"And then there were none" character introduction

• English
• Higher Education (degree)

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to...

Point to specific character traits depicted through varying mediums

Compare and contrast the methods used by different mediums in order to introduce characters

Evaluate the effectiveness of the methods used by the different mediums

Interpret different types of foreshadowing techniques

1.

2.

3.

4.

Watch the video and answer these questions

Video: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5obzbi

When could this scene have taken place?

What connections do you see between the characters?

Who stands out to you?

Watch the video and answer these questions

Video: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5obzbi

What is your first impression of the characters? Who is likeable / unlikable? Why?

What is the atmosphere of the introduction? How does it make you feel?

Who is who?

Who is who?

Vera Claythorne

Ethel Rogers

Philip Lombard

Anthony Marston

William Blore

Mr. Justice 

Wargrave 

Emily Brent 

Dr. Armstrong

General Macarthur

Thomas Rogers

How to introduce a character effectively

1. Give the reader a backstory

helps the reader understand the character better

e.g. "I was born in a small, rural town in a cold, depressing Winter. I spent the first 10 years of my life as an orphanage"

How to introduce a character effectively

2. Introduce the character through another  n  n  n  n n  character's point of view

The reader is influenced by the subjective opinion of the other character

How might this person's POV influence the reader's perception of the character?

Question

How to introduce a character effectively

3. Show that the character is going through a major  j   life event right now

Builds anticipation; furthers the story

e.g. "Early in the morning [...] Alfred Archibald Jones was [...] hoping the judgement would not be too heavy upon him."

How to introduce a character effectively

4. Write a vivid, memeroable description

The reader can form an exact image of the character in their head

Which keywords would you use to describe this character in detail?

Question

Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing = a 'heads up' of something that will follow

Chekhov's Gun: 

Every detail that the writer introduces is important and will be used later on in the story

e.g. If you introduce a gun, a shot must be fired from it later nn   on in the story

Foreshadowing

Prophecies: 

A character receives a prophecy which ends up coming true as the story progresses 

e.g. "You are going to die at the hands of a friend"

Watch the video and answer these questions

Video: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5obzbi

When could this scene have taken place?

What connections do you see between the characters?

Who stands out to you?

Take out your novel and do the following task

Find the page number(s) on which each character is introduced - how does the book's introduction compare to the series' introduction? Which one is more effective?

Which key words does the book use to describe the characters? How might that foreshadow on the character's involvement in the plot?

Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson you will be able to...

Point to specific character traits depicted through varying mediums

Compare and contrast the methods used by different mediums in order to introduce characters

Evaluate the effectiveness of the methods used by the different mediums

Interpret different types of foreshadowing techniques

1.

2.

3.

4.

Homework

Choose one of the foreshadowing techniques we discussed and find either:

a. a video 

b. an article

c. an image

further explaining the technique. Bring your fingings to class.