Sheboygan Falls HS discussion
Literary Elements
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What makes a great Character?
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Ms Johnson
(last edited Oct 15, 2012 06:26AM)
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Oct 14, 2012 03:37PM
There are certain traits that make us like or dislike a character's personality based on our own, but let's look closer. What do author's do with their writing to make characters come to life? Whether we love them or fear them, some characters become aquaintences in life and others are forgotten...let's talk about them all.
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I think that author's really bring charecter's to life by describing them and giving us good visuals. To be a good rememorable charecter you have to be funny. I think that the charecter that has stuck out the most to me was Mark Titus in his own novel, "Don't Put Me In Coach". He has a great sense of humor and can connect to any age or generation. He writes about himself using very descriptive language which appeals to me. Mark is one charecter I will never forget.
I think that when an author writes a book, he makes each character have their own unique personality, like every person has in real life. Some people are very likable, while others aren't as much. This, of course, helps make the story, but sometimes the characters can reach out to you and mean something more. Maybe because they have a personality like yours, or because of their experiences that just are coincidence. One character I will always remember is Katniss Everdeen, from the Hunger Games. Many people like her just as much as I do, but I see her as a role model and someone I can relate to. I'm sure everyone has a character they've read about that they admire and can relate to, and sometimes wish that this person were real and you could meet them, which, sadly, you can't always do.
I don't know why I feel this way, but the way a character talks has a lot to do with whether I like them or not. The tense they talk in can usually predict whether I will like them or not. Also, when characters explain their feelings it makes me like them a lot more. Sometimes I pick up a book and see that the way the character talks is all explaining what's happening. Those are the type of characters I forget and tend to dislike. In the current book I'm reading, the main character, Natalie, explains the way things make her feel really well and that makes me understand her way better and she is probably one of my favorite characters. It also helps me when the character is easy to relate to. One other thing is that I usually like the characters in books I want to read better than those in books I am required to read. For example, I don't remember much about the characters in The Outsiders, but I remember everything about the characters in Pretty Little Liars.
One character that I can easily is Alex Rider in his series by Anthony Horowitz. He is the main character in every book starting with Storm Breaker to Ark Angel. Each book describes him so you never forget what he looks like. After reading all of the books in the series, it gets easier and easier to remember his personality and what he looks like. One character I don't remember is Peeta Melark in the Hunger Games. I just never could remember what he looked like and I don't remember the book describing him very well. He didn't stand out in the book even though he was a main character in the book. The movie gave me a much better understanding of Peeta than in the book.
Billy Coleman in the book Where The Red Fern Grows has really stood out the most to me over the past years from any of the others books I read. I think this is because we kind of have the same personality. When I go up my cabin, sometimes I will stay out in the woods long after dark making jumps for my four wheeler or making a tree fort for My brother and I. I love going up to my cabin And spending time in the woods. Billy loved to hunt. I do not hunt but I have a dog. Billy wanted to do what ever he had to do to get two dogs so he did. He got two dogs and he loved them. I love my dog. Characters That did not stand out and I have forgotten about are the characters in The Giver. this is the I did not like the Book. It was fiction. none of it made any sense to me. Even though the main characters were my age. I could not relate to them. Billy Coleman From the giver has been the only character that has ever stood out to me so far. The rest I have forgotten about.
Risa is probably my favorite character in the book Unwind. Her intelligence is beyond belief and she always knows what to say, even at the most unexpected times. Some teenagers, and maybe adults, could connect with her life story. She has gone through many life troubles, especially with her family. She seems to be a very depressed person on the inside. On the outside, she is very convincing that she's happy. I can relate to her the most because of her personality. I tend to forget about characters in most books I read, because I just cannot relate to them. Risa will be one of the very few characters that I will never forget.
One character i remember above all else has got to be Zoey Redbird from the house of night series. She starts out in a bad situation but through the series she grows a lot and learns sacrifice and becomes close to Stark a boy who really shows her how to believe and love herself. I guess the author made the character really come to life for me by making her weak in the beginning and then through a series of blessings and pain make her grow. I really felt like I was going through it with her which is rare for me to feel in a book. As for the characters i don't remember real well I guess the author really doesn't make you feel anything for them so we don't feel connected to them, and we forget them real easy.
