Character Practice
Directions:
Read each numbered item.
Highlight the specific evidence from the text that lead you to each character trait.
Circle the character trait it describes or suggests.
Circle the method of characterization used by the author to reveal that trait.
Characterization is the way an author develops a character, or reveals who characters are and what they are like.
Direct Characterization – The writer makes direct statements about a character.
Example: Max was an eating machine. He’d never met a meal he didn’t like.
Indirect Chracterization - The writer gives clues and depends on the reader to draw conclusions (infer) about the
character’s traits. Five methods of indirect characterization include what the character says, does, thinks, feels, and what
other people say or think about the character.
Example: Max eyed the boy’s donut hungrily.He’d already gobbled up 15 pancakes and two milks, but it was never enough.
EXAMPLE: Luis’s mouth twitched, and his fingernails were all bitten short.
Luis is: happy dishonest brave nervous DIRECT INDIRECT
1. “I know the answer!” Maya shouted at her friend. “I’m not stupid!”
Maya is: unfriendly conceited coy oversensitive DIRECT INDIRECT
2. Vera looked as if a strong gust of wind might carry her away.
Vera is: resourceful unhappy small brilliant DIRECT INDIRECT
3. When he saw his baby brother sniffling in a corner, Cal patted the seat next to him. “Wanna play?”
Cal is: sheepish nervous lonely sympathetic DIRECT INDIRECT
4. Too lazy to actually reach for it, Marty just stared wishfully at the TV remote.
Marty is: confused eager inactive unruly DIRECT INDIRECT
5. Once Mama had made up her mind about the dog, Emma knew it’d be a waste of time to ask again.
Mama is: stubborn brilliant shy brave DIRECT INDIRECT
6. Ariel peeked into the package and thought she might explode. “An iPad! You got me my own iPad?”
Ariel is: anxious excited sensitive meek DIRECT INDIRECT
7. Math came easily to Mary, as it did to her mother, her grandmother, and all of Wilson women before them.
Mary is: bored gullible old intelligent DIRECT INDIRECT
8. His eyes--how they twinkled! his dimples how merry. His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.
He is: frightened perplexed mournful jolly DIRECT INDIRECT
Name
Date ______________________________ Period___________
