CHARACTER TYPESCHARACTER TYPES

PROTAGONIST/ANTAGONISTPROTAGONIST/ANTAGONIST It is easiest to think of the protagonist and It is easiest to think of the protagonist and

antagonist characters as the "good guy" and antagonist characters as the "good guy" and the "bad guy" respectively. In order to the "bad guy" respectively. In order to understand protagonist and antagonist, you understand protagonist and antagonist, you can think of the protagonist as the hero and can think of the protagonist as the hero and the antagonist as the villain. To remember the antagonist as the villain. To remember which is which, remember that the prefix pro which is which, remember that the prefix pro means good, or positive, and the prefix ant means good, or positive, and the prefix ant means bad, or negative. means bad, or negative.

PROTAGONISTPROTAGONIST

The The protagonistprotagonist is the central character of a is the central character of a story. The protagonist can be male or female, story. The protagonist can be male or female, and is written as being "good" most of the time, and is written as being "good" most of the time, but in some instances can be "bad." The but in some instances can be "bad." The plotplot of of the story is often written in the protagonist's the story is often written in the protagonist's point of view. Consider the story point of view. Consider the story The Three The Three Little PigsLittle Pigs. In the original story, the three pigs . In the original story, the three pigs are the protagonists and the wolf is the are the protagonists and the wolf is the antagonist. A new book titled antagonist. A new book titled The Real Story of The Real Story of The Three Little PigsThe Three Little Pigs is written in the wolf's is written in the wolf's point of view and he becomes the protagonist point of view and he becomes the protagonist and the pigs are the antagonists. and the pigs are the antagonists.

ANTAGONISTANTAGONIST The character that causes or leads the conflict The character that causes or leads the conflict

against the protagonist is called the against the protagonist is called the antagonistantagonist. . The antagonist is not always human, but can be a The antagonist is not always human, but can be a group or force as well. The antagonist is the mirror group or force as well. The antagonist is the mirror of the protagonist. Whatever the protagonist does of the protagonist. Whatever the protagonist does that is good, the antagonist will work to that is good, the antagonist will work to counteract. Usually the antagonist attempts to counteract. Usually the antagonist attempts to disguise him/her/itself. This usually creates the disguise him/her/itself. This usually creates the suspense in a story. suspense in a story.

PROTAGONIST/ANTAGONISTPROTAGONIST/ANTAGONIST The protagonist and antagonist are The protagonist and antagonist are

distinctly different, and in most cases, distinctly different, and in most cases, complete opposites. They can both be complete opposites. They can both be very complex though. Just because the very complex though. Just because the protagonist is the central character in the protagonist is the central character in the story does not mean that he/she/it is any story does not mean that he/she/it is any more complex than the antagonist. When more complex than the antagonist. When trying to identify the protagonist and trying to identify the protagonist and antagonist in a story, think about which antagonist in a story, think about which character is central to the story and character is central to the story and which character (or what force) is acting which character (or what force) is acting against that central character. Usually against that central character. Usually you can consider which character is good you can consider which character is good and which is bad. In most instances, the and which is bad. In most instances, the good character is the protagonist and the good character is the protagonist and the bad, or opposing character, is the bad, or opposing character, is the antagonist. antagonist.

ROUND/FLATROUND/FLAT

Let's begin by thinking about round and flat Let's begin by thinking about round and flat characterization like a painting. If you're an characterization like a painting. If you're an artist, you must decide how much detail to artist, you must decide how much detail to put into a painting. Do you want many lines put into a painting. Do you want many lines and many colors, or just an outline and and many colors, or just an outline and only black and white? As an author, you only black and white? As an author, you must decide how much detail to include must decide how much detail to include about each character. Which characters are about each character. Which characters are most important; how will giving detail, or most important; how will giving detail, or not giving detail, affect the story? not giving detail, affect the story?

ROUNDROUND

Characters that are described in depth, with many Characters that are described in depth, with many details, are well-rounded characters. They are details, are well-rounded characters. They are called called roundround characters. If you're reading a story characters. If you're reading a story and you feel like you know a character extremely and you feel like you know a character extremely well, then most likely the character is round. The well, then most likely the character is round. The main character in a story is almost always round, main character in a story is almost always round, but there are exceptions. but there are exceptions.

