Caricature vs Character Quiz: Test Yourself
Five quick questions on caricature vs character. Pick an answer to get instant feedback.
Flip Cards: Quick Review
Hover over a card, or tap it on mobile, to see the meaning.
An exaggerated picture or portrayal, often for humor or satire.
“The cartoonist drew a caricature of the mayor.”
A person in a book, film, or play.
“Her favorite character is the clever detective.”
A person’s nature, or their moral strength.
“He showed real character under pressure.”
A written letter, number, or symbol.
“Your password needs one special character.”
Caricature vs character trips people up because the two words look and sound alike. Even so, they mean very different things. One is an exaggeration, and the other is a person, a personality, or a symbol.
| Term | Meaning | Part of speech / Category | Example sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caricature | A drawing, description, or imitation that exaggerates features for effect | Noun | The artist sketched a caricature of the tourist. |
| Caricature | To make an exaggerated portrayal of someone or something | Verb | The play caricatures politicians as greedy and foolish. |
| Character | A person in a story, film, or play | Noun, fiction | The main character was a retired sailor. |
| Character | A person’s nature, or their moral strength | Noun, personality | Honesty is a sign of good character. |
| Character | A written letter, number, or symbol | Noun, writing and computing | The form allows only 50 characters. |
What Does Caricature Mean?
A caricature is a depiction that deliberately exaggerates or distorts someone’s features or traits, usually for comic or satirical effect. You will see it in cartoons, editorial drawings, and the sketches street artists make of tourists.
Caricature also works in writing and performance. A comedian’s imitation of a politician or a novelist’s over-the-top description of a villain can be a caricature too. In that sense, the word can also mean a poor or insulting imitation, as in a mere caricature of real journalism.
Is Caricature Also a Verb?
Yes, to caricature someone means to portray them in an exaggerated way. A cartoonist can caricature a president, and a sitcom can caricature a suburban family. The forms are caricature, caricatures, caricatured, and caricaturing.
What Does Character Mean?
Character is a flexible word with several common meanings. It can name a person in a book, film, or play, as in the story’s main character. It can describe a person’s nature or moral strength, as in a man of good character.
It also means a written or printed letter or symbol, which is why a text limit might be 280 characters. The word comes from a Greek word meaning a mark or symbol. People also use it for someone with an unusual personality, as in she is quite a character.
How Are Caricature and Character Related?
A caricature exaggerates someone’s character, in the sense of their traits and features. That link is the main reason the words get mixed up. A caricature of a person is not the person’s character itself, only a stretched, simplified version of it.
The link shows up in storytelling too. A well-drawn character feels like a real, complex person. When a writer pushes a character too far, so that they are all one trait and no depth, the character becomes a caricature.
Caricature vs Character: Which One Should You Use?
Use caricature for exaggeration and character for a person, a personality, or a symbol. A quick guide:
- Talking about a funny, exaggerated drawing or imitation? Use caricature.
- Talking about a person in a story? Use character.
- Talking about someone’s honesty, courage, or nature? Use character.
- Talking about a letter, number, or symbol on a screen? Use character.
- Describing a portrayal that is over the top and one-dimensional? Use caricature.
How Can You Remember Which One to Use?
Link caricature to cartoons and exaggeration, and link character to people, personality, and symbols. The memory tricks below help with spelling too.
Common Mistakes With Caricature and Character
- ✗ The cartoonist drew a character of the senator.
✓ The cartoonist drew a caricature of the senator. - ✗ She showed great caricature during the crisis.
✓ She showed great character during the crisis. - ✗ The film turns the villain into a character of pure evil, all menace and no depth.
✓ The film turns the villain into a caricature of pure evil, all menace and no depth. - ✗ Your password needs one special caricature.
✓ Your password needs one special character. - ✗ The comic strip’s main caracter is a talking dog.
✓ The comic strip’s main character is a talking dog.
Memory Tricks for Caricature vs Character
- Character has an h. Think of h for human, since a character is a person, a personality, or a mark made by people.
- Caricature starts like cartoon. Both begin with car-, and both are known for exaggeration.
- Over the top means caricature. If it is true to life, it is a character.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a caricature the same as a character?
No. A caricature is an exaggerated portrayal, while a character is a person in a story, a personality, or a symbol.
Can a character be a caricature?
Yes. When a fictional character is exaggerated into one over-the-top, one-dimensional trait, the portrayal is called a caricature.
Is caricature a verb?
Yes. To caricature someone means to portray them in an exaggerated way.
What does character mean in a password?
In a password, a character is a single letter, number, or symbol.
How do you spell and say caricature?
Caricature has no h, unlike character. It is usually said KARE-ih-kuh-chur, and character is said KARE-ik-ter.
Conclusion
The caricature vs character choice comes down to exaggeration versus the real thing: a caricature stretches someone’s features or traits for effect, while a character is a person in a story, a personality, or a symbol. Remember that character has the h. Share this with someone who mixes these up.