Personal Narrative Character Development

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Personal Narrative Character Development

Why character development?

- Makes the story much more interesting

- People are 3D - make them so in writing

- Adds depth and meaning

- Can contribute to the meaning of your narrative

Characters in a PN

- You!

- Your friends

- Your families

- Strangers you may meet

- Classmates, teachers, coaches, etc

1. Appearance

- What does your character look like? Age? Gender? Race?

- Physical attributes - length, hair, facial features, physical "quirks" 

Example: “A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair.” 

How would you describe the person sitting next to you physically? Be creative - but kind ;)

2. Actions/thoughts

- What kind of person is your character?

- How do they behave?

- What are their feelings and thoughts?

- What do they say?

- How do they react to other people? Act around other people?

Example:   "He was a big, beefy man with hardly any neck, although he did have a very large mustache. Mrs. Dursley was thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck, which came in very useful as she spent so much of her time craning over garden fences, spying on the neighbors."

What creates depth?

- Think about any flaws your character might have - what makes them human?

- What are you character's goals? In this story? In general?

- What's your character's world view? Relevance to story?

- What motivates your characters, specifically in this instance?

- What are main beliefs your character holds?

- Is there a backstory? Is this important to know?

Write your own character sketch

Questions to answer while writing:

1. What does the character look like and what is this character's personality?

2. What will the character say and do?

3. What do others say about the character?

4. What does the character say about him/her/self (themselves)?

5. Greatest strength/weakness?

Write your own character sketch

Questions to answer while writing:

1. What does the character look like and what is this character's personality?

2. What will the character say and do?

3. What do others say about the character?

4. What does the character say about him/her/self (themselves)?

5. Greatest strength/weakness?

Now, write a description of yourself in 100 words. Write like you're an outsider seeing and observing you for the first time!

Now, write a description of yourself in 100 words. Write like you're an outsider seeing and observing you for the first time!

How can you use this in your PN?