Populating Fictional Worlds Character Populating Fictional Worlds

What do you think this character’s personality is like? © 2003 clipart.com

What Is a Character? A character is an individual in a story, poem, or play. A character always has human traits, even if the character is an animal or object. © 2003 clipart.com HRW Photo Research Library

Types of Characters Characters may be categorized by whether or not they change during the course of the story. Static characters do not change much in the course of the story. They are usually background characters. Dynamic characters change in some important way as a result of the story’s action. They are usually the main characters. They come to a new understanding, make some important decision, or take a crucial action.

Types of Characters Characters may be categorized by how well developed and complex they are. Flat characters have only one or two personality traits. They are usually background characters. A flat character may also be a stock character—a person who fits our preconceived notions about a type (a typical teenager, a typical librarian, a typical police officer). Round characters are complex and have many personality traits. They are usually the main characters.

What Motivates Characters? Motivation is the reason a character acts as he or she does. A character may be motivated by emotions, past experiences, or commands given by others. Writers don’t usually state a character’s motivation directly. You have to infer why characters act the way they do based on clues in the story.

How Do Writers Reveal Character? Writers reveal a character’s personality through characterization. Writers may use direct characterization and tell readers what a character is like use indirect characterization and show a character in action so that readers can decide for themselves what a character is like

Methods to Reveal Character A writer can reveal a character in the following ways: 1. telling us directly what the character is like (mean, greedy, kind, generous, and so on) Jeffrey was a spoiled brat. 2. describing how the character looks and dresses Lisa buttoned up her vintage turquoise jacket and wrapped a bright orange scarf around her neck. Short brown hair peeked out from under her hat—another vintage find—that was covered in orange silk flowers.

Methods to Reveal Character 3. showing the character’s actions Brian cleaned out his car and went to pick up his grandmother. He always kept the last Saturday of the month open so he could spend time with his grandmother. Sometimes they’d spend the afternoon at the shopping center or the library. This Saturday, they were going to the art museum to see the new Impressionist exhibit. 4. letting us hear the character speak “Daddy, daddy, there’s a bird nest in our tree! Come see. Hurry!” Clarissa yelled toward her father.

Methods to Reveal Character 5. letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts and feelings Melinda wondered if she should take the babysitting job. She could use the money, but the Haured children were a handful. She could handle one with no problem, but when the two of them were together, they exhausted her. 6. revealing what others think or say about the character or how they react to the character By the time Coach Wagner reached the middle of the locker room, everyone was staring at the floor in silence.

What Have You Learned? 1. _______ characters do not change much in the course of a story. a. Flat b. Round c. Static d. Dynamic 2. _______ characters are complex and have many personality traits. 3. When writers tell readers what a character is like, they are using _______ characterization. a. direct b. partial c. complete d. indirect

Direct Characterization Author directly states what a character is like

Indirect Characterization Appearance Private Thoughts Dialogue Actions Effects

The most important character Main character The most important character

Less important character Minor Character Less important character

The character that drives the action Protagonist The character that drives the action

The character that poses problems or obstacles for the protagonist Antagonist The character that poses problems or obstacles for the protagonist

Character that is fully developed; many character traits Round character Character that is fully developed; many character traits

Character that is not fully developed; one or two traits Flat character Character that is not fully developed; one or two traits

Character that is noble or honorable Hero/Heronie Character that is noble or honorable

Villain Evil character

Character that stays the same throughout the plot Static character Character that stays the same throughout the plot

Character that changes through the course of the plot Dynamic Character Character that changes through the course of the plot

Two characters in contrast to one another Foil Two characters in contrast to one another

Stock Like a stereotype; a character that represents characteristics of a group

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