Character+Traits

=Character Traits= traits are the qualities of a certain person, whether they are physical or emotional. You determine some traits by observing the way a character looks. You infer other traits by paying attention to the way the character behaves or by things the characters say. Sample

The traits that make up a character are not always stated in a story; you will have to determine each character's qualities as you read, by thinking about that person's actions.

Here are a few traits we can infer from actions: =**Characterization**= **Characterization** is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character. Characterization is revealed through **direct characterization** and  **indirect characterization**.  **Direct Characterization** //tells //the audience what the personality of the character is.  Example: "The patient boy and quiet girl were both well mannered and did not disobey their mother." <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;"> <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The boy is "patient" and the girl is "quiet.   <span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">   other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
 * //Jesse had no idea how deep the river was. He just jumped.// Trait:
 * //Amanda had no idea why everyone else was laughing as she strolled around the room in mismatched shoes.// Trait: **clueless**
 * //Susan jumped every time the door opened.// Trait: **jittery**
 * Indirect Characterization** //<span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">shows //<span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,Verdana;">things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five different methods of indirect characterization:
 * S**peech What does the character say? How does the character speak?
 * T**houghts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
 * E**ffect on others toward the character. What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do
 * A**ctions What does the character do? How does the character behave?
 * L**ooks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?