Elements of LiteratureElements of Literature

CharacterCharacter

CharacterCharacter

An animal or An animal or person who takes person who takes part in the action part in the action of a literary work.of a literary work.

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters

Protagonist:Protagonist: the the main charactermain character

Antagonist:Antagonist: the the force that works force that works against the main against the main charactercharacter

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters

Static character: an Static character: an unchanging unchanging charactercharacter

Dynamic character: Dynamic character: develops and develops and grows during the grows during the course of the story; course of the story; a change takes a change takes placeplace

Types of CharactersTypes of Characters

Round characterRound character: : fully developed; fully developed; shows many shows many different traitsdifferent traits

Flat characterFlat character::

shows only one shows only one traittrait

Character Dynamic Static

Round

Considered the best type of character development.

Usually the protagonist and often the antagonist as well.

Dr. Jekyll and Hyde, Aladdin

Development is considered well-done. Often found in protagonists in books for younger children or in a

supporting/side-kick role. Abu, Robin, James Bond

Flat

Characters cannot be dynamic and flat, because in

a flat character we do not know enough about them for them to recognize a change. If a flat character seems to change, it is usually due to

poor writing.N/A

In very simple books, or in fairy tales, the protagonist may be flat and static. Also

appropriate for minor characters in other books.

Giving Tree, LOTR Gollum, Jafar

The FoilThe Foil

FoilFoil - a character that is used to - a character that is used to enhance another character through enhance another character through contrast. An opposite to the protagonist. contrast. An opposite to the protagonist.

Example: Cinderella’s grace and beauty Example: Cinderella’s grace and beauty as opposed to her nasty, self-centered as opposed to her nasty, self-centered stepsisters is one clear illustration of a stepsisters is one clear illustration of a foil many may recall from childhood.foil many may recall from childhood.

CharacterizationCharacterization

The act of creating The act of creating and developing a and developing a charactercharacter

CharacterizationCharacterization

Direct Direct characterizationcharacterization: : the writer directly the writer directly tells a character’s tells a character’s traitstraits

Indirect Indirect characterizationcharacterization: : 5 5 methodsmethods

1) 1) AAppearanceppearance

2) 2) SSpeechpeech

3) 3) TThoughts/feelingshoughts/feelings

4) 4) AActions ctions

5) 5) RReactions of eactions of

othersothers

Guess the CharacterGuess the Character

Character #1Character #1

Character #2Character #2

Character #3Character #3

Character #4Character #4