Characterization
Literary term · say it kair-ik-ter-ih-ZAY-shun
Characterization is the way a story reveals a character’s personality, habits, and motives. Readers learn about characters through direct descriptions and through clues in their actions, speech, thoughts, and relationships.
The two kinds of characterization
Direct characterization
The narrator or another character states what someone is like. Consider whether the person giving that description can be trusted.
Near the beginning of A Christmas Carol, the narrator describes Scrooge as grasping, cold, and unwilling to give. These judgments establish his character before his encounters with the ghosts.
In A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Indirect characterization
Actions, speech, thoughts, and relationships give clues about a character. Readers draw conclusions rather than receiving a direct description.
In Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth walks through muddy fields to visit her sick sister Jane. Her willingness to arrive with dirty stockings shows how much she cares about Jane, despite the disapproval of others.
In Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
How to spot characterization
- Look for descriptions that name a character’s qualities.
- Notice what the character says, does, and thinks.
- Compare those clues with how other characters respond.
What is the difference between characterization and character development?
Characterization reveals what a character is like, while character development often means how that character changes over time. A character can be richly portrayed without changing much. The same actions and conversations may reveal both personality and change.
Can a character’s description of someone else be misleading?
Yes, a character’s description may reflect prejudice, jealousy, affection, or limited knowledge rather than the whole truth. Compare that description with the person’s actions and with other accounts. The gap can reveal something about both the person described and the speaker.
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