1. Character Types Elements of Fiction English 9 – Mr. Barazzuol

2. Common Character Types Protagonist Antagonist Flat Round Dynamic Static Stock (stereotypical) Foil

3. Protagonist The central or main character in a story Example The boy in "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" Cinderella in "Cinderella" Sometimes the protagonist can be considered a "good" person. Other times his or her moral values are more ambiguous. Can you think of a story where the main character is not necessarily "good"?

4. Antagonist The character, group of characters, or institution that opposes the protagonist. Example The Wolf from "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" Cinderella's wicked stepmother from "Cinderella" The antagonist is usually considered to be unlikeable or evil, but this is not always the case. The antagonist only needs to oppose the central character(s).

5. Round or Flat? Authors must decide how much detail to include about each character. –Which characters are most important? –How will giving detail, or not giving detail, about that character affect the story?

6. Round Characters that are described in depth, with many details, are well-rounded characters. They are called round characters. The main character in a story is almost always round. If you are reading a story and you feel like you know a character extremely well, then most likely the character is round.

7. Flat Characters that are not described well — that you are not given much information about — are flat characters.

8. Static or Dynamic?

9. The key word when dealing with the difference between static and dynamic characters is ‘change’. The type of change, though, is specific. We are only concerned with internal changes — changes which occur within the character. Internal changes include a change in his/her personality, a change in his/her outlook on life, a change in his/her values, or it could be an overall change in the nature of the character.

10. Static or Dynamic? Do not focus on changes that happen TO a character, but rather, changes that happen WITHIN a character. Think about it this way: Does the event affect the character by changing the character internally?

11. Static Static = not moving or changing (ex: static electricity is static unlike current electricity which is moving!! In order for a character to be considered a static character, the character must remain basically the same throughout the entire story. The character does not undergo any internal changes.

12. Static Think of static characterization like plastic surgery. The character may change in looks, but unless his/her personality is affected, the character is static.

13. Dynamic A dynamic character is a character that undergoes an internal change sometime between the beginning and end of the story. The change in the character is usually crucial to the story itself.

14. Dynamic Say a main character goes through a life- altering experience, such as a race car driver getting into an accident. If the driver's personality changes, and he is no longer willing to take on the risk of driving a race car, the character would be dynamic.

15. Static or Dynamic? Look closely at your character at the beginning of the story. Ask these three questions: –How does the character feel about him/her/itself? –How does the character act towards others? –What is the character’s goal? Examine your character throughout the story and at the end of the story. Have the answers to the questions changed? Static = no change within the character Dynamic = the character changes internally

16. Stock Character A ‘stock’ or ‘stereotypical’ character is… special kind of flat character who is instantly recognizable to most readers. They are ‘stock’ or ‘typecast’ or ‘stereotypical’ characters Examples include: the ruthless businessman the shushing old, white-haired librarian the dumb jock They are not focus characters nor are they developed in the story. (They fulfill background or filler roles.)

17. Foil Character A ‘foil’ character is… special kind of character who is used to enhance another character through contrast i.e. as opposites they highlight qualities of a central character Examples include: - the mean step-sisters contrast to Cinderella’s character They are not focus characters nor are they developed in the story. (They help us learn more about another character or aspect of a story.)

18. Practice Read each the short story, analyze the characters, and then answer the questions.

19. When Vince got to the party, he was a little bit worried that he couldn't find his friends. Vince wasn't really an awkward person, but he found it a bit awkward to stand around at a party with a bunch of people he hardly knew. Then he bumped into one of the football players, Greg. Greg was a big guy with red hair and he always gave Vince problems. "Hey, Vince? Want a beer?" Vince looked down at his soda. "No thanks, Greg. I've got to drive." Greg walked closer to Vince and puffed out his chest. "C'mon Prince Vince, you're going to turn me down?" Vince didn't have anything against drinking, even though he wasn't of the legal age, but his cousin had died in an alcohol related car accident, and he wouldn't make the same mistake. ”I’m going to have to. Not tonight, Greg," Vince said as he walked passed Greg, noticing that some of his friends had arrived. Greg crushed a beer can in his hand and grunted.

20. 1 Who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist?

21. Answer Antagonist: Greg Protagonist: Vince

22. 2 Is Greg a dynamic character or a static character?

23. Answer Greg is a static character because he does not make any significant changes in the course of the story.

24. 3 Is Vince a dynamic character or a static character?

25. Answer Vince is a static character because he does not make any significant changes in the course of the story.

26. 4 Is Greg a flat character or a round character?

27. Answer Greg is a flat character because he appears as a single-sided bully who shows little depth.

28. 5 Is Vince a round character or a flat character?

29. Answer Vince is a round character because he displays multiple character traits and lifelike reasoning. He appears both nervous and confident. He is nervous that he is at the party alone, but he confidently resists Greg's peer pressure. Readers also learn a little bit about his past and why he declines Greg's offer.

30. Common Character Types Protagonist Antagonist Flat Round Dynamic Static Stock (stereotypical) Foil