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Characterization Worksheets

Well-developed characters are like people: they have traits, opinions, and motivations. Characterizations are the methods by which story tellers reveal the traits of characters. There are two types of characterizations: direct and indirect. Direct characterization is when a narrator or character describes another character directly. Indirect characterization is when character traits are revealed through a character's behavior.

Most of my characterization worksheets deal with indirect or implicit characterizations. Recognizing these characterizations is a higher order thinking skill, whereby the student must make an inference based on textual details. These free characterization worksheets will help students better understand characterizations and ultimately become better readers.

Characterization Lesson 1
Looking for a lesson on characterization? Check out this awesome slideshow. It explains direct and indirect characterizations and gives students examples of each. It also includes five practice problems at the end. Check it out!
This is a preview image of Characterization Lesson 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Character Types Lesson 1
Are you looking for a PowerPoint slideshow to help students review character types? This lesson teachers about character that are STATIC, DYNAMIC, FLAT, ROUND and MORE. It includes a practice activity after the lesson. You'll love it.
This is a preview image of Character Types Lesson 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Characterization Worksheet 1
Here is a worksheet to help students practice characterizations. Students read ten short examples of character interactions. They identify an indirect character trait in each and explain their answers by referencing the text.
This is a preview image of Characterization Worksheet 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Characterization Worksheet 2
Here is another worksheet to help students practice identifying characterizations. Students read ten short passages. They identify an implied character trait in each. Then they explain their answers using text.
This is a preview image of Characterization Worksheet 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Characterization Worksheet 3
Here is yet another characterization worksheet to give students ample practice with this core reading skill. This worksheet has got another ten more problems. Students must identify characters' traits based on their actions in each. Then they explain their answers using text. This worksheet is great for homework or class work.
This is a preview image of Characterization Worksheet 3. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Characterization Worksheet 4
Still looking for practice with characterizations? This worksheet has ten new short paragraphs. Students must identify an implicit character trait in each. Then they must refer to the text to explain their answers, which adds a critical thinking component to this assignment.
This is a preview image of Characterization Worksheet 4. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Character Types Worksheet 1
Practice identifying round, flat, and static characters. Students read a short piece of fiction about a girl who stands up to a bully. Then they identify the types of characters in the story and explain their answers.
This is a preview image of Character Types Worksheet 1. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Character Types Worksheet 2
Did you need more practice with character types? Here is another character types worksheet. Read the short story about a cruel factory owner. Analyze the characters then answer the questions about character types. Suggested reading level for this text: Grade 4th-8th.
This is a preview image of Character Types Worksheet 2. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Indirect Characterizations Worksheet
Here's a fun activity to give your students some practice thinking of how to show indirect characterizations. Students define challenging character trait words, then write actions that would demonstrate each character trait. Feel free to edit this worksheet to add your own character traits.
This is a preview image of Indirect Characterizations Worksheet. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Illustrating Character Traits Group Project
Here is a fun group project to give students practice with character traits; Students take one of four roles and look up challenging character trait words. They then illustrate examples of the term that show its meaning.
This is a preview image of Illustrating Character Traits Group Project. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Illustrating Implicit Characterizations
Here is a creative, student-centered activity to give students practice with implicit character traits. This assignment can pair with any story that you are reading. Students illustrate character behavior and explain what character trait is shown.
This is a preview image of Illustrating Implicit Characterizations. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Character Traits List
Here is a great list of 250 character trait words. You can use these words to help students increase their characterization vocabularies. It also goes well with my student-centered projects and activities on characterizations.
This is a preview image of Character Traits List. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.
Character Traits Project
Looking for student-centered characterization project? Check this out! Students define character trait words and then think of actions that would implicitly show each character trait. This project requires critical thinking and is a great way to expand students' character trait vocabulary.
This is a preview image of Character Traits Project. Click on it to enlarge it or view the source file.

Characterization
Common Core State Standards

Characterization Anchor Standards
R.3 - Analyze how and why individuals, events, or ideas develop and interact over the course of a text.

