HOW TO WRITE A CHARACTER SKETCH

 

A character sketch can be written about any character in a story or a drama. It gives the reader a brief yet thorough review of all the characteristics of a particular character. When you write a character sketch, you are trying to introduce someone to reader. The character sketch ought to give an extensive account of all the traits that particular character has. The following are some guidelines for drafting a character sketch:

1.  Research about the Character: To make the reader able to visualize how your character will look, act, talk, and behave, it's crucial to establish their personality and physical characteristics in great depth. Write down the character's appearance, personality, feelings, and other aspects first. This will give you a rough concept of the key characteristics that need to be highlighted. Develop your character's back-story. Think about your character's overall emotions and feelings. It is important to include proof from the story to support what you are writing in the character sketch.

2.  Use short, clear sentences: The character sketch should help the reader easily form a visualization of the character when reading the sentences. Write every feature of the character’s personality, conduct and character in separate paragraph. Use words that help in the visualization of the character. Condense your character's personality into a few sentences. 

3.  Make a brief descriptive picture: The finest character sketches are specific and feature key characteristics. Pay attention to the character's physical and non-physical traits. The description needs to be concise, well-organized, and clear. Create a rough draft to begin with. You should proofread your character sketch to catch any possible inaccuracies. Determine the character's relationship to the story/drama, world, or main character. Fill in any other details that pop into your head. Character sketches only give snapshots of people; therefore, you should not try to write a history of the person.

Character sketch of Havildar Ishar Singh based on the story “The Battle of Saragarhi”

He was a great warrior: Although Afgan Pashtun outnumbered, he fought against the enemy bravely. He along with other 20 Sikh soldiers fought around 8 hours, without food and water. Even when they ran out of ammunition, they didn’t stop and ended in a hand-to-hand fight till their last breath.

He was an excellent organiser: He was known leading the regiment on a last stand against the 10-12,000 strong Pashtun tribesmen with only 20 other men at the Battle of Saragarhi. He called his garrison together for an emergency meeting when approximately 10,000 Pashtuns attacked Saragarhi. He convinced his soldiers to fight a hopeless battle.

He is a good decision maker, democratic and determined: He makes a decision quickly with consultation with his fellows and stands on unanimous decision even in the face of greatest danger to life. When the enemy was approaching, he consulted other soldiers whether to fight or flight. He put the matter to voting. When there was hand-to-hand fight, he quickly sent all others into the post and decided to face enemy alone outside.

He was a fearless person: To stop the enemy from reaching the forts, he and other soldiers decide to battle to the very end. After sustaining enough resistance, he was fighting but refused to surrender and fought to the death along with the rest. He displayed extraordinary bravery by instructing his soldiers to retreat into the inner layer while he continued to battle when there was hand-to-hand combat.

He was dedicated to his duty: He gave his all to the task at hand. According to reports, the Pashtun army commanders promised him and other soldiers anything in exchange for their surrender. The Pashtuns were trying to reach the other forts as they advanced, but he was undeterred and determined to fight until the very end.

He was a true patriot: In a brave hand-to-hand struggle against an impossibly large group of rifle-wielding tribesmen, Havildar Ishar Singh pulled his dagger, charged into the mob, and laid his life as a martyr. He died in battle field in order to save his country from enemy.