Author add such good details to there writing and when they do that it like you are int the book you're reading. One character that I will always remember is Will who is in the Rangers Apprentice series that i am reading. One reason why is because he is courage's, curious by asking so many questions but also because when he get in trouble he doesn't give up. Also i think every one has at least one character that they will always remember.
I believe that a good character is one that uses anecdotes to get ones feelings or point of view across. Being unique in how these anecdotes explain things, and choosing the weird stories help with making a better character. Maurice Gee is a very good author because he uses very detailed and clear anecdotes that slowly piece the puzzle together in the book, "Salt." He makes the characters interesting and stand out from others. Whether the tone is happy or sad, you always want to keep reading. His writing is descriptive and well organized, thus making readers want to never put his books down.
To be a memorable character the only thing needed is a unique style of clothes, and a fascinating sense of humor. Personality strongly reflects what you really are, and making the right choices forms a trustworthy person. A unmemorable character is that person who, have been taken out from main events, those are the tricky one's to remember.
When authors write about characters to make them come to life, they give them their own personality by describing how they act, what they look like, who they are friends with and what they do in situations throughout the book. I think to make a character stand out they have to be unique and does things that stand out. In the book "Getting Revenge on Lauren Wood", Helen does crazy things just to get revenge one her ex best friend. The author describes these crazy things with very detailed writing that makes me remember what she has done, and because of that I will always remember Helen.
The author's make characters come to life by their personality, I like a James bond scruffy voice on my characters. With the personality of silence and mystery. You also have to have a suit. Like a mask and a combat slim suit with armor pads. And the mask would express his emotions in numbers and smiley faces. That would be a character I would remember forever.The characters I forget are like the ones in "Where the Red Fern Grows." The main character was a kid who lived on a farm and hunted raccoon. The only reason I read the book was because we where forced to.
When writing authors have to almost have to have there minds on the book almost nothing else. They have to be well aware of what they are writing and not to get so distracted that they can not write there best book.
During my independent reading journey I have read about many different characters ranging from the most self-centered person you will ever read about to the most lovable that would take a bullet for his loved ones. The lovable boy I am talking about is Derrick. He was in love with a girl name Sarah and nothing was going to break their bond, until you meet their parents. They believe that they aren't truly "in love" with each other and that they should see other people but, that didn't stop Derrick. He couldn't hide his his undivided love for Sarah and would do anything for them to stay together. The author wrote this forbidden love story filled with sorrow and separation but still showed loved from Derrick throughout the whole story to keep the love in the air. Now Jack is the exact opposite. In a different novel Jack believes that love is the biggest load of crap ever. He thinks that people can live happily alone and that love should stay in fairy tale books not in real life. Jack didn't have this belief until his parents had gotten divorced two years. He was growing up with the bitterness that his parents had between each other and that was the only "love" that Jack had known. If that was love Jack wanted nothing to do with. He was a bitter young boy that was written by the author to keep the conflict throughout the story. But once the new girl Olivia came to school and immediately fell for Jack she knew that she could change him. Olivia's love and good heart would change Jack's views on romance.
I have read many different kind of novels with different characters whom may both be lovable but are written to express it in many ways by the author to make the story their own.
While reading Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson I have realized that she makes a character memorable by having someone think of them, talk about them, or see that person but not often. The main character, Scarlett had a huge crush/relationship with this one guy who she can’t get off her mind even though they had “broken up”. So far, most of the times when I’m reading, she’s always thinking about him which makes it hard for her to forget him and makes it easier for me to remember him. The reason why you can’t remember some people in the book is because the author doesn’t write about them often or put them in people’s thoughts. I believe the least memorable characters in the book would be her parents because the author doesn’t talk about them much. Her parents only come up when something big is going to happen or that they’re talking to them which is not often.
