 Quality of mind  Habitual mode of behavior  Both positive and negative

 Ambitious or lazy  Serene or anxious  Aggressive or fearful

 Try to get from the outside to the inside  The internal qualities of of a character determine the external behavior.

5 ways  Actions  Descriptions  Characters words  What others say about the character  The author, Speaking as a Storyteller or an observer, may present judgment.

Round  Enough information so they are three- dimensional, rounded, authentic, memorable, original, and true to life.  Characterized by both individuality and unpredictability.  They are dynamic.

 Recognize, change with, or adjust to circumstances.  Shown in action or actions  Realization of new strength and therefore the affirmation of previous decisions  Acceptance of new conditions and the need for changes

 Discovery of unrecognized truths.  The reconciliation of the character to adverse conditions (“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”).  Often the hero or heroine or protagonist.

 Not complex  Simple and one-dimensional.  May have only a single role to perform.  End where they begin or static character.  Minor e.g., relatives, acquaintances, functionaries.

Prominent in certain types of literature  Cowboy, police, and detective stories  Focus is less on character than on performance.  May be lively and engaging  Must be strong, tough, and clever enough to perform their task.  Referred to as the Stock Character.

Have common traits Are representative of their class or group.  Insensitive father  Interfering mother  Sassy younger sister or brother  Greedy politician  Harassed boss  Resourceful cowboy or detective The Stereotype

 Possess no attitudes except those of their class.  Characters cast in the same mold. However,

When characters are brought into strong focus  Move into being a round character.

Characters in fiction should be true to life. Distinguish between  What characters may possibly do  What they most frequently or most usually do.