CharacterisationLO: Improve

characterisation in our writing.

What is characterisation?

It is the concept of creating characters in a story.Effective characterisation makes a literary character realistic and believable.‘Direct characterisation’ – explaining the character to the audience. ‘Indirect characterisation’ – showing the reader the character through his thought, speech, appearance or action. E.g. “Sam threw his chair at Billy”

Pieta – Michelang

eloWhat is the man doing?What is the woman doing?What can we tell about their relationship?This in example of ‘indirect characterisation’.

His trembling bottom lip hung down, his shoulders shook violently and hot, fat tears rolled down his cheeks.

Action through emotion

Direct or indirect?

Action through emotion

Direct or indirect?

The little boy was scared.

AppearanceWhat assumptions come to mind when you see the way this man is dressed?Rather than stating ‘he is a businessman’, it is much more effective to describe the way he is dressed.This allows the audience to figure it out for themselves.

AppearanceHe checked his watch for the twelfth time that minute, readjusted his tie and smoothed his immaculate pinstripe suit. His briefcase hung heavy by his side and his highly-polished shoes glinted under the fluorescent lights.

The SignalmanHow is the Signalman’s character presented within the story?

What do these indirect quotes tell us? What can we begin to analyse?

“…saw that he was a dark sallow man, with a dark beard and rather heavy eyebrows “

“He directed a most curious look towards the red light near the tunnel's mouth, and looked all about it, as if something were missing from it, and then looked at

me.”

Your TaskCreate your own newspaper article. Draw a picture of the ghostDescribe The Signalman’s experience of seeing the ghost Witness account from the Ghost.Remember to show rather than state what your character is like.Think about your toneTabloid or Broadsheet?