4.3 Lesson


Character Traits and Types

Target

Assignment



Every character has an inner motor, an itch they cannot scratch, or a goal for which they are striving.

Perhaps he wants to find beauty or perhaps she wants to please her father.

This motivation drives a character's choices.


In the next two lessons you will learn about character.

  1. Character Traits and Types
  2. Making Inferences


4.3 Self-Assessment: "Print Your Guy"


A character trait is an adjective that describes a character's personality.  View the video "Print Your Guy" below.



In the "Print Your Guy" cartoon above, how are the differences between the 'boyfriends' emphasized?  Click here for answers.




A pig once made its way to the backyard of a king’s castle, sauntered its way around the stables and kitchens, wallowed in filth, and bathed in slops, and then returned home, a thorough pig. 

“Well Kavronya, what have you seen?” said the swineherd to the pig. “They do say there are nothing but pearls and diamonds in the king’s palace, and there each new treasure is richer than the last.” 

“I assure you they talk nonsense,” grunted Kavronya. “I saw no riches at all—nothing but dirt and dung. I searched everywhere. My snout did not rest. I dug up the whole yard, but did not find gold.” 

I do not want to hurt anyone by my comparison, but can I help it if some are wise in their own eyes and do not have the ability to see what is good? - from Krilof's Fables


Words like “sensitive, manly, cultured, cool, or authentic” represent a corresponding reality. What happens if society stops using descriptive definitions (adjectives) such as “sensitive” to name real emotions, behaviors, or ideas? Or what if the words are redefined? If an idea is unnamed or is redefined, does the idea cease to exist because it is no longer recognized?

Put another way, one generation paints portraits of babies who resemble old men; a later generation paints portraits of babies who resemble cherubs. How society sees babies has changed, but has the baby itself changed?  If a 'giraffe' is redefined as a 'horse', does the reality of the giraffe change? Does the giraffe not still have a long neck and blue tongue?  What then of word definitions? 'Manly' in previous generations meant 'well-mannered, excellent, rescuer'; in a later generation, 'manly' seems to mean 'offensive brute'.  Society's perspective or imagination has changed, but has the corresponding reality changed? 

  • How would you define terms such as ‘sensitive, manly, cultured, cool, or real’? Do you agree with the way the film has categorized different traits? 

  • Are the film's definitions too “stereotyped” or simple? Are people more complicated than our first impressions of them? 

  • The main character attempts to build relationships with digital androids.  Might we blur the lines between our personal fantasy worlds and our shared reality to such an extreme that we can no longer communicate effectively or understand others?

Does a hyper-connected life lead to a desire for instant results rather than for self-control? For example, does the Internet such as Netflix or online shopping lure one into easy fun rather than into developing patience?

Character Type


Fiction writers use a variety of interesting characters to build their stories. Two of them are probably familiar to you.

The protagonist is the main character who works to accomplish a specific goal.

In "The Hockey Sweater" the boy wants to "be" or become like his hero, Maurice (Rocket) Richard, who plays for the Montreal Canadiens (the Habs).


The antagonist is the character or force preventing the protagonist from achieving his or her goal.

In "The Hockey Sweater" the Toronto Maple Leafs are the antagonist. Both Monsieur Eaton and the boy's mother want him to wear the sweater of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Therefore, they become the antagonists as well.



  Please contact your teacher if you have questions.