Unit 2: Character & Point of View
Character & Point of View Notes
I. Point of View - WHO is telling it and HOW is it told
• Control the readers’ sympathy and empathy & Engages or distances the readers’ emotional involvement
FIRST PERSON--“I” voice: Direct, powerful, but limited
✓ Narrator is one of the characters
✓ Can be a powerful choice: reader is thrust into the body, head, experiences, and emotions of that character--knows all about him/her
✓ The voice of the story is specific to that character--it will reflect things that are important to him/her; can direct the way a reader things about the actions of a story
✓ Can only include details that characters knows
THIRD PERSON LIMITED: “he, she, it, they” voice
✓ Narrator is not a character in the story
✓ Convey information and reactions of one character
✓ Listen in on one character’s thoughts--focus intently on one character’s thoughts, feelings, actions and experiences
THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT: “he, she, it, they” voice, in an all-knowing way
✓ Narrator is not a character in the story
✓ Narrator is “all-knowing” or “God-like”--has access to any and all information, thoughts, past and present s/he chooses
✓ Third person omniscient point of view to do the following:
o Give a full view of all events and character
o Show what everyone thinks and feels
o Keep a distance between readers and events
o Create a wide-angle view
OBJECTIVE: think non-fiction, “fly on the wall”
✓ Simply a reporter of actions and events
✓ No commentary, opinion or intrusions
✓ Restricted and removed, but direct and uncluttered
✓ Leaves the audience to interpret the actions and words of the characters
✓ No thoughts, no explanations, no editorializing
II. Methods of Characterization
✓ Through the character’s appearance
▪ What does the character look like?
▪ What are his/her expressions, gestures, or body language?
✓ Through the character’s words & actions
▪ What does the character think, say, or do?
▪ How does he/she treat others?
▪ What things are important to him/her?
✓ Through the narrator’s comments
▪ Does the narrator respect the character or make negative comments?
✓ Through the reaction of the other characters to the character
▪ What do other characters say about the character?
▪ How do other characters treat him/her?
Character Traits – describe a characters personality; infer using methods of characterization
|absent-minded |hard-working |helpful |quarrelsome |soft-hearted |
|ambitious |curious |honest |quick-tempered |spunky |
|awkward |daring |intelligent |quiet |stern |
|boastful |demanding |jolly |reasonable |stingy |
|bossy |dependable |kind |reckless |stubborn |
|brave |determined |lazy |relaxed |superstitious |
|calm |dreamy |loud |restless |suspicious |
|careless |dull |loyal |rude |talkative |
|care-free |fearful |mischievous |self-centered |timid |
|cautious |fierce |nagging |selfish |tough |
|changeable |forgetful |neat |sensitive |trusting |
|charming |forgiving |obedient |sentimental |understanding |
|clever |friendly |organized |serious |unfriendly |
|confused |fussy |outspoken |sharp-witted |unkind |
|contented |generous |patient |shiftless |wise |
|cooperative |gentle |playful |shrewd |withdrawn |
|courageous |gloomy |pleasant |shy |witty |
|cowardly |greedy |polite |sneaky |zany |
|cruel | | | | |
Main Characters – most important to the story; change or grow over time – dynamic or round
Minor Characters – help the reader learn more about the main characters – static or flat
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