I think an author makes each character different for a reason. It’s kind of like life if everybody in life was the same it would be boring. In the Twilight series You have Edward who is a vampire mixing in with Bella. The most memorable character in this series is Edward because he is so different from everybody else. He’s a vampire that has to deal with overcoming the want for human blood and the want to kill people. Edward is also around our age if not a little older but some of us can relate to the teenage high school drama he goes through. I’m sure everyone has a character they admire, and can relate to but some of us have more than one. Or maybe some of us don’t have one at all, and that’s ok. Most authors have three things they need to keep in mind when writing their book. Who is your target audience? Teens, adults, kids,? What is the message in the book if there is one at all? And What are the characters, plot, climax, etc.? All Authors make the characters different.
The best characters are entertaining to read about. Not necessarily funny; there are many other traits that can make a someone a well-developed person. Whenever you read, you know it’s a good sign when you ask yourself the question “What’s going to happen to them next?” It means you really care about the character, either you want to see them succeed or fail, and that means the author has done their job. If you can’t wait to see how their story plays out, and you’re turning page after page to learn the end of their tale, it’s likely a character you can either relate to or picture clearly. In the Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Stroud, both of the protagonists are well-realized and entertaining. Bartimaeus is clever, daring and sardonic, while Nathaniel is emotional, ambitious and determined. The two of them play off of each other in a way that makes for quite a page turner, and each of them is memorable by themselves as well as together.
When an author writes a story, I think one of the most important things to include is a good description of the characters. The characters are what make up the story and its a good thing to be able to connect with them. To understand the characters better, the author should include characteristics that a real person would have. There should be personality in the character. Things like humor, description of their looks, and maybe even experiences that they had. In my book, The Adoration of Jenna Fox, by Mary E. Pearson, the main character Jenna has a great personality. In the story, she is funny, very smart, and a great person. I think what makes her an awesome character, is that the author includes many back stories of Jenna, and that really defines her character and who she really is.
When I like a character, it is usually because the author goes into detail about the characters little flaws, or their habits. I like it when the story gives you time to get to know the character, and become attached to them. In Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Dobby dies. I cried so hard when this happened because I felt like Dobby was my friend. He was so cute and lovable, and I had read about him all throughout seven books and seven movies, and then the author just kills him. I got so upset and I hated that part of the book , but that is a sign of a good author. A good creates such in depth characters that you feel for them as if they were alive and living next door. In the Hunger Games, you get to know that Katniss cares about people, and especially her family. In the book, you can guess what she is going to do, based on that fact.
If your character is well developed, readers should be able to guess what they are going to do next in the story, and be able to explain why.
While reading my independent novel, The Probability of Miracles, I have grown to know and like a certain character. The main character Cam. Cam is memorable to me because she is sarcastic, hopeful, honest, loving, and sick. These traits make her memorable because I can connect with her. Our attitudes are similar, our humor is similar, and we have one major thing in common; we know what it feels like to lose a major part of your life. When Cam was younger, her father died. When I was younger, I lost touch with mine. Her family is also similar to mine, because she lives with her mother, her sister, and her mother’s boyfriend, and for a while it was that way in my house. When I began to read this book, and really got into it, I felt like I gained a friend. I liked hearing her thoughts, stories, and emotions. I liked picking up the book ever day and feeling like I knew a little secret of hers that only I was to keep. I felt like I had connected with her story. The author did an amazing job of showing Cam’s traits right off the bat. There was the introduction which told me about her as a person, and then a flashback that helped me even more when trying to understand her. I really enjoyed reading this book, and that is why and how Cam is memorable to me. Characters that aren’t memorable, are the kinds of people who don’t think like myself, and are just all around boring. I haven’t read many books where I didn’t remember the character and their story, but there was one in particular that I can remember. In seventh grade, we were assigned to read The Giver, and it is one of my least favorite books. I can’t remember most of the details, or the plot, but I only remember one character; the old man. The only reason I remember the old man is because he was on the cover. Overall, to be memorable, the book has to be enjoyable, and The Probability of Miracles definitely was.
