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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