How do you meet new people?
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Transcript of How do you meet new people?
How do you meet new people?
If a new student arrived at our school tomorrow, how would you learn about him or her?
Literary Device: Characterization
How do you meet the characters in a story?
There are FOUR methods of characterization…
What a character does, What a character says or thinks, What the narrator says about the
character, and What other characters say about
the character (the “middle school method”)
1. What the character does
The reader can learn about a character from his/her actions.
For example, if a character solves most of his problems with violence, we can assume this character will struggle with anger management in other situations.
2. What a character says or thinks
A reader can gain insight into a character based upon what she says or thinks.
A character’s thoughts often reveal their most true character traits.
3. What the narrator says about the character
The narrator can describe a character’s appearance so that the reader may interpret how that character behaves or how that character wants to portray himself.
4. What other characters say about the character (the “middle
school method”) Many times in
middle school, people learn the most about other people based upon stories that people pass on.
This is the least reliable method of characterization.
It frequently reveals how a character fits in with his or her peer group.
Now, you try…
Example 1: “Most of the boys of the village
were tall, broad, and strongly built. Rudi was small and slim. But to make up for it, he was quick.”
Banner in the Skyby James Ramsey
Ullman
Example 2: “Mr. Hoo moved aside a full
ashtray with a show of distaste and rearranged the clues.”
The Westing Game
by Ellen Raskin
Example 3:“Bullet’s not interested,” Cheryl said, warning
Jackson to keep his mouth closed.
“I think you underestimate Bullet,” Jackson said. “He’s smart enough, and he can’t as hard-hearted as he acts. Nobody could be.”
The Runnerby Cynthia Voigt
Example 4: “That’s a bad thing to do,” M&M
said. “Taking something that doesn’t belong to you.”
That Was Then, This Is Now
by S. E. Hinton
How do your characters reveal themselves in your
novel?
Examine characterization as your Critical Stance approach
to literature…