One Character that I felt really connected to was Percy Jackson from the series, Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I think that the reason I felt that way is because, not only does the author go into really good detail describing him, he also puts it in first person point of view. I find it easier to connect to characters in first person view because you know what they are thinking about and why they do what they do. First person view also makes me feel like I am right there in all the action. Whenever Percy was fighting, the author would only describe what Percy saw and knew, not what others in the battle knew. This really made the book come to life because, it seems more realistic just seeing it through one person’s view than knowing what is going on all around the fight.
I think what brings a character alive is their personality. The ones that will be remembered are the characters with great personalities, the ones that will be forgotten are the ones that have bad personalities. Other things authors do to make the character come to life is how unique they are compared to the other characters. In the book that I’m reading two different girls are completely opposite. One is always happy and wears pink, and the other isn’t always happy and wears black.
While reading I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore I realized that the author makes the character memorable by have people knowing this person and also when people think of them. The main character is John and he is kind of new to the school and has a girlfriend that he can’t get of his mind and when he is in trouble he can’t stop thinking about her because he is being hunted and when he is worried he tries to relax so he thinks of his girlfriend to make him relaxed and calm. He has been going through a lot cause he had just saved his dad from some guys who had captured him and the men who were trying to find john found him but didn’t see him and had gotten away with his dad.
Ms Johnson wrote: "There are certain traits that make us like or dislike a character's personality based on our own, but let's look closer. What do author's do with their writing to make characters come to life? Whet..."I am currently reading Such Wicked Intent by Kenneth Oppel. The main character is Victor Frankenstein (as in the scientist who made the famous monster). Victor is turning into a very memorable character for me, because he represents everything I am not in characteristic qualities. For starters, he is highly temperamental. Whenever another character questions him, he immediately feels they are questioning his intelligence and becomes enraged (I am fairly quiet, especially if I feel outsmarted). He is also passionate about the sciences and discovering the mysteries of the world (I think these mysteries are what make life interesting). He is willing to put himself in danger in order to discover the meaning of life (Yeah, I am just a scaredy cat). Finally, I think that Victor, despite everything I wrote above, represents your average teenage: he yearns to be loved, he wants to learn, he is scared of death and losing those he loves (Ok, so I can relate to him when it comes to those things).
A character is not a prop used to fill up space, but someone with emotion, someone with fluid traits and characteristics that are distinct among others. A character can be thought of as a real person, and almost seems like they are truly alive and among us when reading a book. Characters cannot be created in five minutes, with an artless background and dreary traits and motives. A character is an inspiration of the writer, almost part of the writer, as if the character is insinuated to be the writer. Traits, emotion, and realism are among the key aspects needed in the recipe for a strong character.Some characters are meant to stay vivid in our minds throughout the story, while others are more vague and absent. Writers use certain things in their stories to make a character come to life. They give them traits that real people would have; being scared of spiders, having a weakness for chocolate, or having a passion for sports. Whatever these traits may be, it helps with the illusion that they are real people in a real environment. Another big one is, of course, emotions. Some people may be stoic and brave, while others may be bashful and introverted. Adding emotion may seem obvious, but it adds color and life to a character that would otherwise be quite dreary and boring.
In the short stories I have read in my novel about Mars, the characters have been brave, kindhearted, and assertive. They need these qualities for their own survival in such a harsh environment like Mars. While they are firm and strong, they still have the weaknesses and emotions that everyone else in the world may have. Sadness, excitement, curiosity and many others make for a living, breathing, character that many would accept as realistic in society today.
As I have been reading my independant reading novel i have run across many characters. Most of them are loving, careing, comapssionate, and forgiving. Although, I have encoutered a few not so memorable people too. One of these people include Lucy. She is a girl from April and Vi's school, the two main characters. She doesnt come up very much in the first half of the book but in the second half she starts to get a little creepy. One day when April and Vi were in their hot tub, she walked into their backyard and black-mailed them saying if they would not let her hang out with them she would tell everyone their secrets they have been hiding. Of course the girls are scared and agree to her plan, just to keep their secrets safe. Another character that I have not found very memorable is Penny, April's step mother. The only thing Penny seems to care about is herself and her home. She cleans all the time and never takes any time to be with April. She also seems a little stuck up and self centerd.The book I have been reading is called ten things we did (and probably shoudln't have) by Sarah Mylynowski. This book is very exciting and i recomend this book to any young teenage girl who likes to read about many interesting characters.
