the law, obsesses over a married woman. He’s a classic anti-hero.

Hero? Anti-Hero?

Homer’s Odysseus is a hero in the classical sense.

Gulliver is an anti-hero used for comic effect by Swift.

Joyce’s Leopold Bloom is an ironic anti-hero for the 20th century.

Characterization Methods

Direct Characterization Author tells the audience

what the character is like. Indirect

Characterization Author shows the

audience what the character is like through description.

Stronger method as it causes the characters to “come alive.”

5 Methods of Indirect Characterization Actions = what the character does Appearance = what the character looks like Private Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of

view. Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it. What Others Say = public and private opinion of the character by

others in the work.

A Character’s PurposeMain Character To make a story

rich and interesting

Used to develop a theme

Can reveal commentary on a society

Supporting Character

Serves to advance the plot

Provides needed information

To reveal things about the main character

Annotating Indirect Characterization

ACT Actions = what the character does

APP Appearance = what the character looks like

THO Private Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of view.

SPE Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it.

OTH What Others Say = public and private opinion of the character by others in the work.

Directions for “Who’s Irish” and “Miss Brill” Follow the handouts directions for Part 1

or Task 1 on identifying characterization and distinguishing between main and supporting characters.

Have your annotations with character chart ready for class on announced due date.

Use the indirect characterization annotation abbreviations

1. Select a character 2. Decide what is the effect of

your selected character’s depiction in the story: Sympathetic? Catalyst for plot development? Reflection of a theme? Symbolic? Social commentary? Other?

3. Find examples of characterization that reflect your idea about the character.

4. Be very structured to build the understanding in an analysis

Getting Started

Character Analysis Identify the type of

characters. Explain why. For each character,

provide one quote that exemplifies a method of indirect characterization.

Discuss what effect the characterization has on the story.

Use the task /part 3 prompts as guides.

“Who’s Irish” by Gish Jen

“Miss Brill” by Catherine Mansfield

Select a character from one of the following characters

***To be completed in class when assigned but feel free to consider your options ahead of time.

Creating a Character based Thesis Your thesis should

mention both author and title by name.

Your thesis should directly address the prompt and name the element(s) you have chosen to address.

Your thesis should address the meaning of the work as a whole Today, Effect might

be to support a theme, or create a social commentary.

Practice your writing your thesis