Function of Characterization
Solution
Characterization is a literary device used to highlight and explain the details about a character in a story. It is a means for the author to show the character’s personality. Characterization can be direct, as when an author tells readers what a character is like (e.g. “George was cunning and greedy.”) or indirect, as when an author shows what a character is like by portraying his or her actions, speech, or thoughts (e.g. "On the crowded subway, George slipped his hand into the man's coat pocket and withdrew the wallet, undetected.").
Here are the steps of how characterization works in a story:
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Introduction of a Character: The character is introduced to the audience. This could be a brief mention or a detailed introduction.
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Description of the Character: The author describes the character's physical appearance, which can give clues to the character's personality.
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Displaying the Character’s Actions: The character's actions are shown in the story. This gives the audience a better understanding of the character's personality and motivations.
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Displaying the Character’s Dialogues: The character's dialogues are shown. This can reveal a lot about the character, such as their beliefs, desires, and their relationships with other characters.
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Displaying the Character’s Thoughts and Feelings: The character's thoughts and feelings are shown. This gives the audience insight into the character's inner world, and can reveal deeper aspects of their personality that are not shown through their actions or dialogues.
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Reactions of Other Characters: The reactions of other characters to the character are shown. This can reveal how the character is perceived by others in the story, and can also reveal more about the other characters.
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Character Development: Over the course of the story, the character may change in various ways. This could be a result of their experiences, or it could be a result of their inherent traits being revealed more fully.
Through these steps, the author creates a vivid, believable character that the audience can relate to and care about. This makes the story more engaging and impactful.
Similar Questions
"Karen is bright, energetic, and helpful" is an example of which type of characterization?Indirect characterizationMini-characterizationDirect characterizationCharacter arc
What are types of function of characterization? How do you defined theme and how to find it out in prose ?
In _____, the writer simply states a fact about a character.personal characterizationdirect characterizationindirect characterizationabstract characterization
Which of the following is not a part of characterization?context cluessettingdescriptionsdirect statements
Read the passage below from “The Giant Wistaria” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.“Aye,” he broke in bitterly, “and so doth the shame I brought thee! Had I known of it I would sooner have had the ship founder beneath us, and have seen our child cleanly drowned, than live to this end!” The passage uses which of the following types of characterization?Group of answer choicesindirect characterizationstatic characterizationdynamic characterizationdirect characterization
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