CHARACTERS IN FICTION Character Traits Trait a quality

Character Traits • Trait: a quality of mind or habit of behavior • Ex:

Characterization Process • 5 ways in which an author can teach you about the

Characterization Process What others say about the character 4. • 5. Listen to what

Types of Characters • Round (usually the hero) • Round characters undergo some sort

Types of Characters • Flat characters do not grow or change; they stay the

Other terms to know • Protagonist: a round character, who is clearly the main

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CHARACTERS IN FICTION

Character Traits • Trait: a quality of mind or habit of behavior • Ex: self centered; sloppy; needy • Character traits help us to define and understand a character • Internal quality (ex. Selfishness) determines external behavior

Characterization Process • 5 ways in which an author can teach you about the characters Actions by characters reveal their nature 1. • What we do defines who we are Author’s descriptions of characters 2. • Appearance & Environment can reveal socioeconomic status 3. What the character says • Speeches move plot along but also allow us to draw conclusions about character’s motives

Characterization Process What others say about the character 4. • 5. Listen to what other characters say and what it reveals about a given character The author (as narrator) presents judgments about the character • Usually doesn’t happen in fiction—most apt to happen in a play

Types of Characters • Round (usually the hero) • Round characters undergo some sort of change, making them DYNAMIC characters • Author presents enough detail to make them full, lifelike, and memorable • Change may be shown in • Actions • Realization of new strength • Acceptance of new conditions or the need to make changes • The discovery of unrecognized truth

Types of Characters • Flat characters do not grow or change; they stay the same, making them STATIC characters • Usually act to highlight the changes of the dynamic characters • Stock Characters: representatives of a class or group— stereotypes! • Insensitive father, interfering mother; greedy politician

Other terms to know • Protagonist: a round character, who is clearly the main character in a story, but who lacks the qualities of a hero. • Antagonist: someone or something that opposes the goals of the protagonist (the bad guy)