Creation of character (Edexcel GCSE English Language): Revision Notes
Creation of character
Understanding how writers create characters is essential for GCSE Reading Paper 2. You may need to comment on how a writer has used language and structure to create a particular impression of a character. Writers have three main techniques at their disposal to bring characters to life on the page.
The extracts in this note are from 'How to Stop Time' by Matt Haig.
Character through action
When analysing how writers create character through action, focus on what the character is doing and how they behave. This technique reveals personality traits, emotions, and motivations through the character's physical movements and decisions.
Key things to look for:
- Action verbs that show the character's behaviour
- Adverbs that modify these actions and add extra meaning
- The sequence of actions and what they reveal about the character
Example Analysis: Character Actions
I was standing outside her door. I had knocked and waited and knocked again. The watchman, who I had passed at the corner of the street, was now approaching. 'It is a marked house, lad.' 'Yes, I know that.' 'You must not go in there… It is unsafe.' I held out my hand. 'Stand back. I am cursed with it too.'
In the extract, the action verbs "knocked" and "waited" followed by "knocked again" create an impression of determination and persistence. This repetitive action pattern tells us the character is strong-willed and resolute. The phrase "I held out my hand" followed by the command "Stand back" shows the character taking control and demonstrating authority in a tense situation.
Writers often use short, decisive actions to hint at drama and create a sense of urgency. The choice of specific verbs helps readers understand the character's emotional state and personality without explicitly stating these qualities.
Character through description
Physical description is a powerful tool for character creation. Writers use descriptive language and figurative devices to paint vivid pictures that reveal both physical appearance and personality traits.
Key techniques to identify:
- Descriptive adjectives and imagery
- Figurative language devices like similes and metaphors
- Details about movement, posture, and physical characteristics
- Comparisons that create specific impressions
Example Analysis: Descriptive Language
He was a long way off but he was easy to recognise. He was as large as a haystack. He was walking along with his arms hanging by his sides in a strange fashion, as if they were dead things attached to him.
The phrase "easy to recognise" immediately tells us the character stands out and is distinctive. The simile "as large as a haystack" creates a vivid image of an immense person, suggesting physical dominance or intimidation.
The description of arms "hanging by his sides in a strange fashion, as if they were dead things attached to him" uses another simile to create an unsettling impression. This comparison to "dead things" alerts readers that something isn't quite right about this character, building tension and suggesting potential danger.
Writers carefully choose descriptive details to guide the reader's emotional response and create specific impressions about the character's nature.
Character through dialogue
What characters say and how they speak reveals crucial information about their personality, relationships, education, social status, and emotional state. Dialogue is often the most direct way writers show us who a character really is.
What to analyse in dialogue:
- The actual words chosen and their tone
- Sentence length and structure
- What the character reveals about themselves
- How they interact with others
- What they hide or avoid saying
Example Analysis: Dialogue Techniques
'I don't know.' 'That is a lie.' 'I can't tell you who he is.' 'He said your mother was a witch. What was his meaning?' 'He must be confused. He must have mistaken me for somebody else.' Her green eyes glared at me, alive with quiet fury. 'Do you take me for a fool, Tom Smith?'
The short responses "I don't know," "That is a lie," and "I can't tell you who he is" show a character who is evasive and possibly hiding something. These brief, defensive statements suggest the character is beginning to panic and trying to cover up the truth.
The question "Do you take me for a fool, Tom Smith?" reveals several things: the character feels insulted, they're challenging someone directly, and they know the other person's name, suggesting a relationship exists between them.
The description "Her green eyes glared at me, alive with quiet fury" shows how writers can combine dialogue with physical description to reinforce the emotional intensity of the spoken words.
Putting it all together
When analysing character creation in your exam responses, look for how writers combine these three techniques. Often, action, description, and dialogue work together to create a complete picture of a character. Consider how each technique contributes to the overall impression and what specific effects the writer achieves.
Remember to always support your points with specific quotations from the text and explain clearly how the language choices create particular impressions of the character.
Key Points to Remember:
- Action reveals personality - Look for verbs and adverbs that show what characters do and how they behave
- Description creates vivid impressions - Writers use similes, metaphors, and detailed imagery to make characters memorable
- Dialogue shows character directly - What characters say and how they speak reveals their true nature
- Techniques work together - The most effective character creation combines action, description, and dialogue
- Always explain the effect - Don't just identify techniques, explain how they make the reader feel about the character