Characterization&

Inference

Characterization

• How the author creates characters through actions, dialogue, and movement.

Characterization• There are two types of

characterization

•Direct•Indirect

Direct CharacterizationThe method of

character development in

which the author simply tells you

what the character is like. For

example, “Miss Alice was the nicest

person you would ever want to meet,”

is direct characterization.

Indirect Characterization

The method of characterization that is most similar to the way we learn about people in real life. Using indirect characterization, the author presents the character’s personality through what he/she says, his/her actions, or how other characters relate to him/her. You must then draw your own conclusions about the character.

Example of Direct or Indirect Characterization?

Read the following example of characterization.

Decide whether it is an example of direct or

indirect characterization.

(A) James was one of those people who was

constantly angry. He looked for trouble

wherever he went, and he usually found it.

Example of Direct or Indirect Characterization?

(B) Stanley’s eyes blazed as he surveyed the room. The corners of his mouth pointed in a decidedly southerly direction. Carol moved aside as he stalked past her.

“Look out for Stan,” she whispered to Bart. “He’s in another one of his moods. I’d stay far away if I were you!”

Description A is an example of direct characterization.

The author comes right out and tells you that James was always angry, and that he was looking for a fight

almost constantly.

Description B is an example of indirect characterization.We can tell from his angry eyes, frowning mouth and the way he walked that he is angry. We can

also see that others are somewhat frightened by him by observing

their reactions. Carol moves aside and warns Bart to avoid Stanley.

Write!

Open your journal, title it “Characterization” and answer the following question in a complete

sentence:

Which method is more effective in developing the character? Why do

you think so?

Methods of Characterizationcreating believable characters…

INDIRECT DIRECT-physical appearance -the narrator’s direct comments

about a character

-speech, thoughts, feelings, or actions of the character

-speech, thought, feelings, actions of other characters

Types of Characters• The protagonist

(or main character) is the central figure in

the work.• The antagonist is

the character or force pitted against the protagonist.

More types of characters…• A static

character does not change through the

course of the action.

• A dynamic character is one

who does change.

Round Character

A round character is a complex, fully

developed character.

Flat CharacterA flat character is a

one-dimensional character,

typically not central to the

story

The protagonist is usually…

• The central character• A character the reader can identify with• Has a rounded personality (we hear

what they say, what others say about them, we know what they think and how they feel)

• A character with a dynamic personality

Secondary characters are usually…

•Static•Flat

Character MotivationA motive is a reason that explains or

partially explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech. If the motives of a main character are not clear, then the character will not be believable.

Characters are often motivated by needs, such as food and shelter. They are also motivated by feelings, such as fear, love, and pride. Motives may be obvious or hidden.

Character’s Qualities or Traits

The personal traits that make up the

character’s personality.

Making Inferences

Inference• Take what you know and make a

guess!• Draw personal meaning from

text (words) or pictures.• You use clues to come to your

own conclusion.

Inferences• Predicting is related to inferring. Readers predict outcomes, events or actions that are

confirmed or contradicted by the end of the story. • Inferences are often more open-ended and may remain unresolved when the story

draws to a close. Readers may need to reread a passage to check for misunderstanding or for clues that were missed during the first reading.

• Explicitly teaching and reinforcing the skill of making inferences positively impacts readers.

• Successful inferring leads to better overall comprehension.• Successful inferring leads to more engagement with text.• Successful inferring make sophisticated readers.• Successful inferring helps students be metacognitive (think about their own thinking).

Make an Inference!• What does this image tell me?

Question…• What did I already know that

helped me make that inference?• Did I use picture or written

clues?

Help Me Make an Inference!

More Questions…• Did you use words, graphs, or

picture clues to help you make a guess about what that cartoon meant?

Try Again!• Can he draw morethan tigers?• Look up words youdon’t know!

Make 1 more Inference

How Do Good Readers Make Inferences?

• They use:1. Word/text clues2. Picture clues3. Define unknown words4. Look for emotion (feelings)5. Use what they already know6. Look for explanations for events7. ASK themselves questions!

Make Another Inference• Miss White has recess duty. Jacob finds

a frog, picks it up, and runs over to show it to Miss White. Miss White screams, jumps, and runs as fast as she can into the school.

• What can you infer from this passage?• What are the “clues” in this passage?

Game Time!• Let’s play a game to find out

how good we are at making inferences:

What Can You Infer?

Authors vs. Readers• Authors Imply, Readers Infer.• Authors make implications that

readers have to infer. • Good Readers are Detectives who

are always looking out for clues to help them better understand stories and pictures.