Writers Build Characters to Build Meaning
Definition
Characterization
Characterization is the way a writer reveals a character’s personality, thoughts, and relationships.
- We come to understand characters not just by what we're told, but by what we observe: how they speak, act, think, and interact with others.
- These details help readers infer what kind of person they are.
- Writers build characters using different techniques.
- These reveal personality, motive, and relationships, often without telling us directly.
Methods of Characterization
Direct Description
Definition
Direct description
The narrator or another character directly tells the reader what someone is like, describing their looks, personality, background, or motivations.
- This gives us a shortcut to understanding the character, a starting point before we interpret deeper traits.
- This type of characterization often frames how we’re supposed to view the character.
- It can set up expectations or create contrast with what they actually do later.
Example
- “He was a tall, brooding man with a perpetual scowl.”
- Ask: Is this description reliable? If it comes from another character, their opinion may be biased.
- Look at how the description is worded: are there loaded words (e.g., “brooding,” “scowl”) that signal mood or tone?
- Consider if the character lives up to this description or if the writer is setting us up for irony.
Exam technique
Check if the character lives up to the description, or if the writer is setting us up for a twist.
Actions
- What characters do often says more about them than what they say.
- Actions reveal priorities, values, and sometimes contradictions.
- Readers trust behavior more than claims.
- Writers often use actions to hint at inner conflicts or reveal growth across a story.
Example
A character who silently fixes a stranger’s broken umbrella might be quietly compassionate, even if they seem gruff in conversation.
- Track behavior across the text, do they change over time? Stay consistent? Betray their words?
- Pay attention to small, quiet choices (e.g., who they comfort, avoid, or help). these often reveal deep traits.
- Ask: What does this action cost them? Sacrifices often signal core values.
Exam technique
- What does this action cost the character?
- Do they act differently when no one is watching?
Dialogue
Definition
Dialogue
A written or spoken conversational exchange between two or more people in a literary or theatrical form.
- Dialogue creates interaction, and that's how you see personality.
- It shows power dynamics, hidden agendas, or emotional undercurrents.
- What’s not said is often just as revealing as what is.
Exam technique
- Read tone and subtext: Are they sarcastic? Polite but passive-aggressive? Warm but guarded?
- Compare how they speak to different people. Do they switch styles (e.g., respectful with adults, aggressive with peers)?
- Look at interruptions, hesitations, or silence. What are they avoiding or hiding?
Exam technique
- Compare how they talk to different people.
- Do they change tone? Is something being avoided?
Thoughts and Feelings (Internal Monologue)
- Thoughts often contrast with behavior or speech.
- A brave face might hide fear. An act of cruelty might be driven by insecurity.
- When the text gives us access to a character’s inner world: their fears, memories, dreams, or self-doubt.
- This pulls readers close, helping us empathize and understand motivations even if their actions say something different.
Exam technique
- When analyzing a character in a text, the trick is to think like you would in real life.
- Imagine this: Your friend says, “Sure, I’m fine,” but they avoid eye contact and won’t look up from their phone.
- Do you take their words at face value? Probably not.
- You sense something’s off, their tone, body language, and actions tell a different story.
- This is exactly how you should approach characterization in texts.
- You don’t just read what a character says. You also:
- Notice their behavior
- Read between the lines
- Look for contradictions
- Pay attention to silence or changes in tone
Comparing Methods of Characterization
| Method | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Direct description | Traits the narrator states outright | Frames first impression; may be biased |
| Action | Consistent patterns or turning points | Reveals priorities and values |
| Dialogue | Tone, word choice, changes in speech | Shows personality and power dynamics |
| Thoughts/Feelings | Contradictions, fears, private emotions | Builds empathy; shows inner conflict |
Common Mistake
- Overgeneralizing : Avoid vague statements like "He is a good person." Instead, explain how the text shows this.
- Ignoring Subtext: Pay attention to what's implied, not just what's said.
- Focusing Only on Dialogue: Remember to consider actions, thoughts, and descriptions.
Exam technique
Always consider how characterization supports the story's central ideas.
