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2. Theory of Characterization
Abrams 2009 defines characterization as a method of establishing the distinctive characteristics on characters in a literary work pp. 42-44. In addition
to that, Bernado states that the characterization is the creation of image of imagery person in drama, narrative poetry, the novel, and the short story. Characterization
generates the plot which revealed by the actions, speech, thought, physical appearances, and the other character
s’ thoughts or words about him. Further, Murphy 1972 states that there are nine ways to describe a
character’s characteristic:
a. Personal Description
What the author means by personal description is that the author can describe a character through his or her physical appearance. By understanding the
physical description of the characters, the readers can imagine what kind of people the character is p. 161.
b. Characters as Seen by Others
Instead of describing a character direclty, the author can describe a character through other characters
’ opinion. In other words, the author describes the character from the point of view of people in the novel. A character also be
judge by other character. Their judgment can help the readers to know personality of the character p.162.
c. Speech
Whenever a person speaks, involves in a conversation with another or puts forward an opinion, he is giving the reader some clues about his charcater.
13 Itmeans, the author describe a character through hisher language and what the
person says p. 164.
d. Past Life
A person’s past life can give the reader a clue to events that have helped to shape that person’s character. It means the author can describe a character by
letting the reader understand about a person’s past life p. 166.
e. Conversation of Anothers
The author can also give the readers a clue to a person’s character through
the conversations of other characters and the things they say about himher. It means the author describe a character through other people’s conversation about
himher p. 167.
f. Reactions
The author can give the r eader a clue to a person’s character by letting the
reader know how the person reacts to various situations and events. It means, the author describe a character through the reader
’s findings of how the character deals with various situations p. 168.
g. Direct Comment
Describing a person’s character directly. It means the writer gives hisher description directly or face to face p. 170.
h. Thoughts
Describing a character by giving the reader knowledge of a person ’s
thinking.In other words, the author able to do what human beings cannot do in real life. The author can tell readers what different people are thinking p. 171.