Writing Composition: Defining Characterisation

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Ivan Thu, Mar 03, 2022 10:24 PM UTC

Characterization is the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character, but it goes far beyond that. Look into this lesson for more!

1. Defining 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.”
Explanation: The author is directly telling the audience the personality of these two children. The
boy is “patient” and the girl is “quiet.”
Indirect Characterization shows things that reveal the personality of a character. There are five
different methods of indirect characterization:
Speech What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Effect on others What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do
toward the other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
character.
Actions What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
TIP #1: Use the mnemonic device of STEAL to remember the five types of indirect characterization
TIP #2: Use indirect characterization to analyze visual media:
Film: Look at how the character dresses and moves. Note the facial expressions when the
director moves in for a close-up shot.
Drama: Pay attention to the way that the characters reveal their thoughts during a soliloquy.

2. Examples of Indirect Characterization from The Cat in the Hat
Type of Indirect Examples Explanation
Speech Many of the words spoken by the cat at the This reveals that the cat’s character is an
beginning of the story have an upbeat upbeat character that likes to have fun.
connotative meaning. For instance, the cat
says to the children, “But we can have /
Lots of fun that is funny!” (7).
Thoughts So all we could do was to These are the thoughts of the narrator as
Sit! he stares out the window on a rainy day.
Sit! These thoughts reveal that this character
Sit! is not happy about his current situation.
Sit!
And we did not like it.
Not one little bit (3).
Effect on others Throughout the first three quarters of the The scowls on the fish’s face support the
story, three different illustrations portray argument that the cat’s behavior at the
the fish scowling at the cat (11, 25, and 37) beginning of the story is not acceptable to
immediately after each of the cat’s the fish. The fish’s smile at the end of the
activities. When the cat returns to clean up story reveals that the cat is engaging in
his mess at the end of the story the fish is behavior that is now acceptable to the
shown with a smile on his face (57). fish.
Actions On page 18, the cat engages in “UP-UP-UP These activities are outrageous, dangerous
with a fish” an activity that involves the cat and should not be conducted in the house.
standing on a ball while balancing seven They reveal that the cat’s character is not
objects. Later in the story, the cat releases concerned about rules related to safety
two “things” that fly kites inside the house. and appropriateness.
Looks Throughout the first three-quarters of the The smiles reveal that the cat is enjoying
story, the cat is shown with a smile on his himself and is not apologetic for his
face. Towards the end of the story, outrageous behavior. The frown and
however, when the cat is told to leave, he is slumped shoulders at the end of the story
shown leaving the house with slumped show that he is not enjoying himself
shoulders and a sad face. anymore.

3. Examples of Indirect Characterization from The Cat in the Hat
Character: The Cat
Type of Indirect Examples Explanation
Effect on others

4. Examples of Indirect Characterization from The Cat in the Hat
Character: The Fish
Type of Indirect Examples Explanation
Effect on others

5. Examples of Indirect Characterization from The Cat in the Hat
Character: The Narrator and Sally
Type of Indirect Examples Explanation
Effect on others

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