Characters are the people we meet in a story, poem, or play. We learn about them through their traits and their interactions with others. Characters

Characters are the people we meet in a story, poem, or play. We learn about them through their traits and their interactions with others.

Characters

Characters’ traits are the qualities that make up their personalities.

Characters

romantic

You get to know characters by observing their traits.

shy competitive moody

Characters

Interactions among characters show how they relate to each other and affect one another.

As Brandon walked down the hall, he saw Melanie struggling with her books. He stopped for a second, as if he might help, then laughed loudly and continued on his way.

As Brandon walked down the hall, he saw Melanie struggling with her books. He stopped for a second, as if he might help, then laughed loudly and continued on his way.

That’s not a very positive interaction. He doesn’t act like a caring person would act.

Paying attention to characters’ interactions helps you make judgments about their personality traits.

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The protagonist in a story is the main character, the one you sometimes want to root for.

CharactersProtagonist and Antagonist

An antagonist is a character who tries to keep the protagonist from succeeding.

CharactersProtagonist and Antagonist

Daniel sat at the end of the bench, hanging his head. He couldn’t believe he’d had to sit through another game without playing. He thought of all the time he’d spent practicing and looked up at his little brother in the stands, waiting patiently for him to get into the game. Everyone knew he was too good to be riding the bench.

Coach Adams smirked at Daniel’s disappointment and chuckled to himself.

Who is the protagonist?

Who is the antagonist?

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Quick Check

Round characters have many different traits.

CharactersRound and Flat Characters

studiousstylish

mischievous

shy

Like real people, they have more than one side to their personalities.

CharactersRound and Flat Characters

Flat characters have just one or two traits.

grumpy grouchy

They can be described in a word or two.

CharacterRound and Flat Characters

Max wished he could cheer up Daniel. There was nothing Max hated more than a sour mood. He could turn anything into a joke, and usually did.

Daniel, on the other hand, was more complicated than that. Sure, he wanted to laugh at his problems, but he felt torn between goofing around with his friends and helping his family now that his father was ill. Still, he knew Max meant well and didn’t want to let his friend down.

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Which boy is the best example of a round character? Why?

Quick Check

CharacterStatic and Dynamic Characters

A static character does not change in the course of the story.

Static characters often provide a foil, or contrast, to the protagonist.

A good foil for a peaceful protagonist would be a character who is often angry or ill-tempered.


A dynamic character grows and changes through the course of a story.

Like real people, they are transformed by time and experience.


When the team won the championship, the crowd went wild. It was Daniel who cheered the loudest and longest for his old teammates. He had wanted so badly to get on the court to impress his brother, but Joe’s grin told him that he was happy to have some company up in the stands.

Daniel even offered Coach Adams a thumbs-up, but the coach simply sneered at his former player, just like he always had. Daniel shrugged.

What clues show that Daniel is a dynamic character?

What suggests that Coach Adams is a static character?

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Quick Check

Character Motivation

A character’s motivation is the reason he or she behaves in a certain way.

feelings

Many things may contribute to a character’s motivation.

feelings experiences others’ actions

Coach Adams looked down the bench at Daniel and couldn’t help but laugh at how depressed his player looked. He knew he shouldn’t be so mean, but Daniel was just too perfect; Coach felt like he was doing him a favor by teaching him that he couldn’t win at everything.

Besides, when he was Daniel’s age, he’d spent plenty of time on the bench—thanks to Daniel’s father, who’d stolen his starting position.

Payback felt good.

Quick CheckWhat are Coach Adams’s motivations for keeping Daniel on the bench?

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Character Motivation

Characterization

Characterization is how an author reveals characters’ personalities and brings them to life.

When writers use direct characterization, they tell us directly what characters are like or what their motives are.

She was one of those people who could set you at ease as soon as she entered the room.

She was warm-hearted, genuine and kind.

She was one of those people who could set you at ease as soon as she entered the room.

She was warm-hearted, genuine, and kind.

CharacterizationDirect Characterization

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CharacterizationIndirect Characterization

When writers use indirect characterization, they show the characters’ traits, allowing the reader to make inferences based on observations.

As she walked down the hall, her classmates scurried out of her path.

The corners of her mouth turned down and her eyes were slits. She slammed shut each open locker door she passed.

As she walked down the hall, her classmates scurried out of her path.

The corners of her mouth turned down, and her eyes were slits. She slammed shut each open locker door she passed.

Writers show us characters by revealing

dialogue appearance private thoughts

others’ reactions actions


• what characters say and don’t say, and

Dialogue can reveal a lot about characters and their relationships with each other. Pay attention to

• how characters respond to each other.


Pay attention to language the writer uses to describe a character’s appearance, including looks, clothes, and behavior.

• Does the description give you a positive or negative impression of the character?

• Which words contribute to this impression?

Her icy eyes were spaced narrowly, just above her sharp nose. They were framed by thin brows whose arch formed severe peaks at her forehead. Two tight, pinched lips and a sharp V of a chin finished off her face.

Her icy eyes were spaced narrowly, just above her sharp nose. They were framed by thin brows whose arch formed severe peaks at her forehead. Two tight, pinched lips and a sharp V of a chin finished off her face.


Writers can take us into a character’s mind to reveal the private thoughts and personality traits of that character.

As you read, pay close attention to any descriptions of a character’s thoughts and feelings.


Watch for how other characters react to a character. Pay attention to

• how others feel about the character, and

• what others say about the character.


How characters behave, including how they treat each other, often reveals a lot about them.

Observe characters’ actions to determine

• what their personalities are like,

• what motivates them, and

• how they deal with conflict.


How does the author show the character’s traits?

Based on this excerpt, how would you characterize this man?

Quick Check“Just keep driving and no one gets hurt,” he growled.

He wore head-to-toe black, from his heavy leather boots to the wool ski mask that obscured his face. Beads of sweat dampened his mask, and the white sack he clutched so tightly was soaked through with red dye.

His breathing was rapid and anxious, and his eyes darted furiously from the rearview mirror to the passenger’s side window.

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Characters are the people we meet in a story, poem, or play. We learn about them through their traits and their interactions with others. Characters