In the novel The Hunger Games, by Collins, Suzanne the character I like the best is Katniss, because she shows what she wants and doesn’t let anything stand in her way. The writer, describes her as a strong girl that doesn’t give up easily and cares about others before she cares about herself. I can relate to her easily in some situations she gets into because I can picture her in my mind. The author describes the things she does and the situations she gets into and it will always remind me who she is by what she does and the actions she takes on. While in other books her actions might not be bold so you choose differently. It depends on the mood of the story. Katniss, is just an average teenager that is one who stands out. But the author makes her grow up faster than the other teenagers in her home town. While she is a character the details help me understand what kind of person she is without seeing a picture.
I think authors make a character memorable by describing what they look like, their experiences throughout the book, the way they react to certain situations, and their traits and special skills they have. All of these things can help a reader become more interested because they start to imagine that they are in the book with the characters. The character I remember the most is Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. She was described so well, that you could see a picture in your mind of her appearance. The author also wrote everything Katniss was thinking when a situation came up. This gave me a better understanding of how her character looked at things. The author also had other situations in the story where she would sort of explain Katniss’ traits. It made me feel like I was actually along with Katniss in the book. Many different traits and actions can make a character memorable.
During my independent reading journey, there are many different characters in the story that I can visualize there qualities by how they act to others in the book. Some are very likable and some aren't. But that is what the author wants you to think. The character that I can connect with the most is Bella. She is a huge cults, isn't the most talkative girl in the school, but she can voice her opinion when she wants to. She may not be a role model in a heroic way but more a strong role model, like an older brother or sister to look up to.
Since I have been reading independent novels, I have come across all different kinds of characters. It can range from the type of people you would hate to the type of people you would adore. An author develops a character through what they say, how they act and what they look like. To make a character stand out, in my opinion, the author would have to make what they do, say and feel something people can relate to or something that is extreme. For example, in my book that I am currently reading, one of the main characters, Hanna, really stands out to me. Maybe it’s because she used to be the heaviest one of her friends and now she’s the thinnest, but the way she made that happen made me pay closer attention to her. She started making herself throw up after she ate in eighth grade and has almost recovered, yet she still does it every once in a while. Also Hanna used to be one of the most unpopular girls in her grade and since she became thin, she is now one of the most popular. Also since becoming thin, beautiful and popular, Hanna has become an arrogant, self- centered person. She no longer talks to her true friends, but hangs out with a girl named Mona, who isn’t someone I would ever want to be friends with. Before, when she wasn’t so popular and thin, she was one of the sweetest girls you could think of. All of these changes is what really made Hanna stand out to me as a character, not necessarily in a good way either.
Characters may stand out to me in a good way and a bad way, but I always find myself more drawn in to the characters that are completely relatable, or completely opposite of who I am. Either way, the way the characters act in the book really makes them stand out and every single one of them is different from the next.
Throughout my independent reading I have countered many different character types. Some that mad you so mad because they don't know what to do in life, and some that are just like you in more ways than none. Authors can make characters become real in many ways. One way that I am kind of fond to is when they make the character have traits and qualities that are just like the reader. If you can connect with the situation, it makes the book, and the characters seem more realistic. Like in the book, The Child Called It, although it's a autobiography, the author really brings himself to live. In most autobiographies, they just go on with different stories and facts, but I don't feel as though they are my friend. In this novel, I felt pain when he felt pain, and I wanted to help him as badly as I could. He was small and weak, but yet so strong. All he wanted was to be loved, and every chance he got for freedom, he took, even if it lasted only a minute. Plus, he would try to run away from his past, which, in some cases, I do too. Now, I have never been abused by my parents, I do sometimes feel misunderstood by them, and alone, just like him.But the best authors can make you remember characters. The author makes them people you want to remember, and they have reasoning behind it. For example, in the novel, The Outsiders, I remember PonyBoy all the time. I always quote things from him and keep him in the back of my mind. Why you may ask? Because he's memorable. He to me is someone I connected with, and that I will remember for years to come. He's very courageous, and a little rebel. He lives with his brother, which shows how close of a relationship they have. My brother and I are very close, and although I may not be as much of a rebel as PonyBoy, I still like to feel like I am. PonyBoy also was good at heart. He puts on this tough facade when in reality, all he wanted to do help people, and be the best he could be at everything he does. And that to me, is memorable.
