Character, Plot, Point of View & Setting

What is a character? Character: “The aggregate of mental, emotional and social qualities that distinguish a person”(Lukens) A character: Each of the living beings in literature (including fiction and nonfiction), films, plays

Familiar characters Who are they? What do we know about them? How do we know? Why do we care?

Character development Shows the literary character with the complexity of a human being Poorly developed - mediocre literature Deep vs. shallow; rich vs. bland; vibrant vs. mundane

How do we learn about a character? By appearance (physical description) By speech and language By actions By connections and relationships Through the eyes of others By author revelations

By speech and language Words they use Regional patterns (accents) Way they use words Says or doesn’t say

By actions Does or doesn’t do Many facets Do they fulfill our expectations or surprise us, other characters or even themselves?

By connections and relationships Characters interacting Others see them Others talk about them Contrast with other characters

By author revelations Words of the author, directly telling us about the character

Protagonist Central character The hero or heroine Most action revolves around this character

Antagonist A character who stands in opposition to the protagonist or the main character. (In some cases, can be part of protagonist her/himself.) The antagonist opposes the protagonist in her endeavors and thus the conflict ensues “Once you have your first character you will need another to put into opposition… when both are working at their separate intentions, dragging in other characters as needed, you are well into your story.” –Shirley Jackson

Types of characters Round Semi-round Flat Dynamic Static Foil

Round characters Fully developed Multi-faceted See them in variety of situations We get to know them

Semi-round characters Not as fully developed as round characters Not flat either We know something about them

Flat characters Not fully developed Few individual traits Help carry the action Can play pivotal role in the narrative Stereotypes sometimes used

Dynamic character Significant changes Allow character to grow

Static character Don’t change during course of narrative Provide contrast to dynamic and main characters

Foils Traits contrast with those of the protagonist Foil is not necessarily antagonist

Stereotypes Represent assumptions Stock characters Cultural, racial or gender stereotypes

Plot Defined The plot is the sequence of events showing the characters in action.

Narrative order Order of events that tell the story Chronological order Flashback Progressive plot: e.g. Home - adventure - home Episodic

Conflict Conflict is the struggle between the protagonist and an opposing force (antagonist)

Person against self Protagonist must struggle with her/his own feelings, beliefs, sense of justice Books with great conflicts are the ones we remember

Person against person External, visible conflict between protagonist and antagonist

Person against society Protagonist struggles against the norms of a collective group Examples include racism, classism, sexism, homophobia, religious/political doctrines or beliefs, gender struggles

Point of view Who is telling the story?

Types of point of view First-person (can be multiple) Omniscient Limited omniscient Objective (dramatic)

First-person POV The narrator is “I.” We follow the story through her/his eyes, thoughts, and actions Can be any character (does not have to be protagonist) We only know what the narrator knows, see what the narrator sees We can learn about narrator through her thoughts/observations What is an unreliable narrator?

First-person diary/letter method (“epistolary” form) The narrator tells us the story through a series of letters and/or journal entries Can include emails and text messages

Multiple first-person narration More than one narrator All in first person

Third Person Omniscient POV Written in the third person Author is able to describe the feelings and thoughts of the characters in the story What are advantages? What are disadvantages?

Limited omniscient POV Third person but is focused on main character or protagonist

Objective (dramatic) POV The author records the actions of the characters The reader sees the action and hears the dialogue Reader must determine the meanings of the actions and the speech Like a play

Setting Time and Place How does the setting function in the story? Change the setting and see what happens Each reader brings experience Where and when can clarify conflict The setting may have a profound effect on the mood of the story

Integral setting Integral setting occurs when the narrative, the characters and/or the theme are influenced by the setting Setting may play a major role in controlling what the characters may or may not do Historical fiction and biographical novels

Backdrop setting Characters and their actions are barely influenced by the setting Setting can possess a universal quality

Setting as antagonist The protagonist must struggle either against The physical environment (person vs. nature) The social environment (person vs. society)

Symbol A person, object, situation, or action that operates on two levels of meaning, one literal and the other figurative An extended symbol is called an allegory In allegory, ideas (of good and evil, knowledge, or anything else) may be translated into characters, actions, or setting

That’s all - have a great week!