Example of a grid to structure your notes
Direct characterization (+lines)
Basic information (+lines)
•
•
•
name, age,
social position (job), family, ...
outward appearance
Indirect characterization (+lines)
•
•
•
•
•
what is directly mentioned in the text (by
the narrator or other characters)
what the character says about him- or
herself always ask yourself if you can
trust his or her statements
Your conclusions
appropriate adjectives
behaviour
thoughts
feelings
Example of a written characterization
Introduction George Harker is one of the main characters in the story (title) by (author). He is the
(character’s name,
role and
a general statement narrator’s best friend and a teenager who does not easily accept other people.
Main part George Harker is the 15-year old son of a very rich family in Brighton. He lives in an
basic information
(+ lines) elegant mansion and has known luxury for all his life (ll. 4-12).
[…]
basic structure:
(name it – quote it –
explain it)
explanation of
behaviour – lines –
result (adjectives)
In church, he makes puns of the quotes from the Bible (ll. 32-38), which shows that
he is a very clever boy with a good sense of humour.
However, the fact that he does not stop even after he and Bobby have been thrown
out of the church (l. 41) indicates that it is difficult for him to accept rules and to do
what he is told.
This disrespectful behaviour also becomes evident when he fights with Miss White,
his teacher, telling her that she is “an ugly old toad that lives in a swamp” (l. 52).
[…]
Conclusion
Finally, one can say that George is a very arrogant boy who is totally influenced by his
wealthy family. Therefore, he does not tolerate people from other social classes, and
makes fun of nearly everything and everyone. This behaviour is criticised by most of
the people outside his family. He even loses his best friend in the end. However, this
incident does not make him change his attitude, on the contrary, he even seems to be
proud of himself.