Characterization in Literature

Characterization

• Direct characterization: when the author tells us about a character's traits or features
• Indirect characterization: when we infer a character's traits or features from their actions, thoughts, or dialogue

The Outsiders: Plot Summary

• The novel focuses on the conflict between two social classes: the poor greasers and the wealthy socs
• The story is narrated by Ponyboy Curtis, a smart and sensitive young greaser
• Ponyboy and his best friend Johnny are involved in the murder of a soc, Bob Sheldon, and flee the city with the help of Dally Winston
• The story ends with the deaths of Johnny and Dally, leading to Ponyboy's depression and realization that he needs to tell the story of his friends and what it means to be a greaser

The Outsiders: Relationships

• Ponyboy and Darry Curtis, his oldest brother, struggle to understand each other
• Darry is directly characterized as a hard worker, not interested in things like movies or books, and tough and strict
• However, through indirect characterization, it is shown that Darry is a caring father figure to Ponyboy and the rest of the greasers
• Darry's actions, such as sitting at Ponyboy's bedside when he's sick, making him do his homework, and worrying about him getting into trouble, show his concern for Ponyboy

The Outsiders: Conflict

• The main conflict is the struggle between the socs and the greasers
• The greasers are directly characterized as poor and lower class, with long hair and leather jackets, and frequent lawbreakers
• The socs are directly characterized as rich, with fancy cars and nice clothes, and frequent attackers of greasers for fun

The Outsiders: Theme

• The theme of the story is that people are all the same
• The author uses indirect characterization to show the similarities between the socs and greasers, such as their sensitivity and struggles with violence
• Examples of this include the conversations between Ponyboy and Cherry Valance, and the actions of Bob Sheldon and Dally Winston, which show that both groups have similar personality problems.

Learn about characterization in literature, including direct and indirect characterization methods, and how authors use them to reveal character traits.