Wednesday 19th May

LC: To understand and develop characterisation

When authors develop characters in their writing, they use different skills. There must be a range of skills to develop characterisation using literal information and providing the reader with clues to make inferences (this is more interesting for the reader). 

What kind of writing structures/text features do authors use to develop character descriptions?

• similes
• metaphors
• noun phrases
• powerful verbs, adverbs
• carefully chosen adjectives

Let's have a look at the examples below - what has the author used to help to write a good character description?

What literal information is there?

What can we infer?

Now let's have a look at this extract taken from one of Conan Doyle's novels - A Study in Scarlett. In this extract, Doyle writes a character description of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The description is explained through the eyes of Dr Watson - Sherlock's trusted assistant.

WARNING

This extract is aimed at children in KS3 so some of the vocabulary could be quite challenging. As we read through the description, you can make notes in your book. You will need to copy the following table into your book first. 

As the weeks went by, my interest in him and my curiosity as to his aims in life, gradually deepened and increased. His very person and appearance were such as to strike the attention of the most casual observer. In height he was rather over six feet, and so excessively lean that he seemed to be considerably taller. His eyes were sharp and piercing, save during those intervals of torpor to which I have alluded; and his thin, hawk-like nose gave his whole expression an air of alertness and decision. His chin, too, had the prominence and squareness which mark the man of determination. His hands were invariably blotted with ink and stained with chemicals, yet he was possessed of extraordinary delicacy of touch, as I frequently had occasion to observe when I watched him manipulating his fragile philosophical instruments. The reader may set me down as a hopeless busybody, when I confess how much this man stimulated my curiosity, and how often I endeavoured to break through the reticence which he showed on all that concerned himself. Before pronouncing judgment, however, be it remembered, how objectless was my life, and how little there was to engage my attention. My health forbade me from venturing out unless the weather was exceptionally genial, and I had no friends who would call upon me and break the monotony of my daily existence. Under these circumstances, I eagerly hailed the little mystery which hung around my companion, and spent much of my time in endeavouring to unravel it.

Once we have discussed the description and vocabulary, you can use WordHippo to generate more ideas by searching for synonyms for some of the words.