77thth Grade ELA Grade ELA

Mrs. BennettMrs. Bennett

Character TypesCharacter Types

IntroductionIntroductionThis lesson is about the different types of This lesson is about the different types of

characters found in literature. The different characters found in literature. The different types I will cover include the protagonist types I will cover include the protagonist and antagonist as well as round, flat, static, and antagonist as well as round, flat, static, and dynamic characters. I will explain what and dynamic characters. I will explain what each of these are in detail so that you can each of these are in detail so that you can identify types of characters in stories that identify types of characters in stories that you read. you read.

Protagonist/AntagonistProtagonist/Antagonist It is easiest to think of the It is easiest to think of the

protagonist and antagonist protagonist and antagonist characters as the "good guy" characters as the "good guy" and the "bad guy" respectively. and the "bad guy" respectively. In order to understand In order to understand protagonist and antagonist, protagonist and antagonist, you can think of the you can think of the protagonist as the hero and protagonist as the hero and the antagonist as the villain. To the antagonist as the villain. To remember which is which, remember which is which, remember that the prefix pro remember that the prefix pro means good, or positive, and means good, or positive, and the prefix ant means bad, or the prefix ant means bad, or negative. Now let's discuss the negative. Now let's discuss the real meanings of protagonist real meanings of protagonist and antagonist more in depth.and antagonist more in depth.

ProtagonistProtagonist

The The protagonistprotagonist is the central character of a is the central character of a story. The protagonist can be male or female, and story. The protagonist can be male or female, and is written as being "good" most of the time, but in is written as being "good" most of the time, but in some instances can be "bad”. The some instances can be "bad”. The plotplot of a story is of a story is often written from the protagonist's point of view. often written from the protagonist's point of view. Consider the story Consider the story The Three Little PigsThe Three Little Pigs. In the . In the original story, the three pigs are the protagonists original story, the three pigs are the protagonists and the wolf is the antagonist. A new book entitled and the wolf is the antagonist. A new book entitled The Real Story of The Three Little PigsThe Real Story of The Three Little Pigs is written is written from the wolf's point of view and he becomes the from the wolf's point of view and he becomes the protagonist and the pigs are the antagonists. protagonist and the pigs are the antagonists.

AntagonistAntagonistThe character that causes or leads the conflict The character that causes or leads the conflict

against the protagonist is called the against the protagonist is called the antagonistantagonist. The antagonist is not always . The antagonist is not always human, but can be a group or force as well. human, but can be a group or force as well. The antagonist is the mirror of the The antagonist is the mirror of the protagonist. Whatever the protagonist does protagonist. Whatever the protagonist does that is good, the antagonist will work to that is good, the antagonist will work to counteract. Usually the antagonist attempts to counteract. Usually the antagonist attempts to disguise him/her/itself. This usually creates disguise him/her/itself. This usually creates the suspense in a story. the suspense in a story.

Protagonist/AntagonistProtagonist/AntagonistThe protagonist and antagonist are The protagonist and antagonist are

distinctly different, and in most cases, distinctly different, and in most cases, complete opposites. They can both be very complete opposites. They can both be very complex though. Just because the complex though. Just because the protagonist is the central character in the protagonist is the central character in the story does not mean that he/she/it is any story does not mean that he/she/it is any more complex than the antagonist. When more complex than the antagonist. When trying to identify the protagonist and trying to identify the protagonist and antagonist in a story, think about which antagonist in a story, think about which character is central to the story and which character is central to the story and which character (or what force) is acting against character (or what force) is acting against that central character. Usually you can that central character. Usually you can consider which character is good and which consider which character is good and which is bad. In most instances, the good is bad. In most instances, the good character is the protagonist and the bad, or character is the protagonist and the bad, or opposing character, is the antagonist. opposing character, is the antagonist.

Round/FlatRound/Flat

Let's begin by thinking about round and flat Let's begin by thinking about round and flat characterization like a painting. If you're an characterization like a painting. If you're an artist, you must decide how much detail to put artist, you must decide how much detail to put into a painting. Do you want many lines and into a painting. Do you want many lines and many colors, or just an outline and only black many colors, or just an outline and only black and white? As an author, you must decide how and white? As an author, you must decide how much detail to include about each character. much detail to include about each character. Which characters are most important; how will Which characters are most important; how will giving detail, or not giving detail, affect the giving detail, or not giving detail, affect the story? story?