I believe that in a story the character is the most important thing to write about. Authors include many traits and feeling that characters must have. It also takes a lot of time to create a character. I character is what brings the story together whether the character is on an adventure or mystery the character is what brings the story alive. I good book that the author does a good job with the character is “Swindle” by Gordon Korman. The main character in this book is Griffin Bing who goes on many adventures with the help of his friends to solve mysteries. In this book Griffin is a very smart kid and devoted person as his nickname in the book is “ The man with the plan” because he is a master mined when it comes to the adventures that they go on. A character that I can’t remember is Jonas the main character in the book the “The giver”. I know that he lived in a utopian society and was trying to protect a child who was looking to be killed.
In the steam-punk novel, Boneshaker by Cherie Priest, the most memorable character Zeke, an independent boy who is not very cared for from his own mother, Briar. Zeke is just a teenager, believing that his grandfather, Maynard isn’t as bad as they say, but Briar thinks otherwise. Briar Wilkes is a single mother, her husband died years ago and she is stuck with her only child Zeke. They don’t really get along well together and so she could really care less for Zeke. She calls herself a horrible mother when no one is there to agree or argue with her. Briar is a pale, thin, dark haired forty year old woman who is rebellious and somewhat stubborn. She believes her father, Maynard was a horrible man and deserved what he had coming, death. Yet her son, Zeke says that Maynard is a hero and others just don’t see it. Maynard freed prisoners when the toxic Blight gas was coming through. I personally don’t like either of the characters yet, since they aren’t might kind of people. Yet, I believe if I get further into the story, they will have more characterization and personality, making me able to warm up to one of them. Maybe the character I am able to connect with is Zeke. Since he is a teenager and he’s independent, somewhat like I am.
What makes a good character is when an author describes the character well. The author will also tell what the character does. In the book I am reading Bleachers by John Grisham the most memorable character is Neely because he never gives up and keeps working for what he wants.
When an author creates a story the character or characters are one of most important things to worry about. The author should go into great detail about the character. Like, what they look like, what they talk like, what they feel, in terms of how they feel about life or people, and just in general how they act. It is relly easy to connect or determine if you like the character when you know all about them. I can easily remember a character if they are funny, or really interesting. For instance, in a book I read in middle school one of the characters was a little girl and she had a huge immagination which made the whole book ten times better. She ended up becomming friends with a ghost and everything that happened ended up going wrong. But it was a great book and I can still remember all about her to this day. When I read a story I love when I can picture a character, or picture exactally what is happening. It makes the story better, and it makes me want to keep reading.
Deadline by Chris Crutcher is a great novel with many things to be learned. The main character, Ben Wolf, is a teen-age boy, going through his senior year of high school with no regrets. But, he isn't doing it just because he is a senior, Ben is dying. He is curious, and this becomes a problem for him. He tries to find an answer to everything, from why certain things happen to if he will make an impact on the world. Through his senior year, Ben faces many difficult issues and he always makes the right decisions. This is why I have come to respect, and love Ben as a character. Most importantly, through his character I have learned that you can't always find answers and you have to use your gut instinct sometimes.
I think a good character is someone who is heroic and someone that can relate to you. It is also something that need to explain how the character looks and acts to give you a better understanding. In The Hunger Games, Katniss is a hero and someone that you can relate too. Maybe not the poverty part of the story, but how she has siblings and has to take care of them. You could also relate if you have lost a family member because Katniss had too. Katniss is memorable in The Hunger Games because of how she acts, she acts in a way to win for her sister and though she doesn't know for Peeta too. Katniss is very different too; instead of picking the stronger and better people, Katniss picks the weaker and tries to help them. Katniss isn't always perfect but she tries to be and that sticks out to me too. They may be somewhat normal teenagers but Katniss sticks out to me because of her heroism and how she sticks up for those who need help. A non memorable character is someone who isn't described enough for you to relate. If a character isn't explain or giving visual features for you to imagine, it is harder for you to remember and associate with a certain character. I think that why you remember the way a character looks and acts instead of just telling the story of the character.
