CharacterCharacter

““But Grandmother! What big teeth you But Grandmother! What big teeth you have!”have!”

What is What is CharacterCharacter??• Imaginary Imaginary people created by the writer. people created by the writer.

• Perhaps the most important element of Perhaps the most important element of literature is literature is character developmentcharacter development..

• Look for Look for connectionsconnections, , linkslinks, and , and cluesclues between and about characters. between and about characters.

• Ask yourself what the Ask yourself what the functionfunction and and significancesignificance of each character is. of each character is.

• Make this determination based upon the Make this determination based upon the character's character's historyhistory, what the reader is , what the reader is told (and not told) about the character.told (and not told) about the character.

ExploringExploring CharacterCharacter

• The creation and development The creation and development of character in literature often of character in literature often results in an exploration of results in an exploration of specific aspects of the specific aspects of the human human experience experience and and human nature human nature (complex values, (complex values, external/internal conflicts, and external/internal conflicts, and powerful emotions are powerful emotions are examined)examined)

Aspects and Elements of Aspects and Elements of CharacterCharacter

• CharacterizationCharacterization- The means by which writers - The means by which writers reveal character. reveal character.

• Protagonist Protagonist – The character at the center of – The character at the center of the story/conflict (main character). the story/conflict (main character).

• Antagonist Antagonist - A character or force that opposes - A character or force that opposes the protagonist. the protagonist.

• Major character Major character - - A major character in A major character in literature is a character that plays a large role literature is a character that plays a large role in the story, but is not the main character. in the story, but is not the main character.

• Minor character Minor character - Often provides support - Often provides support and/or illuminates the character traits of the and/or illuminates the character traits of the protagonist (main character)protagonist (main character)

Aspects and Elements of Aspects and Elements of CharacterCharacter

• Static Static character - A character who remains character - A character who remains the same over the course of the novel. the same over the course of the novel.

• DynamicDynamic character - A character who changes character - A character who changes in some important way over the course of the in some important way over the course of the novel. novel.

• Explicit Explicit Judgment- The narrator gives facts Judgment- The narrator gives facts and interpretive comment on aspects of the and interpretive comment on aspects of the story. story.

• ImpliedImplied Judgment- The narrator gives Judgment- The narrator gives description in the story, and the reader is left description in the story, and the reader is left to make their own judgment.to make their own judgment.

What is a What is a foil?foil?

Oh, I know! I know! Oh, I know! I know! Um, ok, no I don’t. I’ve Um, ok, no I don’t. I’ve just always wanted to just always wanted to

say that!say that! Why don’t Why don’t you tell us you tell us

Monica since Monica since you seem to you seem to

know know everything.everything.

Monica knows Monica knows everything? everything? II

know know everything! I’m everything! I’m

a a PalaeontologistPalaeontologist

!!

Ha...hHa...haa

I tried to I tried to eat tin foil eat tin foil

once. once. Wait...what Wait...what

was the was the question?question?

What is a What is a FoilFoil Character?Character?

• A A foilfoil is a person who is a person who contrastscontrasts with with another character (usually the another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight protagonist) in order to highlight various features of the main various features of the main character's personality (opposite yet character's personality (opposite yet complimentary).complimentary).

• However, a foil usually has some However, a foil usually has some important characteristics in common important characteristics in common with the other character as well, such with the other character as well, such as as superficial traits superficial traits or or personal personal historyhistory..

Examples of a Examples of a FoilFoil in in LiteratureLiterature

• MercutioMercutio and and RomeoRomeo in in Romeo and JulietRomeo and Juliet

• MacbethMacbeth and and BanquoBanquo or or MacbethMacbeth and and MacduffMacduff in in MacbethMacbeth

• HamletHamlet and and LaertesLaertes in in HamletHamlet

• Mr. CollinsMr. Collins and and Mr. DarcyMr. Darcy in in Pride and Pride and PrejudicePrejudice

• Harry PotterHarry Potter and and Draco MalfoyDraco Malfoy in in Harry Harry Potter and The Philosopher's StonePotter and The Philosopher's Stone

An An archetype archetype

is an is an original original

model of a model of a person, person,

ideal ideal example, example,

or a or a prototype prototype

upon upon which which

others are others are copied, copied,

patterned, patterned, or or

emulated; emulated; a symbol a symbol

universally universally recognized recognized

by all. by all.

What'sWhat'sA Character A Character Archetype?Archetype?

The The CriminalCriminal

The The LunaticLunatic

The JockThe Jock The The PrincessPrincess

The The BrainBrain

Approaches to Approaches to Character Character AnalysisAnalysis

• Consider Consider physicalphysical traits and traits and descriptionsdescriptions

• Explore what the character Explore what the character doesdoes (actions)(actions)

• Explore what the character Explore what the character says/thinkssays/thinks

• Examine what Examine what other characters other characters say/thinksay/think about him/her about him/her

Approaches to Approaches to Character Character AnalysisAnalysis

• Consider the Consider the character’s role character’s role in the in the novel (main/major/minor character? Do novel (main/major/minor character? Do they shape the conflict?)they shape the conflict?)

• Ponder the significance of Ponder the significance of character character namesnames (an immature man named (an immature man named Teddy)Teddy)

• Analyze how the character Analyze how the character changeschanges over over the course of the story. What is the the course of the story. What is the thematic significancethematic significance??

Critical Analysis of Critical Analysis of CharacterizationCharacterization

Making Connections to the Character:Making Connections to the Character:

ASKASK......

• As a reader, what do you like and/or dislike As a reader, what do you like and/or dislike about this character?about this character?

• What does the author want the reader to feel What does the author want the reader to feel for the character (empathy? hatred? for the character (empathy? hatred? fondness? )? fondness? )?

• As a reader, do you identify with this character As a reader, do you identify with this character on any level? on any level?

• As a reader, do you care about this character? As a reader, do you care about this character?

Critical Analysis of Critical Analysis of CharacterizationCharacterization

Evaluate the moral structure of the character: Evaluate the moral structure of the character:

ASKASK......• To what degree are her/his morals defined by To what degree are her/his morals defined by

contrasting minor characters, by the testimony contrasting minor characters, by the testimony of characters who are readily acceptable as of characters who are readily acceptable as witnesses?witnesses?

• What are the character's inclinations to What are the character's inclinations to specific virtues and vices, her/his powers or specific virtues and vices, her/his powers or handicaps with relation to those virtues and handicaps with relation to those virtues and vices?vices?

• Examine the important actions through which Examine the important actions through which her/his moral stature is apparent.her/his moral stature is apparent.

Critical Analysis of Critical Analysis of CharacterizationCharacterization

Evaluate the psychology of the character:Evaluate the psychology of the character:

ASKASK......

• What are her/his dominant traits or desires? How did these What are her/his dominant traits or desires? How did these traits or desires apparently originate? Do they support or traits or desires apparently originate? Do they support or oppose one another?oppose one another?

• Through what modes of awareness is the protagonist most Through what modes of awareness is the protagonist most responsive to life and experience: rational, instinctual, responsive to life and experience: rational, instinctual, sensory, emotional, intuitive? sensory, emotional, intuitive?

• How does the character deal with a crisis? In what terms How does the character deal with a crisis? In what terms does she/he see her/his problem? What does she/he does she/he see her/his problem? What does she/he maximize or minimize, try to prove or disprove? Do her/his maximize or minimize, try to prove or disprove? Do her/his reactions proceed through definite phases? If so, what are reactions proceed through definite phases? If so, what are they? How may one explain the character's effectiveness or they? How may one explain the character's effectiveness or inadequacy in dealing with this emergency?inadequacy in dealing with this emergency?