RoundRoundCharacters that are described in depth, with Characters that are described in depth, with

many details, are well-rounded characters. many details, are well-rounded characters. They are called They are called roundround characters. If you're characters. If you're reading a story and you feel like you know a reading a story and you feel like you know a character extremely well, then most likely the character extremely well, then most likely the character is round. The main character in a character is round. The main character in a story is almost always round, but there are story is almost always round, but there are exceptions. exceptions.

FlatFlatCharacters that are not described well, Characters that are not described well,

that you're not given much information that you're not given much information about, are about, are flatflat characters. Consider a characters. Consider a drawing: a three dimensional drawing drawing: a three dimensional drawing gives more detail than a one dimensional gives more detail than a one dimensional drawing. If you draw a flat picture of a drawing. If you draw a flat picture of a house, for example, you can only see one house, for example, you can only see one side of it. You cannot see three of the four side of it. You cannot see three of the four sides. This is how a flat character is; you sides. This is how a flat character is; you can only see a few characteristics of the can only see a few characteristics of the character. There are many things you character. There are many things you cannot "see", or many details you are not cannot "see", or many details you are not given by the author. given by the author.

Round/FlatRound/FlatAs a reader, judge whether or not the As a reader, judge whether or not the

character is round or flat by trying to write character is round or flat by trying to write down characteristics of the character. Answer down characteristics of the character. Answer the question: What do you know about the the question: What do you know about the character? If your list is long, with many character? If your list is long, with many characteristics, then the character is round. If characteristics, then the character is round. If your list is short, or there's not many your list is short, or there's not many characteristics at all, then the character is flat. characteristics at all, then the character is flat.

Static/DynamicStatic/DynamicThe key word when dealing with the difference The key word when dealing with the difference

between static and dynamic characters is between static and dynamic characters is "change." The type of change, though, is specific. "change." The type of change, though, is specific. We are only concerned with internal changes; We are only concerned with internal changes; changes which occur within the character. These changes which occur within the character. These would include a major change in their personality, would include a major change in their personality, or a change in their outlook on life. Another or a change in their outlook on life. Another important change that a character may undergo is important change that a character may undergo is a change in values, or it could be an overall a change in values, or it could be an overall change in the nature of the character. Do not change in the nature of the character. Do not focus on changes that happen TO a character, but focus on changes that happen TO a character, but rather, changes that happen WITHIN a character. rather, changes that happen WITHIN a character. Think about it this way: Does the event affect the Think about it this way: Does the event affect the character by changing the character internally? character by changing the character internally?

StaticStaticIn order for a character to be considered a In order for a character to be considered a staticstatic character, the character must character, the character must remain basically the same throughout the remain basically the same throughout the entire story. The character does not entire story. The character does not undergo any internal changes. Think of undergo any internal changes. Think of static characterization like plastic surgery. static characterization like plastic surgery. The character may change in looks, but The character may change in looks, but unless their personality is affected, the unless their personality is affected, the character is static. character is static.

DynamicDynamic

A A dynamicdynamic character is a character that character is a character that undergoes an internal change sometime undergoes an internal change sometime between the beginning and end of the between the beginning and end of the story. The change in the character is story. The change in the character is usually crucial to the story itself. Say a usually crucial to the story itself. Say a main character goes through a life-altering main character goes through a life-altering experience, such as a race car driver experience, such as a race car driver getting into an accident. If the driver's getting into an accident. If the driver's personality changes and he is no longer personality changes and he is no longer willing to take on the risk of driving a race willing to take on the risk of driving a race car, the character would be dynamic. car, the character would be dynamic.

Static/DynamicStatic/DynamicIn order to distinguish static characters from In order to distinguish static characters from

dynamic characters, write down a description dynamic characters, write down a description of the inner character at the beginning of the of the inner character at the beginning of the story, in other words, what do you initially story, in other words, what do you initially learn about the character's personality? learn about the character's personality? Answer these three questions: How does the Answer these three questions: How does the character feel about his/her/itself? How does character feel about his/her/itself? How does the character act towards others? What is the the character act towards others? What is the characters goal? Do the same thing and characters goal? Do the same thing and answer the same questions at the end of the answer the same questions at the end of the story. Usually, if you're dealing with a story. Usually, if you're dealing with a dynamic character, you will be able to notice dynamic character, you will be able to notice a difference between your personality a difference between your personality descriptions as well as between the answers descriptions as well as between the answers to the three questions. If there is no major to the three questions. If there is no major difference, the character is static. difference, the character is static.

Character Types AssignmentCharacter Types AssignmentNow choose a character from this week’s Now choose a character from this week’s

story and fill out the characterization story and fill out the characterization worksheet using that character.worksheet using that character.