How to create and use characters effectively

About this activity

This short lesson activity has been designed to help you understand how to create and use characters effectively when writing responses to imaginative/creative writing exam questions. In this lesson you will learn:How to create characters.How characters contribute the the structure of a narrative.Different ways in which you can use characters as a narrative device.How to write and use dialogue effectively.The lesson consists of a mixture of videos and short quizzes to test your understand of the concepts and skills you are being taught as you go through the lesson.At the end of this lesson you will be asked to put your knowledge to the test by writing a short imaginative involving characters.

Creating and using characters

Please watch the video opposite in which I explain the techniques writers use to create characters and some of the ways in which they use those characters as narrative devices.

Creating and using characters (Embed)

Character types and their functions

Now you have been introduced to the concept of flat and round characters and how they are used by writers please take this short quiz to test your understanding.

• Character types and their functions

Varieties of narrator

The narrator is an important part of any narrative and we have already established that the very first thing you need to do when responding to the imaginative writing task is to decide on the narrative voice you want to use.Please watch the video opposite in which I explain in more detail how to use each type of narrative voice.

Varieties of narrator (Embed)

Comparing the effects of narrative perspective

Please answer the question on the Google form opposite.You must supply your response as a PEED essay.

Comparing the effects of narrative perspective (Embed)

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Applying your knowledge of character

Having learnt about how to create and use characters and explored different options for narrative voice and the effect these have on a reader's response, I would now like you to apply this knowledge by rewriting the exchange between Mr Utterson and Mr Hyde's landlady.We looked in detail at this extract when we were studying C19th prose fiction. The landlady, as presented in teh original, is very much a flat character representative of evil. I would like you to rewrite the exchange from her point of view, making her a rounded character.Remember to use language and structure imaginatively to make it engaging.

Applying your knowledge of characters (Embed)