Character Description Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: W.4.9-W.5.9, W.6.3

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

When we are sharing the story of a character within a body of work it is important to not just rely on physical attributes which is often the go to for most students. Instead you should focus on the motivations and goals of all the characters and how it relates to the work. You are basically writing a profile for this member of a cast. Descriptions often into where the characters are from, how they put food on the table, and their likes and dislikes. These printable worksheets will have students write clear and concise descriptions for characters.

Character Description Worksheets:

Brainstorm Your Character – A nice graphic organizer to help you chart your thoughts on a character.

INNER LIFE – This is a quick sheet to profile your characters.

Indirect Characterization – Indirect characterization means showing things that reveal character, rather than describing character. Using the worksheet below, choose a story you have read recently and try to complete the chart. Does the author use all five methods of indirect characterization?

Let Loose! – Answer each question. Be as specific a possible.

The Speaking Box – Write down the name of a character from the reading. Find an instance of each type of characterization for that character. Write or reference what you found in the box.

Create a Character – Why not create your guy from scratch?

The Big Cheese – Describe the main character in your story by answering the questions below.

Considerations – Look at all the things you need to take into consideration when putting this thing together.

Inside and Out – What’s going on inside your character's head? What motivates your character? What does your character love? Hate? Fear? What does your character want to do and why?

The Outside – Draw a picture of your character. Think about body type, hair, eyes, height, weight, coloring, gestures, distinguishing features, scars, birthmarks, etc.

Two Traits – Choose a character from the story. List two of that person’s character traits. Then, on the lines below, explain how you know the person has each trait.

Settings – Characters interact with settings. Where there is interaction, there is the potential for conflict, and where there is conflict, there are character descriptions and character-building opportunities.

Part 2: The Value – What does this setting most value in its citizens, and what is the main character’s relationship to that value?

Instances – Choose a main character from the story. Write the character's name in the center of the page. Then find one instance of each method of characterization in the story.

Start off – It's like rowing a boat.

Part 2 – Does your character live by any philosophies? What are they?

Development – There are four ways that authors develop character.

What's In a Face! – Physical appearance is an important part of character description. How a character looks can reveal certain character traits.

Descriptions – Filled with words that you can use in your own work.

Skin and Hair – Words to use to describe skin and hair.

Continue On – More words for you to plot through.

Put it together. – Now write a physical description of your character.

Character Traits – Choose one of the main characters from the story. Identify the character's external and internal traits. Support each trait with text evidence.

Developing Character – Have you taken advantage of all the different ways that you can develop a character in your story?

How to Write Character Descriptions


Characters are the main elements of any story. They let you dig deeper into the meaning of the story. It is very important to create influential and charismatic characters for your readers so that they can be inspired by them. The details and descriptions of the characters play a vital role in building the image of the characters in the minds of the readers. Here are a few ways to write character descriptions.


Use Figurative Language


When you are writing a piece of literature, using figurative language adds to the beauty of it. Figurative language can be used as an essential aspect to describe the character. You can let the readers think of something that they already know about and relate it with the personality or appearance of the character. For example "I could easily spot her hair as they reminded me of white flame". Such sentences that have figurative language in it will enhance the descriptions of the characters. Your readers will easily be able to picture them in their minds.


Describe Facial Expressions


It is very important to pay attention to the details when describing characters. One such detail is the facial expression. The readers cannot see the story progressing. They only picture it in their minds. It is important that you provide every small detail so that they can analyze the character in a better way. You can mention how the facial expressions of the character changed when something happened. You can describe the movement of the eyes, frowning of the face, smile, laughter, and other such expressions.


Describe Actions


As a writer, you can also describe the actions of the characters that will add to the description. For example, you can mention how the character would tie her hair in a bun and what it would make her look like.