1. UNIT 2 NOTES Character Types, Characterization, Conflict, Point of View

2. Part 1 Character Types

3. What is a character? A character is any personality in a story or poem A character is any personality in a story or poem Usually human, but animals, objects, cities, and weather can all be portrayed as characters Usually human, but animals, objects, cities, and weather can all be portrayed as characters

4. Types of characters The main character of a story is called the protagonist The main character of a story is called the protagonist Usually, the point of a story is to see if the protagonist can get what he/she wants Usually, the point of a story is to see if the protagonist can get what he/she wants The thing a protagonist wants is called his or her motivation The thing a protagonist wants is called his or her motivation

5. Examples: Protagonists+Motivation Bob is a baby Bob is a baby He wants to sleep He wants to sleep His brother won’t let him sleep His brother won’t let him sleep The story will be about Bob’s quest to thwart his brother and go to sleep anyway The story will be about Bob’s quest to thwart his brother and go to sleep anyway

6. Examples: Protagonists+Motivation Henrietta is green Henrietta is green Henrietta wants to go to Mars Henrietta wants to go to Mars People with swords don’t want Henrietta to go to Mars People with swords don’t want Henrietta to go to Mars The story will show how Henrietta tries to get to Mars The story will show how Henrietta tries to get to Mars

7. Types of characters continued Notice that oftentimes someone stands between the protagonist and his/her motivation Notice that oftentimes someone stands between the protagonist and his/her motivation A character that goes against the protagonist is called an antagonist A character that goes against the protagonist is called an antagonist Antagonists may be bad guys, but sometimes they are good guys that simply want the opposite thing of the protagonist Antagonists may be bad guys, but sometimes they are good guys that simply want the opposite thing of the protagonist

8. Types of characters continued Real humans are complex. We might seem to be one thing (a stereotype) when in reality we’re so much more Real humans are complex. We might seem to be one thing (a stereotype) when in reality we’re so much more I know physics!

9. Types of characters continued A complex character is called a Round Character A complex character is called a Round Character Can have conflicting feelings and all the complexities of real humans. Can have conflicting feelings and all the complexities of real humans.

10. Types of characters continued A more predictable type of character is called a Flat Character A more predictable type of character is called a Flat Character Will never surprise us by doing the opposite of what we expect Will never surprise us by doing the opposite of what we expect

11. Round vs. Flat Characters Mr. Evil is a bad guy. He beats up orphans and takes money from homeless people. Once, Mr. Good offered him $50 to be nice for a day, but he set the money on fire and used it to burn Mr. Good’s house down Mr. Evil is a bad guy. He beats up orphans and takes money from homeless people. Once, Mr. Good offered him $50 to be nice for a day, but he set the money on fire and used it to burn Mr. Good’s house down Flat character Flat character

12. Round vs. Flat Characters Mr. Good is a good guy. He gives sandwiches to orphans and builds houses for homeless people. Once, Mr. Bad offered him $50 to be mean for a day, but he refused to take it. Mr. Good is a good guy. He gives sandwiches to orphans and builds houses for homeless people. Once, Mr. Bad offered him $50 to be mean for a day, but he refused to take it. Flat character Flat character

13. Round vs. Flat Characters Mr. Jones is a normal guy. He goes to work, and when homeless people ask him for money, he starts walking faster because he’s scared. He wants to be nice to them, he just doesn’t want to get mugged. One day, he discovers Mr. Evil has burned his house down, and that now he is a homeless person. Luckily, Mr. Good arrives and builds him a new house, and Mr. Jones swears to always be nicer to homeless people. Mr. Jones is a normal guy. He goes to work, and when homeless people ask him for money, he starts walking faster because he’s scared. He wants to be nice to them, he just doesn’t want to get mugged. One day, he discovers Mr. Evil has burned his house down, and that now he is a homeless person. Luckily, Mr. Good arrives and builds him a new house, and Mr. Jones swears to always be nicer to homeless people. Round character Round character

