1. Character Types

2. Types of Characters…
Major
Minor

3. Major Character
The major (main) character in a story is like the star of a movie and is central to the action that takes place.

4. Minor character…
A minor character is one who takes part in the action but is not the focus of attention.

5. The protagonist (or main character) is the central figure in the work.
Types of Characters
The protagonist (or main character) is the central figure in the work.
The antagonist is the character or force pitted against the protagonist.

6. More types of characters…
A static character does not change through the course of the action.
A dynamic character is one who does change.

7. Protagonist Meaning – the main character Example
Alice from Alice in Wonderland
Tarzan from Tarzan
Cinderella from Cinderella

8. 1. Protagonist
Who is the protagonist of your favorite book, movie, or story?
My favorite protagonist is the character _____________.

9. Antagonist
Meaning – the character that the protagonist struggles against
The “bad guy”
Example:
Captain Hook from Peter Pan
The Big Bad Wolf from The Three Little Pigs

10. 2. Antagonist Who is an antagonist who you greatly dislike?
One antagonist who I greatly dislike is _________, because ____________.

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

12. Don’t forget the Stock Character…
A stock character (stereotype) is one found again and again in literary works. An example of a stock character is that of the mad scientist that appears over and over in different works – such as Dr. Evil, Dr. No, or Dr. Frankenstein.

13. Round Character
A round character is a complex, fully developed character.
The author tells the reader a lot about the character.

14. Flat Character
A flat character is a one-dimensional character, typically not central to the story.
Flat characters are not developed. Readers know very little about them.
Usually a minor character

15. Flat Vs. Round
3. In your opinion is a round character more likely to be a protagonist or a subordinate character?
In my opinion, a round character is more likely to be a ______________.
4. In your opinion is a flat character more likely to be a protagonist or a subordinate character?
In my opinion, a flat character is more likely to be a ______________.

16. The protagonist is usually…
The central character
A character the reader can identify with
Has a rounded personality (we hear what they say, what others say about them, we know what they think and how they feel)
A character with a dynamic personality

17. Secondary characters are usually…
Static
Flat

18. Static Sta-tic (adjective) – describing word Meaning – not changing
Example
If employees do not work hard, they will remain static in their careers.
If you are getting bad grades and you do not turn in make-up work, your scores will remain static.

19. 5. Static
If a student has bad grades, what is one way to make sure that his scores do not remain static?
If a student has bad grades, one way for him to make sure that they do not remain static is to…

20. Static and Flat Character
Static Characters– A character who does not change during the story
Flat characters- two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work.

21. Dynamic Dy-na-mic (adjective) – describing word
Meaning – changing; able to do many things
Example
Dynamic students are able to get good grades in many of their classes.
It is good for teachers to be dynamic, so that they can help their students with many subjects.

22. 6. Dynamic Why do bosses like to have dynamic workers?
It seems to me that bosses like to have dynamic workers because…

23. Dynamic Character
Meaning – a character who changes during the course of story.
Often the change involves learning a major lesson
Example:
Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol learns to be more generous.

24. Character Motivation
A motive is a reason that explains or partially explains a character’s thoughts, feelings, actions, or speech. Characters are often motivated by needs, such as food and shelter. They are also motivated by feelings, such as fear, love, and pride. Motives may be obvious or hidden. Meaning – the reason why a character does something Example-- In Cinderella, the prince’s motivation for searching for the owner of the glass slipper is love.

25. Dialogue
Meaning – Conversations that characters have among each other.
Usually indicated by quotation marks.