An outline of a character showing an overview of INDIRECT and DIRECT characterizations.

Interactive LessonGrades 3-5

Characterization Lesson

Skill: Characterizations

Learn how to identify how an author reveals who a character is. You will learn direct characterization and indirect characterization, plus the STEAL framework for the five kinds of indirect clues: Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks. Available at three reading levels for grades 3 to 12.

Reading Level

Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

Before you begin

Tap to change. You can also toggle these during the lesson.

What is Characterization?

How authors show what a character is like

How do we know who a character really is?
The author has to show us.
Let’s learn how to spot the clues!

Narrator and Characters

Two roles in every story

Narrator = the one telling the story
Characters = everyone in the story
Sometimes the narrator is also a character in the story.

Narration vs. Dialogue

Dialogue = what characters say (in quotation marks)
Narration = what the narrator says (everything else)
These two have different voices. Pay attention to who is talking!
Example
I am the narrator, so my words do not get quotation marks. But when a character speaks, their words do. My friend John just walked up and asked, "Do you want to go outside?" John's dialogue gets quotes because he is a character. My narration does not, because narration is not dialogue.

Two Types of Characterization

The author can tell us… or show us.

Direct Characterization = the narrator tells us a trait
Indirect Characterization = the author shows us with clues
Tell or show? That is the big question.

Direct Characterization

The narrator tells us what a character is like.

Key Clues
The narrator names a trait in the narration.
You do NOT need to figure it out. It is explicit.
Example
Mary was unstoppable when it came to puzzles.

Indirect Characterization

The author shows us with clues. The reader figures out the trait.

Key Clues
The narrator does NOT name the trait.
The reader has to figure it out. It is implicit.
Example
Daniela carried the groceries up three flights of stairs for her neighbor. She made the trip twice.

Explicit vs. Implicit

Explicit = clearly stated.
Ex: Ana was impatient.
Implicit = hinted or implied.
Ex: Ana tapped her foot and sighed while the line moved slowly.
Direct characterization is explicit. Indirect characterization is implicit. Let's look at another way to understand indirect characterization.

The STEAL Framework

Five kinds of clues spell STEAL.

S = Speech: what a character says
T = Thoughts: what a character thinks
E = Effect on others: how others react
A = Actions: what a character does
L = Looks: how a character appears
Let’s look at each one with an example...

Speech

What a character says can reveal who they are.

Look at the words in quotation marks.
Example
“You can sit with us,” Pam said, moving her backpack to make room.
Trait: Kind, welcoming, outgoing
The narrator does not say the trait. We infer it.

Thoughts

What a character thinks or feels inside can reveal who they are.

The narrator shows what’s inside the character’s head.
Example
Owen wondered if everyone would laugh at his answer.
Trait: nervous or unsure
Careful: A revealed thought is indirect characterization, not direct characterization.Unless the narrator labels the trait directly.

Effect on Others

How others react to a character can reveal who they are.

Watch what other characters do when this one is around.
Example
When Coach Vega walked in, the team stopped joking and stood up straight.
Trait: strict, respected, or intimidating

Actions

What a character does can reveal who they are.

Watch what the character does, especially when no one is asking.
Example
Mateo picked up the wrappers his teammates left on the field.
Trait: responsible or helpful

Looks

How a character appears can reveal who they are.

Look for details in how the character appears that signal something deeper.
Example
Her braids were perfect, every bead in the right spot.
Trait: neat, precise, or careful

Characterization Review

Characterization is how authors reveal character traits.
Direct characterization: the narrator tells the trait.
Indirect characterization: the author shows clues, and the reader infers the trait.
STEAL clues are Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks.
Now you’re ready to practice!

Review

Practice Review

Basketball practice started at 5:00. Omar arrived at 4:00. His sneakers were already tied. He shot free throws alone until practice started. After practice, Omar stayed to shoot ten more. What character trait is revealed about Omar?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Diego stood in the long line at the post office with his uncle. The line had not moved in ten minutes. "This is amazing," Diego said. "I have always dreamed of standing on this exact tile for the rest of my life." His uncle laughed. The line still did not move. "Wow," Diego said. "We are making excellent progress." Which character trait is revealed about Diego?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Mateo found a coin pouch near the dragon game. It had a name card and twenty game tokens inside. Mateo did not take any tokens. He carried the pouch to the counter and turned it into the lost-and-found. Which character trait is revealed about Mateo?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Carl opened the letter that said he had won a free trip to a tropical island. He had never entered a contest. The letter asked him to send his name, his address, and the numbers on his bank card to claim his prize. Carl thought to himself that no one gives anything away for free. He wondered who could really need those numbers from him. Then he dropped the letter in the trash. Which character trait is revealed about Carl?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Helen wanted the sparrow to eat from her hand. The first day, she sat on the porch and held out seeds for an hour. The bird did not come. The second day, she sat for two hours. The bird hopped close but flew away. The third day, the bird grabbed one seed and flew off. By the second week, the bird stayed on her thumb to eat. Helen never tried to rush it. Which character trait is revealed about Helen?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

There was one slice of pizza left in the box. Malik had not eaten all day. His little cousin Dax stared at the slice too. Malik's stomach growled loud. He picked up the slice, ripped it in half, and gave the bigger half to Dax. "You can have it," Malik said. Then he smiled and ate his small half slow. Which character trait is revealed about Malik?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Theo held up his swimming trophy at lunch. "I won this," he said. "I always win. I am the fastest one on the team. Nobody can beat me." Jordan said, "Nice job." Theo said, "Of course it is. I am the best. Did I tell you I am the fastest? I am." Jordan looked at his sandwich and did not say anything else. Which character trait is revealed about Theo?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Ms. Akers asked the class who could name the planets. Hana knew all of them. But she pulled her sleeves down over her hands and slid lower in her seat. She looked at her desk. Her face turned red when Ms. Akers glanced her way. Hana did not raise her hand. After class, she told her friend all the planets in order, fast and perfect. Which character trait is revealed about Hana?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The class voted on a name for their fish. "Bubbles is too silly," Camron said. "Captain Finn is too fancy. Goldie is too boring." When Maya said, "Then what name do you like?" Camron crossed his arms. "Not any of those." Which character trait is revealed about Camron?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Grandma Rosa stood in the store with two cans of beans. One can was cheaper but smaller. She did the math in her head. "More beans for less money over here," she said, and put back the cheaper can. She had a folder of coupons. She used three of them. At the register, she watched the screen the whole time to make sure each price was right. Which character trait is revealed about Grandma Rosa?

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.