To me, for a character to be memorable and likable, they have to be funny and original. A character is boring to me if they don't speak or they never have anything interesting to say. A character is also memorable if they handle a situation in a certain way. I find it funny when a character does something strange in a situation. A great example of this sort of character is Greg Heffley in the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" series. He is a very unique and funny character and he is they type of character that I remember in a book. He keeps the book interesting and there's never a dull moment. He keeps the book alive. If he was a very quiet, boring character, obviously the book would probably not even be worth reading, at least not for me. So in conclusion, the personality and traits are the most important aspect of a character. Funny and unpredictable characters tend to be memorable, while quiet, boring,and bland characters tend to be forgettable.
I am currently reading the book Num8ers by Rachel Ward, the main characters are Jem and Spider, who each have very unique personalities, but at the same time also very similar. Jem and Spider don't like to be told what to do, and they aren't afraid to 'step out of the box' meaning if someone makes them angry, they wont hesitate to express their feelings with a punch to their face. It's those type of things that make a good character. Books wouldn't be exciting if they all had a girl who was short, sweet, funny, and liked by everyone, would it? Having a good character is they key to a good story because it brings it alive. Like Spider, he seems like he's the only African American man in the UK. He's tall, which makes him stand out, and swears like a sailor, making him seem like a dangerous threat to others. Although he hasn't made some of the best choices, smoking, stealing, and ditching school, he still is a great friend to those he lets into his life, which isn't many, like Jem. Jem is special, she can see everyone's death date just by looking them in the eye, and Spider is her only friend, with only 4 days to go. She doesn't like to admit it but she has fallen hard for this boy, she doesn't know when or how it will happen, only that its 4 days away, but when that time comes, she will do everything in her power to save her only friend. These are things that make a character come to life and are easy to imagine.
When I read a book, my favorite part is getting to know the character and their personalities. In the book I am currently reading, Keep Holding On, Noelle has become a character that I will remember for a long time, even though we have nothing in common. She has become a memorable character because in the beginning of the book Noelle is constantly bullied and has extremely low self-esteem. But towards the end, she realizes that its okay to not be perfect and to stand up for yourself. Noelle learns to be strong and independent. She overcomes her difficulties in life and finally begins to start enjoying high school. As her life perspective starts changing, Noelle has more friends and more confidence. Once Noelle has all this confidence, she uses it in a positive way. She starts helping other kids that are being bullied and starts a program for kids who are being bullied so that they have a place where they feel they belong. Noelle is a role model to so many kids that are being bullied. She proves in the book, that your life will get better if you take action. This has made her a very memorable character to me.
The book that I am reading is "Box Out" by John Coy, the main character of the book is Liam Bergstrom. The way that my author is making this character memorable is by the actions that this character does throughout the book so far. He's only a sophomore on the varsity basketball team, which would make the character quite memorable. He also has a problem during the book, his coach makes them say prayers before every game in the locker room. Hoping that they will bring them some kind of luck or faith even, but Liam doesn't know if he believes in saying these prayers. The reason that this problem makes him memorable is because he talks to his mom about this issue, she tells him that he should talk to the coach because he doesn't feel comfortable exactly saying these prayers. So he goes to talk to his coach, the coach doesn't really seem to take an interest in what Liam is saying, he said "I'll look into it". Look into what exactly though? The next game Liam had only played 4 minutes in the last quarter. That is why I believe that my character; Liam Bergstrom is a very memorable character, he had talked to the coach about what he wanted too. His personality and how he reacts to people’s opinions is very memorable too, because he doesn’t know if he agrees with the prayers in the locker room before all their games but yet he still says them. For me, that is what makes a character memorable.
