Characterization and Character traits

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Characterization and Character traits
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Character

• The people or animals in a literary work.
• Protagonist the main character of the story
• Antagonist the person who opposes the protagonist

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Flat Character

• Defined by very little character traits.
• Lacks a realistic personality.
• Often a stereotype.
• Helps move the plot along quickly because the
  audience already understands what the character
  is like.
• Minor characters are usually flat characters.
• Example a geeky professor

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Round Character

• A complex individual incapable of being easily
  defined.
• They are realistic and have a depth of
  personality.
• Unpredictable
• Protagonists and antagonists are usually round
  characters.

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More Types of Characters

• Dynamic Character
• Significantly changes throughout the course of
  the story.
• Protagonist is almost always dynamic.
• Static Character
• Does not undergo significant change.
• Supporting characters are often static.

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Archetypes

• Basic, recurring patterns in literature
• Universal symbols
• An archetype is the most perfect version of
  something, like a Hero that is honest, brave,
  kind, and good-looking. Some examples of
  archetypes are The Wise Elder, The Villain, The
  Hero, The Mother

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Identifying Character Traits

• VALUES what does the character care for?
• LONGINGS what does the character desire or try
  to obtain/achieve?
• ATTITUDE what kind of mental outlook does the
  character have?
• MOTIVES what inspires or drives the character
  to act in a certain way?
• INTENTIONS what does the character plan to do?
• FLAWS what imperfections or weaknesses does the
  character have?
• PHYSICAL APPEARANCE

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Characterization

• The process of conveying information about
  characters.
• Authors use words to create a mental image of a
  character in a story.

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Types of Characterization

• Direct Characterization
• The author literally tells what the character is
  like.
• Example The boy was stubborn and bad-mannered.
• Indirect Characterization
• Author shows details that reveal what the
  character is like through thoughts, actions,
  speech, etc.
• Ex The little boy bit his sister when she
  refused to share her toys.

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Methods of Characterization

• Authors communicate information about their
  characters by using
• 1. Physical appearance of the character
• 2. Interactions between characters
• 3. Narration about the character and hat the
  character is thinking
• 4. Dialogue of or about the character
• 5. Actions of the character

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How do we analyze character?

• Make an inference

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• Zoe cheered loudly. Go Wildcats! You can do it!
  she yelled at the top of her lungs. Other fans in
  the stadium just stared glumly. There was no way
  the Wildcats would win. That didnt stop Zoe,
  though.
• Is Zoe optimistic or cynical?

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• Nolan sprinted toward the end zone as his friends
  trailed behind him. Touchdown! he yelled as he
  scored again. Nolan strutted down the field
  wearing a big grin on his face.