Direct vs. Indirect Characteristics Video Clips
Jenny Grogan
Scar
Character Analysis
Overview
This lesson is designed for a sixth or seventh-grade English Language Arts class; however, can be used in other classes where character analysis is necessary such as a drama class, history class, etc. Learners will work through a series of tasks incorporating text, pictures, and videos to define character analysis, compare and contrast direct and indirect characteristics, describe character traits using direct characterization, and analyze characters using indirect characterization. This lesson can be tailored to fit individual students’ interests and hobbies by changing the pictures they are describing in the introduction activity. The resources used to create this lesson are a hybrid of resources—online videos are used to capture the learners’ attention and interests and a Word document with a chart identifying direct and indirect characteristics that will need to be printed out for each student and a piece of paper will be necessary for students to complete the first activity as well. Students will also have extra practice with analyzing characters by completing the activity in the “Challenge Yourself” section. This section ensures that students are transferring their learning of character analysis from video to literature selections.
Introduction
Pictures can be changed to match students' interests or favorite characters.
For each of the pictures below, write three adjectives describing what you can see from the character in the picture.
Learning Objectives
After this lesson you will be able to:
- Define character analysis.
- Compare and contrast direct and indirect characterization.
- Describe character traits using direct characterization.
- Analyze characters using indirect characterization.
What is Character Analysis?
What does character analysis do?
Character analysis helps the reader or audience to understand the character based on their traits, emotions, actions, etc.
How do we analyze characters?
Actions and Words
OR
Direct and Indirect Characteristics
Direct vs. Indirect Characteristics
| Direct | Indirect |
| External | Internal |
| Words tell you what a character is like | A character's actions show what they are like |
| No guesswork- You are told by the author/writer what the character is like | You decide what the character is like based on their actions:
|
Go back to your introduction activity and decide whether the adjectives you wrote are direct or indirect characteristics. CIRCLE the direct characteristics and UNDERLINE the indirect characteristics.
Once you have identified all of your adjectives as direct or indirect characteristics, continue on to the next section of the lesson.
Using Direct Characterization
Watch the attached video clips. As you watch each clip, use the attached chart to describe ONLY the DIRECT characteristics we are told about each of the characters listed on the chart.
Using Indirect Characterization
Watch the attached video clips again. This time as you watch each clip, use the attached chart to describe the INDIRECT characteristics you are given clues to.
After watching the clips, use the space below your chart to write one to two sentences about each character that you can infer from their actions.
Learning Objective Check
Now that you have finished the lesson, can you:
- Define character analysis?
- Compare and contrast direct and indirect characterization?
- Describe character traits using direct characterization?
- Analyze characters using indirect characterization?