RL.K.3 - With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story.
RL.1.3 - Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.
RL.2.3 - Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.
RL.3.3 - Describe characters in a story (e.g., their traits, motivations, or feelings) and explain how their actions contribute to the sequence of events.
RL.4.3 - Describe in depth a character, setting, or event in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., a character's thoughts, words, or actions).
RL.5.3 - Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact).
RL.6.3 - Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
RL.7.3 - Analyze how particular elements of a story or drama interact (e.g., how setting shapes the characters or plot).
RL.8.3 - Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.
RL.9-10.3 - Analyze how complex characters (e.g., those with multiple or conflicting motivations) develop over the course of a text, interact with other characters, and advance the plot or develop the theme.
RL.11-12.3 - Analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.3
R.7 - Integrate and evaluate content presented in diverse media and formats, including visually and quantitatively, as well as in words.

RL.1.7 - Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
RL.2.7 - Use information gained from the illustrations and words in a print or digital text to demonstrate understanding of its characters, setting, or plot.
Click to VIEW Grade Level Standards for R.7
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55 Comments

  1. Aaliyah

     /  May 16, 2022

    The work sheets are really helpful! Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Grateful English teacher from Germany

     /  March 9, 2021

    Thank you so much for sharing your material! It helps me a lot with my English students. It’s greatly appreciated!

    Reply
  3. Leigh Cheri

     /  December 7, 2020

    On behalf of the countless teachers I know use these resources as staple pieces in their lessons each year, thank you for your generosity, support and time. We appreciate that these are not only skill-focused, engaging and editable but that they are rigorous among today’s state standards as well. Thank you.

    Reply
  4. Wendy

     /  November 19, 2020

    Thanks so much for doing all of these. I love that they are rigorous. I use your stuff all the time. I really love the ppts too. Thanks again for providing resources. Our school doesn’t want us using the reading curriculum, so this has helped a lot!

    Reply
  5. Lisa Brainard

     /  August 20, 2020

    I love the online option as we get ready to go virtual. However, I am unable to figure out where to see their completed work. Could you please assist me?

    Thanks so much!

    Reply
    • Sure, thing.

      At the end of each quiz, students have the option to “Print, Save, or Email” their results. They could even post their scores to Facebook. I don’t think many people do that though.

      What I would do, if I were you, is require each student to SAVE A COPY OF THEIR RESPONSES AND SCORES to their machine or file system. Then, I would have them email the results to your email address.

      The reason why I would require them to save their scores is that sometimes there are delivery issues. Students enter the wrong address, firewalls stop the emails, etc. This is a tough situation for both teacher and student. The answer is to require students to maintain records of their work. Then, if there is a delivery issue, they just need to send the results again.

      I hope that helps.

      Reply
  6. Rathnathilaka

     /  October 23, 2019

    It is great.You are a real teacher for teachers world wide.Thank you very much.

    Reply
  7. Peter the Great.

     /  January 9, 2019

    Thank you very much for your time and effort in doing these works. They are great to make students produce the language. Sometimes I have run out of ideas on how to persuade my students but with this exercises I can push them again. God bless you.

    Reply
  8. Peter A.

     /  October 21, 2018

    This is a fabulous and very useful resource! Thank you!

    Reply
  9. Y J Perera

     /  June 29, 2018

    A wonderful resource – perfect for honing English skills.

    Many thanks !

    Reply
  10. Myat

     /  February 21, 2017

    What a wonderful site with numerous resources!

    Reply
  11. Mary Klinger

     /  January 8, 2017

    Thank you. The short vignettes are just what I needed for character studies.

    Reply
  12. Melanie

     /  December 13, 2016

    I love your work! Thank you for sharing. I have a question on characterization. Other sites I look at describe how indirect characterization can come from what effect the character has on others, what the character thinks, what the character says, and what the character looks like. Why do you only concentrate on how the character acts?

    Reply
  13. Adam

     /  November 2, 2016

    I love this website. Thanks for all the great material; this stuff is perfect for all the extra practice parents ask for before a test.

    Is there anywhere I can donate?

    Reply
  14. Nuriye

     /  June 21, 2016

    Hi Mr Morton,
    I’ld like to thank you for sharing your wonderful resources.

    Your Resources are invaluable and incomparable to what is available at retail stores, everything has been planned for explicit teaching of the much needed skills and strategies for reading effectively.

    Please send details on where to make donations.

