Comparing Tamar Sloan's Writing 101 Guide To Direct Characterization And

Caitlyn Flamion

Mrs. Allyn

Advanced English 9

21 February 2023

A Novel’s Need for Characterization and Plot What keeps someone invested in a story? Maybe, it is the realistic characters and excellent worldbuilding. What if it is the plot’s tension keeping you on the edge of your seat? Literary elements such as characterization, plot, setting, tone, and more can pull readers in like a moth to a flame. A great deal of novels execute these ideas with excellence, and Rising by Tamar Sloan and Heidi Catherine is no exception. Life-like characters and an exciting plot can certainly attract its readers into a novel. Rising by Tamar Sloan and Heidi Catherine is no exception to this. Characterization and plot are without a doubt, two strong literary

It allows readers to sympathize with words on a paper. “Characterization humanizes a character. By revealing a character’s thoughts, emotions, and world view in various contexts, (authors) provide… a robust understanding of who (the) characters are.” (“Writing 101: Guide to Direct Characterization and Indirect Characterization”). This literary element comes through especially with Kian and Wren in Rising. Kian and Wren have never gotten along. In early chapters, all Kian does is call her names such as “Remnant” (Sloan and Catherine 88). The two keep clashing till one realizes he is in the wrong. “Kian feels like a rod has been rammed down his spine. ‘Thank you…Wren.” (Sloan and Catherine 95). From this apology forward, Kian calls Wren by her name and the constant bickering subsides (Sloan and Catherine 188). Overcoming his unreasonable hatred for Wren has become a big part of how Kian is thought of by the reader. It is often hard to apologize to someone you dislike within the real world and it is great that characters can struggle with this as well. This common issue allows readers to relate to a character though a scenario he or she might have

It allows the reader to become invested in characters even more by seeing the beginning, middle, and end to their dilemma, and there may even be multiple problems main characters must overcome and face head on (“What Is A Plot? – A Writer’s Resource”). Within Rising, The Proving is a week-long test that sets the tone of the rest of a sixteen-year-old’s life. This test determines if they are good enough to be considered the future of their home, Askala, or not. Scores in the Proving are based on people’s core traits they show in four tests. The rising actions through the exposition are set during the week of the Proving and its tests, and this includes the climax of the story. It’s the final test of the Proving and participants are trying to find four raven eggs in the woods with no cameras to watch them (Sloan and Catherine 185). Once the eggs have been gathered, Felicia, the antagonist within Rising, takes all four of the eggs and runs before anyone can notice (Sloan and Catherine 219). This act of selfishness leaves the rest of the participants feeling like their goals have been crushed and Felicia will be considered a winner of the Proving. Felicia’s selfishness leaves readers wondering about the future of the rest of the characters. Will the four protagonists' wishes of passing come true? What are the other character’s results from the Proving? Will Felicia of all people become the future of Askala? While all those questions are