What Makes a Character Believable? Feature Menu Character Traits Characterization Characters and Motivation Types of Characters Characters in Conflict

What Makes a Character Believable?

Feature Menu

Character Traits

Characterization

Characters and Motivation

Types of Characters

Characters in Conflict

Your Turn

Character Traits

A trait, or special quality, defines a person’s character. A person might be

studious

athletic

shy

What additional traits might describe someone?

hardworking

artistic

Character Traits

A story’s characters, like the people you know, also have traits.

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daring

funny

strong

Characterization

A writer shows you what characters are like through characterization.

There are two kinds of characterization:

direct characterization

indirect characterization

Characterization

In direct characterization, the writer tells readers what a character is like:

Evan was an original. At the age of sixteen, he’d started his own Internet music business. He was ambitious and had good business sense.

Evan was an original. At the age of sixteen, he’d started his own Internet music business. He was ambitious and had good business sense.

In this example, the writer tells us directly that Evan, unlike many kids his age, is interested in running a successful business.

Characterization

In indirect characterization, the writer shows what a character is like. The writer describes:

• appearance,

• dialogue,

• private thoughts,

• actions, and

• others’ responses.

When a writer uses indirect characterization, we see the character in action.

Indirect Characterization: Appearance

A character’s appearance—physical features, clothing, and general behavior—often provides insight into the character’s personality.

Characterization

relaxed, fun-loving

professional, serious artistic

creative

Indirect Characterization: Appearance

Characterization

A figure appeared at the edge of the park, a boy none of the regular players had seen before. He stood there, watching the group on the basketball court.

The new kid wore an old jersey and baggy shorts. His basketball shoes—the expensive kind—were scuffed and worn. He watched the players closely, bouncing the ball he’d brought with him with a rhythmic thud, thud, thud.

In the following passage, notice details about the character’s appearance.

What does his appearance suggest about the new kid?

A figure appeared at the edge of the park, a boy none of the regular players had seen before. He stood there, watching the group on the basketball court.

The new kid wore an old jersey and baggy shorts. His basketball shoes—the expensive kind—were scuffed and worn. He watched the players closely, bouncing the ball he’d brought with him with a rhythmic thud, thud, thud.

Indirect Characterization: Dialogue

Dialogue—what characters say to each other—reveals a lot about their personalities. Pay close attention to what characters say, as well as to how they say it.

Characterization

What a great idea!

What a silly idea!

How would you describe each of the characters above? What clues tell you about what each character is like?

Indirect Characterization: Dialogue

Read the following passage, noticing both what the characters say and how they say it.

Characterization

“Isn’t it great?” Kate said, her eyes shining. “I made the lead in the spring play! Of course, I knew I would.”

“Congratulations,” Maria said. She smiled at her friend.

Kate smirked. “You’re not jealous, are you?”

“Of course not. I’m happy for you,” Maria replied. “Besides, I’m going to help design the costumes.”

“Whatever,” said Kate with a shrug.

What does this dialogue show about Kate’s character?What does it show about Maria’s character?











Indirect Characterization: Private Thoughts

Characters’ private thoughts can reveal a lot about who they are.

Characterization

I’m really nervous about this interview.

I’d love to go to

this college.

I just know I’m going to

get in!

Indirect Characterization: Private Thoughts

As you read the following passage, pay attention to the character’s private thoughts.

Characterization

Alex sat in the hard plastic chair, waiting for his name to be called. He clutched a driver’s manual.

I know all the rules, Alex thought. I’ve almost memorized the whole manual. I’ll do fine on the test.

Still, his foot tapped nervously. Alex didn’t like tests. What if he was the last of his friends to get his learner’s permit?

What do Alex’s thoughts reveal about what he wants and what he fears?

Alex sat in the hard plastic chair, waiting for his name to be called. He clutched a driver’s manual.

I know all the rules, Alex thought. I’ve almost memorized the whole manual. I’ll do fine on the test.

Still, his foot tapped nervously. Alex didn’t like tests. What if he was the last of his friends to get his learner’s permit?

Indirect Characterization: Actions

Characters’ actions—the things they do and how they do them—say a great deal about them.

Characterization

helpfulcompetitive

adventurous

Indirect Characterization: Actions

As you read the following passage, take note of the man’s actions.

Characterization

The man wore jeans and a black turtleneck. He ran along the darkened street, darting from one shadow to the next, avoiding the streetlights’ beams.

When the courthouse clock struck midnight, he froze, pressing himself flat against a wall. The last chime faded. The man crept along the side of the building until he came to a window.

What do this character’s actions suggest about him?

The man wore jeans and a black turtleneck. He ran along the darkened street, darting from one shadow to the next, avoiding the streetlights’ beams.

When the courthouse clock struck midnight, he froze, pressing himself flat against a wall. The last chime faded. The man crept along the side of the building until he came to a window.

Indirect Characterization: Others’ Responses

How other characters react also helps readers understand what a character is like.

Characterization

approvaldisapproval mistrust

Indirect Characterization: Others’ Responses

Notice how the characters below react to each other.

Characterization

Mr. Lopez strolled through his neighborhood on his way home from work. Mr. Adams, who was sitting on his front porch, smiled and waved.