14. Round vs. Flat Characters Ms. Flowers is a nice woman. She teaches orphans on her free time, gives lots of money to charity, and volunteers at the homeless shelter. One day, though, a homeless man named Mr. Jones approaches her. He doesn’t mean any harm, but she doesn’t know that, and ends up accidentally killing him. She is horrified by what she’s done, but in her panic she hires Mr. Evil, who cuts up Mr. Jones’s body and feeds it to pigs. She continues to be a nice person from then on, but somehow nothing’s ever the same. Ms. Flowers is a nice woman. She teaches orphans on her free time, gives lots of money to charity, and volunteers at the homeless shelter. One day, though, a homeless man named Mr. Jones approaches her. He doesn’t mean any harm, but she doesn’t know that, and ends up accidentally killing him. She is horrified by what she’s done, but in her panic she hires Mr. Evil, who cuts up Mr. Jones’s body and feeds it to pigs. She continues to be a nice person from then on, but somehow nothing’s ever the same. Round character Round character

15. Types of characters continued “Round” and “Flat” describe how complex or simple a character is “Round” and “Flat” describe how complex or simple a character is Sometimes confused with “Dynamic” and “Static” Sometimes confused with “Dynamic” and “Static” Not the same Not the same

16. Types of characters continued Dynamic character- experiences a change by the end of a story Dynamic character- experiences a change by the end of a story Static character- does not change, ever Static character- does not change, ever

17. Round/Flat vs. Dynamic/Static Characters are combinations of round/flat and dynamic/static Characters are combinations of round/flat and dynamic/static Ms. Flowers is a round character because she is capable of both good and evil. Ms. Flowers is a round character because she is capable of both good and evil. She is also a dynamic character, because at the beginning of the story she seems to be pure good, but something happens that causes her to seem partially evil, too She is also a dynamic character, because at the beginning of the story she seems to be pure good, but something happens that causes her to seem partially evil, too She’s emotionally complex and experiences a change. Round and Dynamic She’s emotionally complex and experiences a change. Round and Dynamic

18. Part 2 Characterization

19. Characterization Characterization—how the author teaches the reader about a character’s personality Characterization—how the author teaches the reader about a character’s personality Refers to personality, not necessarily physical appearance Refers to personality, not necessarily physical appearance

20. Characterization has two forms… Direct Characterization—when the author tells the reader precisely what to think of a character Direct Characterization—when the author tells the reader precisely what to think of a character “Mr. Lindy was evil.” “Mr. Lindy was evil.” “Mrs. Butters loves muffins.” “Mrs. Butters loves muffins.” “Bob was smarter than the other goats.” “Bob was smarter than the other goats.”

21. Characterization has two forms… Indirect Characterization—when the reader must figure out what a character’s personality is like based off of clues Indirect Characterization—when the reader must figure out what a character’s personality is like based off of clues Every night at 7:30, Mr. Lindy kicked his puppy. Every night at 7:30, Mr. Lindy kicked his puppy. Mrs. Butters was getting larger all the time. She couldn’t stop eating muffins. Mrs. Butters was getting larger all the time. She couldn’t stop eating muffins. Bob the goat stepped into the time machine he’d just invented. Bob the goat stepped into the time machine he’d just invented. “Do you want to come with me?” he asked Linda. “Baaaah!” said Linda. “I guess I’ll take that as a ‘no,’” said Bob, as he zapped into the future.

22. Indirect Characterization (cont) Indirect Characterization can happen in a number of ways Indirect Characterization can happen in a number of ways The way a character acts The way a character acts Things people say about a character Things people say about a character Things the character says himself/herself Things the character says himself/herself The way a character dresses The way a character dresses

23. Now you try… Think of a character. Create something that they either love or hate. Think of a character. Create something that they either love or hate. Now, write a sentence that tells us that they love or hate something. Now, write a sentence that tells us that they love or hate something. You’ve just directly characterized them. You’ve just directly characterized them.

24. Now you try… Now, using the same character, write a sentence that shows your character loving or hating their object. Now, using the same character, write a sentence that shows your character loving or hating their object. You’ve just indirectly characterized them through their actions. You’ve just indirectly characterized them through their actions.

25. Now you try… Now, using the same character, write a sentence describing your character wearing a T-shirt that explains what they love or hate. Now, using the same character, write a sentence describing your character wearing a T-shirt that explains what they love or hate. You’ve just indirectly characterized them through their physical appearance. You’ve just indirectly characterized them through their physical appearance.

