Question

In a long composition, when you write the paragraph that's supposed to "identify the character" what is it supposed to say?

their personality or their struggles or the basics of their life in the book?

Answer 1

Characterization is the literary term used to identify HOW the author lets us (the readers) in on everything we need to know about a particular character. Sometimes we know a great deal, such as for a main character; other times, we know just the basics, such as for a secondary or background character.

Here's a good definition of characterization:
http://www.tnellen.com/cybereng/lit_terms/characterization.html

If you include information that addresses as many of these five items as possible about the character you're writing about, you should do well.