At the corner grocery store, old Mrs. Ortiz was struggling with two big brown bags. “Mr. Lopez,” she called, “would you mind helping me?” Mr. Lopez took both bags in his arms and walked Mrs. Ortiz home. “Thank you,” she said, patting his arm. “You’re a life saver.”

What do the reactions of Mr. Lopez’s neighbors suggest about him?

Mr. Lopez strolled through his neighborhood on his way home from work. Mr. Adams, who was sitting on his front porch, smiled and waved.

At the corner grocery store, old Mrs. Ortiz was struggling with two big brown bags. “Mr. Lopez,” she called, “would you mind helping me?” Mr. Lopez took both bags in his arms and walked Mrs. Ortiz home. “Thank you,” she said, patting his arm. “You’re a life saver.”

What does Gaby’s appearance suggest about her?

Characterization

Quick CheckGaby looked up at the steep, high cliff. Her eyes widened.

“Are you okay?” asked Mark. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” said Gaby. “I can’t wait to climb up there.” She glanced at the cliff again and shuddered.

“You’d better put on your equipment then. Everyone else is ready to get started.”

“I’ll do it right away,” Gaby said, but she stood where she was, staring at the cliff.

What does Gaby’s speech indicate about her?

Gaby’s speech doesn’t agree with her appearance. What might this suggest about her character?

Characterization

Quick CheckGaby’s hands shook as she put on her rock-climbing harness and helmet. She imagined how it would feel to be high above the ground, clinging to a cliff. She felt sick to her stomach.

She’d told her friends she’d love to go rock-climbing with them, but now she was wishing she’d stayed home.

What do Gaby’s inner thoughts suggest about her?

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Writers make characters believable by revealing what motivates them to act as they do.


If you’ve ever wondered . . .

you’ve thought about motivation.

Why did the character do

that?


Motivation comes from a character’s desires or goals.

goal

+ =

motivation

desire

What does the character want?


To understand what motivates a character, answer this question:


Character motivation often involves other characters.

Friends might motivate each other to study.

A cheering crowd might motivate an athlete.

A mother might motivate her child to do chores.


What does Levon want? What are his motivations?

Quick CheckLevon stood in the wings, waiting for his cue to go on stage. His heart pounded, and his stomach felt like it was turning somersaults. His mouth was so dry that he knew the words would never come out—if he could remember his lines.

When he’d heard that Deb was trying out for the school play, he’d gone to the auditions, too. Then he got a part and she didn’t. It was too late to back out. Everyone in the cast was counting on him.

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The protagonist is a story’s main character, the focus of a reader’s attention. A protagonist

Types of Characters

• often is complicated and contradictory, like a real person,

• has both strengths and weaknesses, and

• drives the story’s action.

The antagonist blocks or tries to block the protagonist from getting what he or she wants.

The antagonist may be

a nonhuman forceanother character

Types of Characters

Critics often refer to fictional characters as flat, round, or stock.

Flat characters have just one or two traits.

grumpy grouchy

They can be described in a word or two.

Types of Characters

Round characters have many different traits.

studiousstylish

mischievous

shy

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

Types of Characters

A stock character fits our preconceived notions of a “type.”

Stock characters are often familiar to us:

mad scientists

whacky professors

meddling neighbors

clumsy sidekicks

Types of Characters

Sheila paused, lifting her oar from the water and into the canoe.

Seated behind her, Twyla coughed. “What’s wrong now?”

Sheila muttered, “We should head back to where we started.”

“No,” Twyla said sharply. “We need to paddle over to where we had lunch, so I can find my camera.”

Sheila snorted. “I don’t see what’s so important about that camera.”

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Which character is the antagonist? How do you know?

Quick Check

Types of Characters


Conflict is the struggle at the heart of every story. Many conflicts result from the opposing desires of a protagonist and an antagonist.

To understand what’s behind a conflict, answer this question: “What do the characters want?”

External conflict occurs between a character and some outside force:


a force or aspect of nature.

the society in which the protagonist lives

another character or group of characters

Internal conflict occurs when a character must make a difficult decision or wrestle with his or her own feelings.

The character may struggle with opposing


needs desires emotions


With what internal conflict is Hannah wrestling?

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Quick Check“Hannah, are you coming with us to the movies on Saturday afternoon?” Linda asked.

“I can’t,” Hannah said, “I have to visit my grandmother at the nursing home.”

“Oh, come on. It’ll be fun. You can visit your grandmother some other time.”

Hannah felt torn. She enjoyed spending time with her grandmother, and she knew how much Nana looked forward to her weekly visit. Still, she didn’t want to miss out on having fun with her friends.

What external conflict does Hannah face?

Think of a famous person. Write a paragraph describing him or her, using at least three methods of indirect characterization.

Analyze Character

speech

Describe the person’s appearance, actions, speech, or effect on others. Do not use the person’s name.

Your Turn

appearance

actions

effect on others

After you’ve finished writing, exchange your character description with a classmate.

Analyze Character

•Do you recognize the person your classmate has described?

•Why or why not?

•Based on your classmate’s response, would you change your own characterization?

Your Turn

The End

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What Makes a Character Believable? Feature Menu Character Traits Characterization Characters and Motivation Types of Characters Characters in Conflict