(TUD) Lesson Topic 1: Characterization and Confusing Conflicts

From the Novel Introduction module, we know that understanding the characters in deeper ways reveals a lot about the purpose of a story. For short stories, the same is true, but readers have less information from the author to identify and understand the characters. Choose one of the two stories below to read and focus on when completing the assignments for this particular module.

"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling Links to an external site.

"Rapunzel" by the Brothers Grimm Links to an external site.

The Protagonist and Antagonist

Remember that a protagonist and an antagonist appear in each story. The protagonist represents the main character of the story, and the antagonist is the person or force that goes against the main character. Can you identify the protagonist and antagonist in the short story you chose?

How to Characterize Characters

Also, do not forget that an author can use direct characterization or indirect characterization to provide information about the characters. With direct characterization, the author makes direct statements about a character's personality and tells the reader what the character is like.

With indirect characterization, the reader must infer, or make a guess based on evidence, about who the character is. Using the acronym S.T.E.A.L. remains one of the best ways to remember how to describe a character through indirect characterization. S.T.E.A.L. stands for: Speech, Thoughts, Effects on others, Actions, and Looks. Can you apply your knowledge of S.T.E.A.L. from the first module to the short story you chose?

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