Characterization 1

Characterization (AE1)/Characterisation (BE)

When writing a characterization we usually have to look at a character in a novel, story or film.
But how can we analyze a character?

First, you have to know that there are different categories of characters in literature/fiction.

Central character/Main characters

…. are characters, which are most important for the story. In traditional fairy tales, for example, they
are usually the heros / the heroines.
The plot2 is built around them, and most of the time it is their story being told.

Background characters
… are characters that play important roles and sometimes they have their big moments, nonetheless 3,
they are just supporting4 characters and are not always present in the story. They are part of the story
but it is not their story!

Intermediate characters
… are characters that are only important to keep the story going. Normally, they appear 5 just for a few
moments and mainly stand for short actions and ideas that help the story/plot.

Adjectives and Adverbs

When you describe a character you usually need to use adverbs and adjectives.

o Adverbs for verbs ( “- ly” Endung)  to describe how/ in which way the character does
things.

o Adjectives for nouns and with “be”, “look”, “see”, “feel”, etc. (5 senses 6)  to describe
what the character is like or how he / she feels.

! If you still have problems with adverbs and adjectives, ask your teacher for exercises to
work on. They are absolutely important to describe actions and characters.

Exercise I:
While reading the short stories find adjectives and adverbs in the dictionary that describe the
main chracters of the stories.

Exercise II:

1
AE: American English BE: British English
2
Handlung
3
nichtsdestotrotz/jedoch/hingegen
4
unterstützend/Neben-
5
auftauchen/erscheinen
6
Sinne
Characterization 2

Now try to find the opposite7 of the adjectives and write them down, for example “good” and
“evil” or “friendly” and “nasty”8

STEPS FOR CHARACTERIZATION

When your teacher wants you to write a characterization, you can use a very helpful
checklist

1st you have to check on the outward appearance of the character 9

Outward appearance check

What does the character look like? clothing, hair, eyes, body, other specials

How does the character talk? speech, dialect, (talking firendly, rude10, slang)

How does the character behave11? actions

What does the character like? What does he do? hobbies, etc.

How does the character treat other characters? interaction with others

What kind of belongings does the character have? belongings12 (What do their houses/flats
look like? Do they carry anything with them all the time?)

2nd you have to check on the inner nature of the character

Inner nature check

What are the character´s feelings? feelings

What are the character´s thoughts? thoughts (What does she/he think about him-/herself or
about others)

What are the character´s attitudes13? believes, opinions, etc.

Whate are the character´s (inner-) motives? motives14

!NOTE
Keep in mind that not all characters in stories or films will give answers to every question of
the checklist. But if you follow the checklist and take down notes for every question that may
be answered, you are well prepared to write a thoughtful15 characterization.

7
Gegenteil
8
gemein
9
äußere Erscheinung
10
unhöfflich
11
(sich) verhalten)
12
Besitz/Habseligkeiten
13
Haltung/Ansichten/Standpunkte
14
Beweggründe
15
gut durchdacht
Characterization 3

Additional Information:
Different ways of characterization
We do not always get to know a character by his speech, thinking processes, actions, etc. .
Sometimes we get facts about a person by other characters in the story. That is why we
distinguish16 between …..

Self- Characterization (Selbstcharakterisierung)

o The character tells something about him-/ herself, by talking, thinking, acting, or
interacting, etc. (see checklist)

Third- person Characterization (Fremdcharakterisierung)

o A second or third person thinks or talks about another character. Or you are given
information by the way the second character behaves or talks when the character you
want to analyse is around. This kind of characterization can happen in various kinds of
ways in literature/ fiction.

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