What is CHARACTERIZATION?
CHARACTERIZATION is the method used by writers to develop a character. The writer does things like – show the character’s appearance, display the character’s actions, let the character speak or think, get reactions from other characters.
Through all of these things, we learn a great deal about the character.
What is CHARACTER?
A CHARACTER is a person (or animal in some stories) presented in a narrative.
What are the CHARACTER TYPES?
PROTAGONIST
The central person in a story, and is often referred to as the story’s main character. He or she (or they) is faced with a conflict that must be resolved. The protagonist may not always be admirable (e.g. an anti-hero); nevertheless s/he must command involvement on the part of the reader, or better yet, empathy.
ANTAGONIST
The antagonist is the character(s) (or situation) that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend. In other words, the antagonist is an obstacle that the protagonist must overcome.
DYNAMIC CHARACTER
A dynamic character is a person who changes over time, usually as a result of resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis. Most dynamic characters tend to be central rather than peripheral characters, because resolving the conflict is the major role of central characters.
STATIC CHARACTER
A static character is someone who does not change over time; his or her personality does not transform or evolve.
ROUND CHARACTER
A rounded character is anyone who has a complex personality; he or she is often portrayed as a conflicted and contradictory person.
FLAT CHARACTER
A flat character is the opposite of a round character. This literary personality is notable for one kind of personality trait or characteristic.
STOCK CHARACTER
Stock characters are those types of characters who have become conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular types of stories. Stock characters are instantly recognizable to readers or audience members (e.g. the femme fatale, the cynical but moral private eye, the mad scientist, the geeky boy with glasses, and the faithful sidekick). Stock characters are normally one-dimensional flat characters, but sometimes stock personalities are deeply conflicted, rounded characters (e.g. the “Hamlet” type).
ANTI-HERO
A major character, usually the protagonist, who lacks conventional nobility of mind, and who struggles for values not deemed universally admirable.
FOIL
A foil is any character (usually the antagonist or an important supporting character) whose personal qualities contrast with another character (usually the protagonist). By providing this contrast, we get to know more about the other character.
