My appearance and body language Tells you I am one mean person.

That is characterization.

E.Q. What does STEAL stand for, and how do I use it in characterization?

What is Character?What is Character?

A person or animal who takes part in A person or animal who takes part in the action of the story, play or other the action of the story, play or other literary work.literary work.

What/Who is the Protagonist?What/Who is the Protagonist?

The protagonist is the major character of The protagonist is the major character of the work, the work, action revolves around themaction revolves around them. . They are the one with the major conflict to They are the one with the major conflict to resolve.resolve.

What/Who is the Antagonist?What/Who is the Antagonist?

The antagonist works against the protagonist. The antagonist works against the protagonist. It can either be another character or thing. It can either be another character or thing.

Big Picture vs. In the MomentBig Picture vs. In the Moment

Characterizations mostly Characterizations mostly build an build an overalloverall picture of a picture of a charactercharacter

Don’t be tricked…Don’t be tricked… Example: Anger in one Example: Anger in one

scene does not necessarily scene does not necessarily make that character an make that character an angry personangry person

Look for the big picture of a Look for the big picture of a charactercharacter

Two Types of Two Types of CharacterizationCharacterization

DirectDirect

IndirectIndirect2

What is Direct Characterization?What is Direct Characterization?

DirectDirect characterization characterization TELLSTELLS the reader the reader what the character is likewhat the character is like The author simply TELLS the reader what the The author simply TELLS the reader what the

character’s traits arecharacter’s traits are

“They were the laziest couple on the block. Most of their

days were spent sitting on the couch, watching television and eating themselves into

oblivion.”

Direct CharacterizationDirect CharacterizationThe writer simply The writer simply

tells ustells us what the what the character is likecharacter is like

“Billy was painfully shy. He suffered from the

insecurities of his small size and could not imagine

himself as someone people would like.”

What is Indirect Characterization?What is Indirect Characterization?IndirectIndirect characterization characterization SHOWSSHOWS the reader the reader what the character is likewhat the character is like The author uses descriptive language to show what The author uses descriptive language to show what

the character’s traits arethe character’s traits are More subtle than direct characterization, but usually More subtle than direct characterization, but usually

more powerfulmore powerful

“Ralph and Zelda sat like zombies, staring at the

television. This was the 20th hour they had been sitting on the couch in the last 2 days, doing nothing but eating and

gazing at the screen.”

What is STEAL?What is STEAL?

S – T – E – A - LS – T – E – A - L

We use the acronym STEAL to reveal We use the acronym STEAL to reveal who a character is through indirect who a character is through indirect characterization.characterization.

Be Careful!Be Careful! Not ALL dialogue will tell us something about Not ALL dialogue will tell us something about the characterthe character The dialogue must make a characteristic of the The dialogue must make a characteristic of the character in question come to life very clearlycharacter in question come to life very clearly ““He stole off to Teddy’s bathroom, but there was He stole off to Teddy’s bathroom, but there was

nothing there” (Kipling 27).nothing there” (Kipling 27). ““Rikki-tikki was too well bred to bite or scratch, but Rikki-tikki was too well bred to bite or scratch, but

as soon as Teddy was asleep, he went off for his as soon as Teddy was asleep, he went off for his nightly walk around the house . . . (Kipling 27). nightly walk around the house . . . (Kipling 27).

SSpeechpeech – What a Character Says – What a Character Says

““Hey Joey, want to come to the movies Hey Joey, want to come to the movies with us tonight?” his friend Mike asked.with us tonight?” his friend Mike asked.

““No way,” he replied. “The movie’s No way,” he replied. “The movie’s lame. I don’t feel like doing anything. lame. I don’t feel like doing anything. The popcorn will probably make me sick The popcorn will probably make me sick anyway, the seats will be dirty, and you anyway, the seats will be dirty, and you can’t talk during the movie. It would can’t talk during the movie. It would probably be a disaster.”probably be a disaster.”

TThoughts – What a Character Thinkshoughts – What a Character Thinks

Do their Do their thoughts thoughts match their match their actions? If actions? If not, what does not, what does it say about it say about their their character?character?

“I can’t believe she likes this dress. It’s going to look horrible on her.”

“Isn’t this dress cute?”

“I love it. It would look great on you.”

The The EEffects of the ffects of the Character’s Character’s

Actions on OthersActions on Others

““The gunman strode into the bar. Immediately, the place The gunman strode into the bar. Immediately, the place seemed to shrink from itself. Everyone subconsciously seemed to shrink from itself. Everyone subconsciously moved a step away from the door or subtly shifted their moved a step away from the door or subtly shifted their chairs. Most looked away. The bartender continued to chairs. Most looked away. The bartender continued to polish the bar, but moving slowly away from the shooter polish the bar, but moving slowly away from the shooter as he polished. Animated conversations stopped as he polished. Animated conversations stopped instantly. No one breathed. The gunman stopped, instantly. No one breathed. The gunman stopped, watched this happen, a tiny smile slowly appearing at the watched this happen, a tiny smile slowly appearing at the corners of his mouth.” corners of his mouth.”

A Character’s A Character’s AActionsctions

Scar had the hyenas start a stampede so that Scar had the hyenas start a stampede so that Mufasa would be killed by the frightened Mufasa would be killed by the frightened wildebeest. What do his actions say about him?wildebeest. What do his actions say about him?

Character’s Character’s LLooks (Appearance)ooks (Appearance)Author’s use a character’s look to help you Author’s use a character’s look to help you decide their true character.decide their true character.

What Does it What Does it SaySay??

The importance of characterization The importance of characterization lies in lies in what the characterization what the characterization says about the charactersays about the character..

What does it tell us about What does it tell us about the the charactercharacter??

STEAL a Characterization of yourself!STEAL a Characterization of yourself!

On the back of your notes write the acronym STEAL On the back of your notes write the acronym STEAL and answer the characterization on your own.and answer the characterization on your own.

SS – – does what you say reflect who you are?does what you say reflect who you are?

TT – – What do your thoughts say about you?What do your thoughts say about you?

EE – – How do you effect others?How do you effect others?

AA – – Do the things you do reflect who you are?Do the things you do reflect who you are?

LL – – How do your clothes reflect who you are?How do your clothes reflect who you are?