Indirect Characterization Practice
Speech: What does the character say? How does the character speak?
Thoughts: What is revealed through the character’s private thoughts and feelings?
Effect on others toward the character: What is revealed through the character’s effect on other people? How do other characters feel or behave in reaction to the character?
Actions: What does the character do? How does the character behave?
Looks: What does the character look like? How does the character dress?
Keep in mind the five types of indirect characterization to help you with the following excerpts. Read the excerpt and write what the author is saying about the character and what method of “STEAL” helped you figure it out.
1. Jessie was the kind of girl who would deliver the newspaper every day, no matter what the weather was like.
Indirect characterization:_____________________________________________________________________
Method of STEAL:___________________________________________________________________________
2. “Janine never studies,” said Mrs. Johnson. “She thinks she already knows the answers.”
Indirect characterization:_____________________________________________________________________
Method of STEAL:_____________________ _____________________________________________________
3. Through the door walked in a woman wearing nothing but named brand items from head to toe. Around her neck was a necklace from Tiffany’s. Dangling from her arm was a bag from Michael Kors. On her feet were five-inch red bottom high heels.
Indirect characterization:_____________________________________________________________________
Method of STEAL:___________________________________________________________________________
4. Tim was walking around the store when he bumped into a display of soup cans, knocking them all over. Tim bought two cartons of eggs then got hit by the automatic door on the way out. It almost broke the eggs. Tim let out a sigh of relief. While walking through the parking lot, Tim tripped over the curb and landed on the eggs, getting them all over his shirt.
Indirect characterization:_____________________________________________________________________
Method of STEAL:___________________________________________________________________________
5. John looked proudly at the new painting he had done and decided to enter it in the local art contest.
Indirect characterization:_____________________________________________________________________
Method of STEAL:___________________________________________________________________________