How to Use Other People to Describe the Main Character

A main character doesnt have to. Here is a list of English Adjectives to describe someones personality.

Teaching Main Character And Character Traits Missing Tooth Grins Character Activities Character Lessons Character Traits Activities

If they are short have them struggle to reach something most others could get.

. If hes tall maybe another character asks him to get something off a high shelf for her. Using this method the character is built by the reader rather than being painted by you. Exterior Characterisation This involves using their behaviour towards other characters and their attitude to their worlds to describe them.

To describe someones appearance you will often use adjectives. It allows you to creatively describe your character rather than listing basic descriptors. Figurative language uses metaphors similes hyperboles and personification to help the reader imagine the people and events in your story.

Joseph Conrad Heart of Darkness. Courteous The staff are always courteous and helpful. Sanguine cheerful melancholic sad phlegmatic easygoing and choleric quick-tempered.

For example characters can be divided into four simplified types. Your character may be treated with fear or respect or disdain. He was commonplace in complexion in feature in manners and in voice.

Gentle Arthur was a very gentle caring person. I could never make my own clothes. Stakes are a useful concept for developing a main character such as a protagonist or antagonist.

A life free from smoking drugs and late nights of revelry seemed to have its benefits. His eyes of the usual blue were perhaps remarkably cold and he certainly could make his glance fall on one as trenchant and heavy as an axe. Excerpt 3 tells you Charlie had a violent streak.

His epic nose bestowed honour on the face of a man who benefits from worldy wisdom. Skirmishes with other survivors or cannibals or simply the anxious situation of having to survive a brutal landscape. An adjective is a kind of word that describes a noun a person place or thing.

It is common to describe an individuals character in informal conversation and formal communications such as a character reference. If hes short he might look someone in the eyebut have to look up to do it. Her enemy asks if shes a natural redhead.

If you want them to think about the everyday aspects of their appearance come up with a reason why it matters in the scene. For instance another character might point out that the main character is unusually tall ask about his crooked nose or mistake him for a homeless person. Excerpt 4 tells you Charlie had grown to 59 - 5 10.

A main character doesnt have to be a good guy but they should be a memorable character and involved with the progression of the plot. Brainstorm stakes for each protagonist or antagonist. For example you dont want to say Claire has long brown hair and brown eyes.

Then you can use a combination of thoughts and dialogue from other characters to describe their features. If hes a big guy he might have trouble squeezing into an airline seat. Dont let them stare at their own eyes dreamily in the mirror.

Its important to be able to describe your own personality or someone elses. Main characters sometimes called principal characters come in all shapes sizes and styles and who they are greatly depends on the kind of story youre telling. Calm I tried to stay calm and just ignore him.

The characters actions or details such as his occupations and interests are much more useful. Actively expand the set of descriptive words and synonyms you have in your toolkit. This rule also goes for describing the POVC.

Words for Describing Someones Character and Personality Brave It was brave of you to speak in front of all those people. Show traits in action. Whether youre working on a future New York Times bestseller or trying your hand at writing fiction for the first time youll need to know how to introduce a character effectively.

Character traits are qualities or characteristics that describe what a person is like. How to Describe People in English. Creative Youre so creative.

The author shows us who the characters are by the way they treat other people and the way others treat them. Build a rich vocabulary of words to describe people and places. A characters physical descriptionunless markedly different than the normdoes relatively little to draw the reader in.

He was of middle size and of ordinary build. Use judgment and common sense. Use compliments and nicknames.

Excerpt 2 tells you Charlie is independent but popular. For both good guys and bad guys memorable character introductions draw the reader in giving them a reason to emotionally invest in the story. Polite Please be polite to our guests friendly Everyone was very friendly towards me.

Keep physical description minimal. Her best friend gently explains dark roots are out of fashion. Consider having other characters mention aspects of the main characters appearance.

At thirty-seven however Ben Fullarton was still a handsome man with cropped chestnut hair not receding on a full-of-the-moon head. Excerpt 1 tells you Charlie is mixed-race female baby. His father remarks he really ought to cut his hair he looks like a hippie.

Think about how you would feel if you heard someone using the same words to describe you. The following vocabulary may be helpful in describing character. If your main character is super strong and muscular have her carry something huge without effort.

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