Elements of Fiction And drama 11/02

CHARACTERIZATION Perrine’s p. 161-166

Characterization Everything a writer does to create, reveal, and develop characters.

Consider… Think of some memorable literary characters (e.g. those who are beloved, hateful, pitiful)… any who evoke an emotional response. Why do we respond to them so intensely? What makes them so memorable?

Character TYPES Protagonist = main character that we want to be successful Antagonist = major character that opposes the protagonist

Character TYPES Foil = contrasting character that allows protagonist to stand out more Makes us more aware of some important quality of the main character Stock character = represent stereotypes (e.g. town drunk). Tom Buchanan serves as a foil for Jay Gatsby – they acquired wealth in different ways, and their personalities are in stark contrast with each other.

Character TYPES Dynamic (developing) character = undergoes distinct change of character, personality, or outlook. Static character = remains mostly the same from beginning to end.

Character TYPES Flat character = embody only 1 or 2 predominant traits; can be summed up in a sentence. Round character = is complex and many-sided like a real person; shows range of emotions and changes over course of story. Gatsby is a man of mystery – no one knows how he became rich, for example. We see his different sides and different traits – he’s scared, mysterious, friendly, angry, happy, etc.

Characterization Direct characterization = when narrator explicitly describes background, motivation, temperament, or appearance of character. Indirect characterization = when writer shows rather than tells what character is like via what he says, does, thinks (or what others say about him).