C HARACTER T YPES AND A RCHETYPES

P ROTAGONIST The Protagonist is the main character, the hero – ‘pro’ means for – ‘agonist’ means a competitor, as in a sport or contest – So the protagonist is who the audience roots for Examples: Bella-Twilight Harry Potter Dorothy-”Wizard of Oz”

A NTAGONIST The Antagonist is the opponent, the villain, or the source of conflict The antagonist could be the ‘bad guy’ or it could be anything that the hero must struggle against like bad weather such as deep snow, a bad social system like severe poverty, or a bad habit Examples: Jacob or Edward Lord Voldemort Wicked Witch of the West

M AJOR C HARACTER A Major Character is a main character but not necessarily the main character (the hero). Major characters tends to be Round. Examples: Hermione-Harry Potter Tin Man, Scarecrow, Cowardly Lion-”Wizard of Oz” Darrel, SodaPop, Dallas-The Outsiders

R OUND C HARACTER A Round Character is well developed or complex and has motivations that can be empathized with (empathy is understanding or being sensitive to the feelings or experiences of another)

M INOR C HARACTER A Minor Character is a supporting, less important character Minor Characters tend to be Flat, or Static Examples: Auntie Em-”The Wizard of Oz” Luchesi-The Cask of Amontillado

F LAT C HARACTERS A Flat Character is a stereotyped or stock character, doesn’t change, remains static has one trait or very few traits, he is what he does, he is usually static, meaning unchanging (a static character does not learn orchange over the course of the story)

F OIL C HARACTER A Foil Character is a character that can be used as a contrast to the main character Hans Solo-”Star Wars Robin-Batman and Robin

A D YNAMIC C HARACTER A Dynamic Character is a character that changes or experiences a “character arc”: This is an experience in the story that gives the character insight and causes him to change (or grow) by the end of the story. Ebeneezer Scrooge-A Christmas Carol

F LAW A Flaw is a trait; it may be a weakness or a defect that causes failure To analyze character (and therefore to get deeper insight into the theme) look for character flaws

W HAT ARE ARCHETYPES ar-che-type - Noun 1. The original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype 2. (in Jungian psychology) a collectively inherited unconscious idea, patter of though, image, etc., universally present in individual psyches

W HAT ARE ARCHETYPES The Hero Think of the classic hero and qualities of a hero The main character leaves his or her community to go on an adventure, performing deeds that bring honor to the community The Villain/Monster An antagonist, especially in opposition to the hero

The Sidekick Provides a service, symbolically speaking, to a personality that often has a stronger nature or a role in life that carries more authority The Underdog Characters who are always in the wrong place at the wrong time, but who usually win something of value in the end W HAT ARE ARCHETYPES