How to Use Animals to Flesh Out Characterization

6 August 2010 | Filed Under Characters 


Alanna the Lioness has more in common with cats than her name

Basing human characterization on animals has always interested me. I like to keep my eyes open for how this is done, and here I’m passing on the techniques I’ve observed to you.

There’s the sharing of traits. In Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce, some of these traits are pointed out to you point blank. Like a cat, Alanna is curious and likes her privacy. She’s also got a bit of a bite, and good luck telling her what to do.

In Harry Potter, pay attention to descriptions of Sirius Black who, for the uninitiated, can turn into a big dog at will. He barks out his laughs, and growls his angry responses. Even if he couldn’t literally turn into a dog, he’d still evoke the image. He’s fiercely loyal.

I went all-out. I completely based the thief girl in Narrator on my dog, from her clever mind to her prickly nature to her fear of fire. Heck, the name’s the same, just spelled differently. (Saydie vs. Sadie) Of course, you’d have to know my dog to pick up the resemblance, but others should get the general idea of a dog.

If you’d like to try using an animal to flesh out your characterizations, and aren’t sure which to use, try to think of it the Harry Potter way: if your character had a patronus, what would it be? I like to think of the patronus as an extension of the person’s essence or personality, so that should be a good guideline.

Any other techniques you’ve noticed in your reading? Please share!

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