The Elements of Prose Fiction Characters Plot Theme

The Elements of Prose Fiction • • Characters Plot Theme Setting

Characters • Character in literature generally, and in fiction specifically, is an extended verbal representation of human being, the inner self that determines thought, speech, and behavior.

MAJOR CHARACTER TRAITS • In studying a literary character. One should try to determine the character’s major traits. As in life, characters may be lazy or ambitious, anxious, serene, aggressive or fearful, assertive or bashful, confidence or self-doubting, adventurous or timid, noisy or quiet, fair or partial, visionary of practical, reasonable or hotheaded, careful or careless, straightforward or underhanded, “winners” or “losers, ” and so on.

Types of Character • Round character. This is a complex in temperament and motivation. • This character is represented with subtle particularity; thus he is difficult to describe with any adequacy as a person in real life, and, like most people, he is capable of surprising us. • He may require an essay for full analysis.

• A Flat character is built around a single ideas or quality. • He is represented in outline and without much individualizing in detail. • He can be fairly adequately described in a single phase or sentence. • He is characterized by one or two traits.

The types of characters on the basis of importance • Main or major character. This is the most important character in a story. The story is basically about him. • Minor character. This is less important character. • The chief character is called protagonist (traditionally it is called the hero or heroine). • The character who opposes the protagonist is called antagonist.