I think an author makes each character have different unique traits and personality. In real life no one has the same personality so authors want their characters to seem real. If the author makes a character friendly and funny, people usually like the character better. A characters personality helps you understand them better. One character that I will always remember is Oliver from the book The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight. Oliver is very charming. He has a way of talking to girls. Oliver is a very kind guy, he is someone you would want as a friend. Oliver is in his early 20’s and he’s from London. Most people probably haven’t read the book to know him but he is very friendly and smart. Oliver’s personality makes him seem like he’s real. Oliver is the one character that I will remember the most.
I am currently reading Travel Team by Mike Lupica. He is a very good writer for characterization. The main character Danny(a seventh grader) represents me in many ways. He is very passionate for the game of basketball. For example he will play basketball until he can’t anymore, that is the same for me because I love the game so much. He also is short just like me, but we both play the game very well. I think that we are most alike in the way that we try our hardest at everything we do. Whether it is a sport or school, we both try our best. Overall I think that Danny is like me in many characteristic ways, he is like most athletic teenage boys, he plays for the love of the game. I like Danny from Travel Team because I can relate to him, especially in sports.
Last year I read the book Gym Candy. In the book Gym Candy the main character is Mick Johnson, I can relate to him because they show his life until he is a few years older than me. Mick's life is centered on football. His dad was drafted to the NFL in the 3rd round which is pretty good but only was able to play in the preseason because he claims he had an injury that never healed, or at least that's what he has told Mick his entire life. Mick's dad wanted him to be the best at football so he held him back a grade so he would be more developed than all the kids and break all the records. Mick didn't seem to care about that at a young age but once he got older he thought it wasn't fair and looked at it like he was different.He seemed to be a nice enough person. Mick is considerate and is very competitive which I can relate to because I am also very competitive.
When Mick first got in high school he was bumped up in football right away but all the coaches said he wasn't big enough so he started to buy protein shakes and exercise which helped at first but then he hit the wall. He got better but he still wasn't good enough to get the starting spot so he looked for an edge. That's when the "Gym Candy" got involved.
Up to that point in the story I thought Mick was a strong willed, give it your all type of person. After that my thoughts about him completely changed but it got me hooked in the story. After that he completely changed and became more aggressive towards his friends, and rage towards his family.
I think that a great character is someone that many people can relate to. When someone can relate to a character, they will remember them and be able to get a good picture of what the character is like. An example of a great character is Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games series. She is very memorable and inspiring to me because she has to go through so many challenges in her life, but she manages to stay strong. The author did a great job describing her appearance and her personality. Katniss is a very strong, loving, intelligent person that never gave up. I think many people can relate to Katniss or be inspired by her character because she really cares about her family and loved ones and would risk anything for them. Throughout the series she becomes a great leader that can be inspiring to everyone.
I am currently reading Harry Potter and the order of the phoenix and I think that J.K Rowling describes the main characters by saying what they look like and what they do and how they say things. I think Harry is short and that he is immature. I got those things from the thing the author said about him. i think he is also smart. his mom and dad died when Harry was a little boy and that affected his life by him not knowing his mom and dad.
In the book Call of the wild by Jack Loudon their was a prospector named John Thornton. Thornton is a caring prospector who always cares about his dogs. He always keeps track of his dogs when their going somewhere. He is very protective of his dogs which other prospectors wanted to steal them. He always tried to find food for his dogs when their hungary. He also wanted to make sure their safe.
David wrote: "To me, for a character to be memorable and likable, they have to be funny and original. A character is boring to me if they don't speak or they never have anything interesting to say. A character i..."David I would have to agree with you, when a character is funny or weird in a certain situation it makes me laugh too.
Autumn wrote: "I think a good character is someone who is heroic and someone that can relate to you. It is also something that need to explain how the character looks and acts to give you a better understanding. ..."I will also remember the character of Katniss as someone who was just trying to retain who she was as an individual. She didn't want to be told who she was by anyone: the Capitol, Peeta, Gale. To me, that is the best thing you can fight for.