FLATFLAT Characters that are not described well, that Characters that are not described well, that

you're not given much information about, you're not given much information about, are are flatflat characters. Consider a drawing: a characters. Consider a drawing: a three dimensional drawing gives more three dimensional drawing gives more detail than a one dimensional drawing. If detail than a one dimensional drawing. If you draw a flat picture of a house, for you draw a flat picture of a house, for example, you can only see one side of it. example, you can only see one side of it. You cannot see three of the four sides. This You cannot see three of the four sides. This is how a flat character is; you can only see is how a flat character is; you can only see a few characteristics of the character. a few characteristics of the character. There are many things you cannot "see", There are many things you cannot "see", or many details you are not given by the or many details you are not given by the author. author.

ROUND/FLATROUND/FLAT As a reader, judge whether or not the character is As a reader, judge whether or not the character is

round or flat by trying to write down round or flat by trying to write down characteristics of the character. Answer the characteristics of the character. Answer the question: What do you know about the character? question: What do you know about the character? If your list is long, with many characteristics, then If your list is long, with many characteristics, then the character is round. If your list is short, or the character is round. If your list is short, or there's not many characteristics at all, then the there's not many characteristics at all, then the character is flat. character is flat.

STATIC/DYNAMICSTATIC/DYNAMIC The key word when dealing with the difference The key word when dealing with the difference

between static and dynamic characters is between static and dynamic characters is "change." The type of change, though, is specific. "change." The type of change, though, is specific. We are only concerned with internal changes; We are only concerned with internal changes; changes which occur within the character. These changes which occur within the character. These would include a major change in their personality, would include a major change in their personality, or a change in their outlook on life. Another or a change in their outlook on life. Another important change that a character may undergo is important change that a character may undergo is a change in values, or it could be an overall a change in values, or it could be an overall change in the nature of the character. Do not change in the nature of the character. Do not focus on changes that happen TO a character, but focus on changes that happen TO a character, but rather, changes that happen WITHIN a character. rather, changes that happen WITHIN a character. Think about it this way: Does the event affect the Think about it this way: Does the event affect the character by changing the character internally? character by changing the character internally?

STATICSTATIC

In order for a character to be considered a In order for a character to be considered a staticstatic character, the character must remain character, the character must remain basically the same throughout the entire basically the same throughout the entire story. The character does not undergo any story. The character does not undergo any internal changes. Think of static internal changes. Think of static characterization like plastic surgery. The characterization like plastic surgery. The character may change in looks, but unless character may change in looks, but unless their personality is affected, the character is their personality is affected, the character is static. static.

DYNAMICDYNAMIC

A A dynamicdynamic character is a character that character is a character that undergoes an internal change sometime undergoes an internal change sometime between the beginning and end of the between the beginning and end of the story. The change in the character is story. The change in the character is usually crucial to the story itself. Say a usually crucial to the story itself. Say a main character goes through a life-altering main character goes through a life-altering experience, such as a race car driver experience, such as a race car driver getting into an accident. If the driver's getting into an accident. If the driver's personality changes and he is no longer personality changes and he is no longer willing to take on the risk of driving a race willing to take on the risk of driving a race car, the character would be dynamic. car, the character would be dynamic.

STATIC/DYNAMICSTATIC/DYNAMIC In order to distinguish static characters In order to distinguish static characters

from dynamic characters, write down a from dynamic characters, write down a description of the inner character at the description of the inner character at the beginning of the story, in other words, beginning of the story, in other words, what do you initially learn about the what do you initially learn about the character's personality? Answer these character's personality? Answer these three questions: How does the character three questions: How does the character feel about his/her/itself? How does the feel about his/her/itself? How does the character act towards others? What is the character act towards others? What is the characters goal? Do the same thing and characters goal? Do the same thing and answer the same questions at the end of answer the same questions at the end of the story. Usually, if you're dealing with a the story. Usually, if you're dealing with a dynamic character, you will be able to dynamic character, you will be able to notice a difference between your notice a difference between your personality descriptions as well as between personality descriptions as well as between the answers to the three questions. If there the answers to the three questions. If there is no major difference, the character is is no major difference, the character is static. static.