1. Characterization and Common Types of Characters in Literature

2. Protagonist
Is central to the action of a story and moves against the opposing force
Example
Alice from Alice in Wonderland
Tarzan from Tarzan
Cinderalla from Cinderella

3. Antagonist
Is the villain or a force which opposes the central character
Example:
Captain Hook from Peter Pan
The Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs

4. Subordinate Characters
characters who do not play major roles in a story
Example:
Extras in a movie
The evil step-sisters from Cinderella

5. Characterization
Characterization is the way writers develop characters in a story
Two types –
Direct Characterization
Indirect Characterization

6. Direct Characterization
when the writer directly tells the reader what a character is like
Example
Sherlock Holmes is clever and resourceful.
Dracula is an evil vampire.

7. Indirect Characterization
When the writer gives the reader clues about the character by describing how the character acts and thinks.
The writer allows the reader to decide how to view the character.

8. Types of Characters Dynamic Static Round Flat
Indirect and Direct Characterization will reveal the characters type
Dynamic
Static
Round
Flat

9. Round Characters
well developed characters. The author tells the reader a lot about the character.
Example: Harry in Harry Potter; Cinderella

10. Flat Characters
not well developed characters. Readers know very little about them.
Usually a minor character
Examples
Hagrid in Harry Potter
Stepmother in Cinderella

11. Dynamic Character a character who changes during the course of story.
Often the change involves learning a major lesson
Example:
Gru in Dispicable Me

12. Static Character A character who does not change during the story
Harry in Harry Potter
Crabbe and Goyle in Harry Potter

13. Stereotypes
These characters are known by what they do and how they act.
The author doesn’t need to tell us much about the character because we’ve encountered the stereotype before and can make inferences.
Nerd = smart
Cheerleader = preppy; mean