Characterization

The creation of imaginary persons that strike the

reader as real within the context of the story

Expository Characterization

A direct presentation of facts and other information about a character by the narrator or by another character Facts such as the

character’s looks, age, background, social status, and so on

Often these facts are presented at the beginning of the story

Dramatic Characterization

Allowing the reader to draw his or her own conclusions about this character’s personality, values, attitudes, and relationships with other characters by observing the character in action—his or her speech, behavior, and recorded thoughts

Character Types

Flat Characters Have only one or two striking traits

You can usually sum up a flat character in a word or two

Static Character not growing or progressing to a

better understanding of themselves or the world around them as a result of the events in the story

Things happen to such characters without things happening within them

Character Types

Round Characters The main character in the

story is usually round Such characters are

complex They exhibit a greater

number of character traits, some good and some bad

Character Types

(Round Characters Continued)

Readers usually learn more about thempersonal history, self image, goals and ambitions

Dynamic CharacterThey are affected in some way by the events of the story