26. Part 3 Conflict

27. Conflict Conflict—any force between the protagonist and his or her desires Conflict—any force between the protagonist and his or her desires Any problem the protagonist faces Any problem the protagonist faces

28. Conflict External Conflict refers to a problem that comes from outside the protagonist External Conflict refers to a problem that comes from outside the protagonist Examples include: Examples include:  Another person (antagonist)  A situation, such as being on fire  The weather. A sailor having a conflict with a storm

29. Conflict Internal Conflict refers to a problem that comes from within the protagonist Internal Conflict refers to a problem that comes from within the protagonist Examples include: Examples include:  A tough decision (“What should I wear today?”)  Emotional distress (“I don’t know if I can handle English class today.”)  Fears (“I’m scared of clowns!”)

30. Conflict Sometimes, internal and external conflict will mash together Sometimes, internal and external conflict will mash together Being scared of heights is an internal conflict Being scared of heights is an internal conflict Being chased by killer clowns is an external conflict Being chased by killer clowns is an external conflict Having to face your fear of heights to get away from killer clowns is a combination of internal and external conflicts Having to face your fear of heights to get away from killer clowns is a combination of internal and external conflicts

31. Part 4 Point of View

32. Perspective and Point of View Sometimes you will be asked to consider the perspective or Point of View of a story Sometimes you will be asked to consider the perspective or Point of View of a story These are both terms that describe who is telling the story These are both terms that describe who is telling the story

33. First Person Point of View First Person P.O.V.— a character, usually the protagonist, is the person telling the story First Person P.O.V.— a character, usually the protagonist, is the person telling the story The special name for the character telling a story is the narrator. The special name for the character telling a story is the narrator. Pronouns to look for: I, me, our, we Pronouns to look for: I, me, our, we “I woke up. I brushed my teeth. When I opened my front door, I was surprised to find an angry bull charging towards my house!” “I woke up. I brushed my teeth. When I opened my front door, I was surprised to find an angry bull charging towards my house!”

34. Second Person Point of View Second Person P.O.V.— the story is told as though happening to the reader Second Person P.O.V.— the story is told as though happening to the reader Unusual in fiction. More common in poetry. Unusual in fiction. More common in poetry. Pronouns to look for: you, your Pronouns to look for: you, your “You wake up. You brush your teeth. When you open your front door, you are surprised to find an angry bull charging towards your house!” “You wake up. You brush your teeth. When you open your front door, you are surprised to find an angry bull charging towards your house!”

35. Third Person Point of View Third Person P.O.V.— Third Person P.O.V. has two varieties: Third Person P.O.V.— Third Person P.O.V. has two varieties: Third Person Limited Third Person Limited Third Person Omniscient Third Person Omniscient

36. Third Person Limited Third Person Limited— the story is told from outside of the characters. The reader is only aware of what the characters are aware of. Third Person Limited— the story is told from outside of the characters. The reader is only aware of what the characters are aware of. Think of it like a camera following the protagonist around Think of it like a camera following the protagonist around Pronouns to look for: he, she, it, they Pronouns to look for: he, she, it, they “Narbo woke up. He brushed his teeth. He went downstairs. When he opened his front door, he was surprised to find an angry bull charging towards his house!” “Narbo woke up. He brushed his teeth. He went downstairs. When he opened his front door, he was surprised to find an angry bull charging towards his house!”

37. Third Person Omniscient Third Person Omniscient— the story is told from outside of the characters. The reader may be aware of details impossible for the protagonist to know. Third Person Omniscient— the story is told from outside of the characters. The reader may be aware of details impossible for the protagonist to know. Omniscient means “all knowing” Omniscient means “all knowing” Pronouns to look for: he, she, it, they Pronouns to look for: he, she, it, they “Narbo woke up. He brushed his teeth, not realizing that at that moment thousands of angry cows were charging towards his house. He went downstairs. Just as he opened his front door, Bessy was swearing she would take out all of her anger on the next person she saw.” “Narbo woke up. He brushed his teeth, not realizing that at that moment thousands of angry cows were charging towards his house. He went downstairs. Just as he opened his front door, Bessy was swearing she would take out all of her anger on the next person she saw.”