1. Characterization
Unit 2 Terms

2. External Conflict
Definition: A character struggles against an outside force, such as another character, or society as a whole, or something in nature.
Example: John vs. Henry, John vs. American culture, John vs. tornado

3. Internal Conflict
Definition: takes place entirely within a character’s own mind. It is a struggle between opposing needs or desires or emotions within a single person.
Example: John’s heart vs. John’s head

4. Protagonist
Definition: The protagonist is the leading, or the main, character in a story or play.
Example: The three little pigs in “The Three Little Pigs”

5. Antagonist
Definition: The antagonist is the character or force the protagonist must overcome
Example: The big bad wolf in “The Three Little Pigs”

6. Round Characters
Definition: Round characters are complex and multidimensional, like real people.
Example: The three little pigs

7. Flat Characters
Definition: Flat characters are one dimensional and superficial; they can be described in a single sentence.
Example: The big bad wolf

8. Dynamic Characters
Definition: Dynamic characters change in an important way because of the story’s action.
Example: The first two pigs, the one who builds his house of straw and the one who builds his house of sticks

9. Static Characters
Definition: Static characters do not change much or at all during a story.
Example: The third pig who builds his house of brick and the big bad wolf

10. Stock Characters
Definition: Stock characters are predictable stereotypes of people.
Example: The big bad wolf

11. Direct Characterization
Definition: writers tell us directly what a character is like.
Example: John is friendly.

12. Indirect Characterization
Definition: writers show, rather than tell, readers what a character is like in five ways:
Dialogue/words: letting us hear the character speak
Appearance: description of how the character looks and dresses
Thoughts: letting us listen to the characters inner thoughts and feelings
Actions: showing us what the character does. Most vivid way to show character.
Other Character’s Comments: Words or thoughts of other characters

13. Indirect Characterization
Examples:
Dialogue/words: John said “Everyone is welcome to come back to my place after the game.”
Appearance: John had a smile on his face as he walked down the hall.
Thoughts: John thought about what he could say to the new kid to make him feel comfortable.
Actions: John smiled and shook hands with everyone at the meeting.
Other Character’s Comments: “John is so nice to everyone he meets,” said Brittany.

14. Character Motivation
Definition: Motivation is the underlying force(s) that causes a character to act a certain way.
Example: The pigs were motivated by their fear of the wolf. The wolf was motivated by his hunger.