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Boot Camp
A.P. Literature
Part 2Characterization
Character Defined
A
character is
presumably an
imagined person who
inhabits a story, though
there are exceptions to
this simple definition.
 Characters require
motivation, sufficient
reason to behave as
they do if we are to
believe they are
realistic.
George Orwell’s
Animal Farm is an
exception to the
“rule.”
Types of Characters
 Flat
 Round
 Static
 Dynamic
 Protagonist
 Antagonist
 Hero
 Anti
hero
 Stock

Archetype
Stock Characters
 Stereotypical
characters
that require little detail from
the author since audiences
know them so well.
 Examples: Prince Charming,
the mad scientist, the
greedy explorer, the
reckless police detective.
Sampson and
Gregory from Romeo
and Juliet fit the stock
definition of “the
bragging solider” from
Roman comedy.
The
Archetype
 The
psychologist, Carl Gustav
Jung, used the concept of
archetype in his theory of the
human psyche. He believed
that universal, mythic
characters—archetypes—
reside within the collective
unconscious of people the
world over. Archetypes
represent fundamental human
motifs of our experience as we
evolved; consequentially, they
evoke deep emotions.
Common Archetype
examples
1. The hero
2. The mother
3. The innocent youth
4. The mentor
5. The lover
6. The rebel
7. The creator
8. The magician
9. The jester
10. The sage
11. The ruler
12. The explorer
13. The temptress
14. The villain
**You can have
archetypal situations
too, like the journey.
Stock vs Archetype
If an archetype is a standard character that appears
in may works of literature, what makes it different from
the stock character?



A stock character although recognizable is
also flat or cliché and can have a negative
connotation
A stock character can be dependent upon
its time period and may go out of date
Archetypes help establish more than just a
superficial understanding of the character,
they supply an undercurrent of theme, plot, or
understanding which that time honored figure
brings to the subconscious mind.
Properly Using the Word Archetype
Here are sentences showing when to use archetype vs archetypal
Prometheus is an archetypal hero.
The Garden of Eden is an archetype for settings of
paradise and innocence.
The coming-of-age story featured a loss of innocence,
including an archetypal garden setting and snake figure.
The archetype of the “hero’s journey” is featured in many
adventure films today.
Practice with All The Pretty Horses
 The
novel as an archetypal plot: the
coming of age tale or the hero’s journey?
Both
 Does it contain an archetypal character?
The hero, the villain, maybe more
 If it is a coming of age tale, what would
be the garden setting and the snake? …
Round/Flat
 Flat
characters may be
minor characters with a
single unique role or
physical attribute.
 One way that round
characters come to life
is when we get differing
perspectives from
multiple other
characters about them.
Charles Dickens’ Tiny
Tim is a memorable
flat character. He
serves to remind others
of their Christian duties
and blessings.
Dynamic/Static




Dynamic characters
change over the course
of a work.
Static characters remain
largely the same.
Major characters tend to
be round and dynamic.
It is difficult to avoid
making minor characters
flat and static.
Ebenezer Scrooge is an
obviously dynamic
character.
John Grady and Rawlins in the film
version of All the Pretty Horses
Hero / Anti-Hero
 Heroic
John Grady Cole is
noble and moral
characters assume
typical aspects of a hero. He
or she is noble, brave, and
lives a purposeful life.
 Anti-heroes have become
popular in modern literature.
They are protagonists who lack
heroic qualities, often to the
point of irony.
Jay Gatsby lies,
cheats, breaks the
law, obsesses over a
married woman. He’s
a classic anti-hero.
Hero? Anti-Hero?
Homer’s Odysseus is a hero in
the classical sense.
Joyce’s Leopold Bloom is
an ironic anti-hero for the
20th century.
Gulliver is an antihero used for comic
effect by Swift.
Characterization
 Methods
 Direct
Characterization
 Author
tells the audience
what the character is like.
 Indirect
Characterization
 Author
shows the
audience what the
character is like through
description.
 Stronger method as it
causes the characters to
“come alive.”
5 Methods of Indirect
Characterization





Actions = what the character does
Appearance = what the character looks like
Private Thoughts = what the character thinks; tied to point of view.
Speech = what the character says and how she/he says it.
What Others Say = public and private opinion of the character by
others in the work.
A Character’s Purpose
Main Character
 To
make a story
rich and interesting
 Used to develop a
theme
 Can reveal
commentary on a
society
Supporting Character
 Serves
to advance
the plot
 Provides needed
information
 To reveal things
about the main
character
Annotating Indirect Characterization





ACT Actions = what the character
does
APP Appearance = what the
character looks like
THO Private Thoughts = what the
character thinks; tied to point of
view.
SPE Speech = what the character
says and how she/he says it.
OTH What Others Say = public
and private opinion of the
character by others in the work.
Directions for “Who’s Irish” and
“Miss Brill”
 Follow
the handouts directions for Part 1
or Task 1 on identifying characterization
and distinguishing between main and
supporting characters.
 Have your annotations with character
chart ready for class on announced due
date.
 Use the indirect characterization
annotation abbreviations
Getting Started
1.
2.
3.
4.
Select a character
Decide what is the effect of your
selected character’s depiction
in the story: Sympathetic?
Catalyst for plot development?
Reflection of a theme?
Symbolic? Social commentary?
Other?
Find examples of
characterization that reflect
your idea about the character.
Be very structured to build the
understanding in an analysis
Character Analysis




Identify the type of
characters. Explain why.
For each character,
provide one quote that
exemplifies a method of
indirect characterization.
Discuss what effect the
characterization has on
the story.
Use the task /part 3 prompts
as guides.
Select a character from
one of the following
characters
 “Who’s
Irish” by Gish
Jen
 “Miss Brill” by
Catherine Mansfield
***To be
completed in
class when
assigned but feel
free to consider
your options
ahead of time.
Creating a Character based Thesis
 Your
thesis should
mention both author
and title by name.
 Your thesis should
directly address the
prompt and name the
element(s) you have
chosen to address.
 Your thesis should
address the meaning
of the work as a whole

Today, Effect might be
to support a theme, or
create a social
commentary.
Practice your writing your
thesis