    Thank you once again,

    Kind Regards

    Nuriye

    Reply
    • That’s really nice of you to say. The site is supported by advertising. The company, Ereading Worksheets Inc., is a for profit entity. Any donations are not tax refundable, but if you really want to buy me a cup of coffee or something (beer), you can PayPal me at morton@ereadingworksheets.com

      Best wishes, and thanks again for using the site.

      Reply
  15. Peggy

     /  April 5, 2016

    I was so lucky to come across this. You saved me the time energy of coming up with something myself, and it wouldn’t have been as good. THANKS!

    Reply
  16. kala

     /  March 11, 2016

    Your worksheets are really great help for moms.

    Reply
  17. Venus

     /  March 7, 2016

    Thank you very much for sharing and your effort, Mr. Morton. 🙂

    Reply
  18. esther

     /  January 10, 2016

    A big thank you for all your reading worksheets. They are a great resource!

    Reply
  19. Yvonne

     /  January 7, 2016

    Love this. Thanks

    Reply
  20. cierrascott

     /  December 7, 2015

    helped with a lot of work thanks

    Reply
  21. Nyny

     /  November 18, 2015

    This will help me a lot

    Reply
  22. Christine

     /  November 9, 2015

    Thank you! I have found some very helpful activities and worksheets to teach a variety of topics when it comes to reading. I really appreciate you sharing these documents!

    Reply
  23. Kasie

     /  October 18, 2015

    Thank you SO much for these. I have been using them in my beginning 7/8 grade Theatre class. Trying to develop deep thoughts and ideas about characterization has not only helped them in their acting and understanding of what it takes to become a ‘role,’ but these worksheets have also helped them in their other classes with writing, creativity, and imagination. Thanks again!

    Reply
  24. Linea

     /  October 1, 2015

    These pages are fantastic; they are well written, modern, and the questions are thorough. I also appreciate the different grade levels you cover. Thank you so much!

    Reply
  25. Ali

     /  September 21, 2015

    can I became the answers?

    Reply
  26. dodo daffodils

     /  September 19, 2015

    Really i appreciate your effort.There are so many brilliant exercises that help me as a teacher and very effective with the students.Thanks a million

    Reply
  27. Luis

     /  September 3, 2015

    Thank you for this wonderful website. It is very helpful. My 6th grade ESL students from Puerto Rico like to do the worksheets.

    Reply
  28. marilyn carter

     /  August 6, 2015

    This is just an excellent resource!!! I am a private tutor and this is very helpful! Thank you.

    Reply
  29. kim

     /  March 5, 2015

    this was very helpful in my class as we were going over elements of a story

    Reply
  30. Julius Lim

     /  January 20, 2015

    Greetings from Singapore! This series of worksheets is so helpful! Thank you!

    Reply
  31. Gwenna Neal

     /  January 13, 2015

    Thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!! What a great support for CC characterization!! You ROCK, Mr. Morton!

    Reply
  32. Mrs. La-La

     /  January 12, 2015

    This is the best resource out there for language arts teachers! I love love LOVE that you give us multiple level worksheets to help differentiate. Additionally, love that there are keys so we don’t have to ‘do’ every worksheet ourselves to make a key. You have given me back tons of time in my life and for that, I am eternally grateful!

    Reply
  33. Jeanette Alfred

     /  November 17, 2014

    These worksheets are beyond awesome! Even my students like doing them. I have shared them with other English teachers at our school and they love them as well. I keep coming back to them to help my students understand concepts we are covering in class. I even find them helpful to review things I haven’t taught in a while. And to top it off, they are free! Thank you for your hard work!!!

    Reply
  34. jessica

     /  October 16, 2014

    This is EXACTLY what I’ve been looking for! it’s amazing! thanks:)

    Reply
  35. Carol

     /  September 5, 2013

    I have been looking for a website like this for our son for a very long time.Thank you,your excellent

    Reply
  36. Brianne

     /  March 6, 2013

    This site is phenomenal. I teach 6th grade and it gives a variety of activities, worksheets, powerpoints, pre and post assessments for differentiation in my room. I love it!!

    Reply
  37. A great site that I use for my middle school LAL students.

    Reply
  38. Excellent site!!

    Reply
  39. Sylvia

     /  May 2, 2012

    Very helpful. Thanks!

    Reply
  40. Anya

     /  March 30, 2012

    WOW! I can’t thank you enough!! These are GREAT!

    Reply

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