1. Types of characters Character traits Character Motives Dialogue
Characterization
Types of characters
Character traits
Character Motives
Dialogue

2. Types of characters Major (also called Protagonist)
Minor (supporting characters)
Round (complex)
Flat (one dimensional)

3. Major character Most important to the story
They change in some way during the story

4. Minor characters:
Not very important to the story but they help move the story along.
Stay the same from the beginning to the end.
These characters support the major characters

5. Character Traits Parts of a character’s personality
brave, loyal, smart, kind, honest
NOT EMOTIONS

6. Character Traits
The way a character
Speaks
Thinks
Acts
Qualities that cause characters to act the way they normally do

7. Character Motive These are strong emotions Strong feeling Strong need
Strong want
Strong desire
These are strong emotions

8. Round and Flat Characters
Round characters
Are characters with lots of traits
Are complex characters
Flat characters
Are limited characters usually with only one trait

9. Static vs. Dynamic Static Dynamic Stays the same throughout the story
Doesn’t grow and learn
Usually a minor character
Dynamic
Changes throughout the story
Learns and grows through experiences within the story
Usually a major character

10. Protagonist
Main character in a story or novel

11. Antagonist
The enemy or opponent of the protagonist

12. Six methods of characterization
Showing through dialogue
Telling through another character’s description
Showing through the character’s actions
Telling through direct description
The character’s inner thoughts and feelings
Physical appearance/ how they look and dress

13. Actions Are based on who the character is
Are based on how the character thinks

14. Dialogue Inner Dialogue What a character says aloud
How he or she says it
Inner Dialogue
A character’s thoughts

15. How do we know about the character?
By his actions
What other characters think and say about a character
By his motives
By his personality traits
By the author’s direct comments
By his beliefs