Characterization Organizer

Worksheet Description

The “Diction and Characterization” worksheet is a tool for literary analysis, focusing on how an author’s choice of words can reveal characteristics and attitudes towards a character within a novel. Students are instructed to choose a character from a novel they are studying and note down instances of the author’s diction that provide insight into that character. The worksheet is organized into two columns: one for recording examples of the author’s diction and the other for reflecting on what these choices indicate about the character’s personality, background, motivations, or role in the story.

In the second part, students delve deeper into the author’s perspective by analyzing the attitude conveyed through the chosen diction towards the character in question. This involves critical thinking and interpretation, as students must infer not just from what is said but how it is said-the implications, tones, and nuances behind the word choices. This exercise not only enhances comprehension of the text but also encourages students to appreciate the subtleties of language and how it shapes readers’ perceptions of characters. It’s an exercise that bridges the technical study of language with the more nuanced study of literature and character development.