Characters and characterization

Characterization The way the author helps the reader understand what character traits a particular character has.

Character A living, thinking creature (person, animal, talking toaster, etc.) that participates in the story.

Characterization Direct Indirect *Tells the audience, clearly and specifically, what the character is like. *Does NOT require an inference from the audience. Ex: “The patient boy and quiet girl were very obedient.” *Reveals a characters’ qualities through their actions, speech, effect on others, and (possibly) their thoughts. *Requires the audience to infer things about the character without being told. Ex: The boy and girl sat for hours without complaining as their mother shopped. -The audience can infer they are patient and obedient because they wait a long time without complaining.

Characters Protagonist Antagonist *The character whose story the audience is following. *Does NOT have to be “good” or moral Ex: *The character or force that is causing conflict with the protagonist. *Does not have to be a “bad” or immoral *The antagonist may be a thing or idea, not a character

Characters Major Minor *A major character has a significant, important effect on the plot. *ALL protagonists are major characters. Ex: *A minor character appears in the plot, but does not have a significant impact on the story. *Minor characters’ value in a story is in their relationship to the major characters.

Characters Static Dynamic *Static characters DO NOT grow or change throughout the story. *Whatever characteristics they have at the beginning of the story, they have at the end of the story. Ex: *Dynamic characters grow and change throughout the course of the story. *They learn lessons, develop new characteristics, mature. There is usually at least one defining characteristic that is different. *Dynamic characters change as a result of experiencing conflict.

Characters Flat Round *Flat characters are “one-dimensional.” In other words, they do not have layers- what you see is what you get. *Flat characters can be described very simply, usually in one word or one sentence. The author usually does not give much information about them. Ex: *Round characters have many different qualities and traits. They are “deep” and have layers. *Round characters are complex, and the author usually will share their backstory and reasons for being the way they are.

MARTIN’S DAD (From “The Elevator”) Major or minor? Static or dynamic? Flat or round? Protagonist, antagonist, or neither?

ALMA (From “The Friday Everything Changed”) Major or minor? Static or dynamic? Flat or round? Protagonist, antagonist, or neither?

ECKLES (From “A Sound of Thunder”) Major or minor? Static or dynamic? Flat or round? Protagonist, antagonist, neither?

MR. FALKER (From “Thank You, Mr. Falker”) Major or minor? Static or dynamic? Flat or round? Protagonist, antagonist, neither?

THE SERVANT GIRL (From “The Lady or the Tiger?”) Major or minor? Static or dynamic? Flat or round? Protagonist, antagonist, neither?

THE NARRATOR (From “The White Umbrella”) Major or minor? Static or dynamic? Flat or round? Protagonist, antagonist, neither?