- Definition
Characterization is when an artist gives human traits or feelings to an animal or object, like a talking animal in a story or a sad-looking tree.
A drawing of a sun wearing sunglasses and a smile is an example of characterization.
How to teach this in 30 seconds
Try this analogy: Characterization is like drawing a face on a teapot to make it look like it's smiling or grumpy.
Ask your child: If this object could talk, what kind of personality would it have?
Common mix-up: Kids may think this just means drawing a person or animal. Characterization in this sense is about giving human qualities to something that isn't alive, like making a storm seem angry.
Examples
- A cartoon where a car has eyes for headlights and talks.
- A painting of angry storm clouds that look like they have furrowed brows.
characterization is a term used in Ontario’s Kindergarten to Grade 8 curriculum.
Where this shows up
The descriptions on this page are SmartStudy’s own original, plain-language writing — not the Ministry’s wording. They are aligned to the Ontario Curriculum, © King’s Printer for Ontario. For the Ministry’s official wording, see the source link below. SmartStudy is an independent service and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the Government of Ontario or the Ministry of Education. Ontario Curriculum and Resources ↗
