Important Terms Character is a person or an animal that takes part in the action of a literary work. A main, or major character is the most important character in a story, poem,or play. A minor character plays a lesser role, but is necessary for the story to develop. Characters are classified as flat or round. A flat character is one-sided and often stereotypical. A round character is fully developed and exhibits many traits. Characters can also be classified as dynamic or static. A dynamic character is one who changes or grows during the course of the work. A static character is one who does not change.

Important Terms Characterization is the process by which authors create memorable characters. Authors use two major methods of characterization – direct and indirect. Direct characterization the writer simply tells us what the character is like Indirect characterization, writers show a character in action and let us decide for ourselves what kind of person we are meeting describing the character’s appearance showing the character in action allowing readers to “hear” the character speak. revealing the character’s thoughts and feelings

“In the Middle of the Night” by Robert Cormier Denny admired guys like Jimmy Burke who passionately believed in a cause, who never took no for an answer. “Okay,” Denny said, knowing his answer would not change. Later, on the bus going home, he wondered whether he really wanted a separate peace, after all. At Norman Prep, maybe but not at home. Not with his father, now that the telephone calls had begun. The opposite of peace was war. Maybe that’s what he wanted – a battle against whatever or whoever had thrown a shadow over his family. But he wondered, how do you start a war?