Literary Elements
Character or the “actors” in the
story
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Character Denotation
As a literary term, refers to a
 Person
 An animal
 Monster or beast
 A fantastic creature
in a story, poem, novel, or a play.
A writer who is adept in the creation
of characters is said to excel at
“characterization.”
If these characters appear
particularly realistic, the
characters are said to possess a
sense of
“verisimilitude.”
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Real Life and
Fictional Characters
One of the marvels of literature is that writers can teach us
about real people and about human nature by creating and
presenting their imaginary characters.
One reason we love literature is that we experience and come
to know “people” whom we will never otherwise “meet.”
Getting to know characters such as Don Quixote, Hester
Prynne, Hamlet, Jay Gatsby, and Holden Caulfield enriches
our lives.
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The Difference. . . .
When we say about a real person, “He’s a
real character,” we mean that he has
notably unique or conspicuous traits.
All characters in fiction have chosen traits
and perform actions the author has
chosen, eliminating other possible traits
and actions to highlight certain aspects of
that one character.
Some characters seem lifelike or true to life
while others may seem fantastic, so
imagined that we would never really
expect to meet such a real person in our
own lives.
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. . . is Choice and Arrangement
Fiction and poetry are art. Characters are made,
artificial representations. Authors carefully choose the
background and circumstances in which they place their
characters.
In doing so, they eliminate the more trivial everyday
occurrences which tend to clutter the scenes in our own
everyday lives.
This is why literary characters are so different from the
rest of us. Just about everything they do and say may
seem important and interesting!
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Everything Matters

In fact, since authors choose their characters’ words and
actions, those authors consider everything a character says
and does important. And so should we.

It’s helpful, then, to pay close and special attention to what
each character says and does. Such attention is crucial in a
short story because no character is really “on stage” for
very long.

Pay special attention to repetition of images or patterns
(motifs) in relation to any character. Such images may
provide insight into that character’s personality.
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Ways to Characterize (STEAL)






Speech
 What a person says and how they say it
Thoughts and Feelings
 Thoughts and feelings of a character are defining. Making note of when and where
characters experience these thoughts and feelings.
Effect on Others/How Others React
 We can learn about a character when another character or the narrator says something
about him or her.
 We can also learn about the character by what that character says about another
character in the story.
Actions
 We know much about a person by the way he or she behaves. If the person cries often,
we assume something about his or her character. If a man is always breaking up with his
girlfriends, there is something we can assume about him, etc
Looks
 A character's appearance is telling. Observe the qualities of appearance the author
provides. Analyze how the appearance develops the character.
Name (additional)
 One possible place to look for analysis is in the names of the characters. Is there some
biblical or mythological reference? Does the sound of the name itself suggest an emotion
or attitude?
 Charles Dickens is famous for defining names: Lucy is “the light” in the characters’ lives,
Oliver Twist experiences many turns of fates, Mr. Striver is an amoral, ambitious lawyer,
Sidney Carton lives his life like he is in a box.)
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Character Building



An author uses two methods to build character:
direct characterization or indirect
characterization.
Direct Characterization is when the author
tells the reader about the character. There is
no guessing or inference involved, rather the
qualities are simply stated. Ms. Gerber is old;
Jenn is beautiful; Nareg is a simpleton.
Indirect Characterization is when an author
shows the reader the character in action and
the reader must infer the character’s qualities.
Ms. Gerber walked with the dinosaurs; Jenn
received 14 invitations to the prom from 14
celebrity hunks; Nareg ate paste for lunch.
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Character by Role

Protagonist:
the
central
character(s)
But
a protagonistiscan
also
be antihero:
an
assassin,
a simpleton,
a serial
killer, anobject)
undead in
(person,
animal, or
personified
vigilante,
or head
of a drug
cartela -protagonist
all a
the plot's
conflict.
Though
protagonist has to be is the character or
can be a hero- noble, and admirable - like
characters who command the central focus
Maria Von
Achilles
Trapp
Cady
James
Heron
Bond
Buffy the
Superman
Vampire
Slayer
Christine
Collins Rooster
Cogburn
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Character by Role

Antagonist: the force in conflict with the
protagonist. It is not always the classic
bad guy. It may be society, nature, or
fate, as well as another person. It can also
be the protagonist's own self, if he or she
has an internal conflict.
10
Character by Role

Character Foil: a person, thing, or force
present in the story to illuminate the
traits of another character, thing, or force.
It is not always the opposite, but it may
be.
11
Character by Change and Development
 Static Character: is one
Round
Dynamic
Flat Character:
Character:
Character:
isa not
threeisfully
one
who does not experience a
dimensional
who
developed;
experiences
character,
we know
a basic
sufficiently
only
change
basic
character
change
complex
in
one
character
side
asof
tothe
through
be
character
believable
the
as a
during
the
course
of events
the
person
of
(very
the with
story.
good,
allThis
bad,
the change
depth
funny,
and
is
story.
In
current
fiction,
unpredictability
mainly
gloomy
internal
– the character
that
andcharacter
real
maypeople
is
be is
an unchanged
notone
always
indication
have,
sudden,
one-dimensional).
but
having
thean
events
“more
Flatfacets”
of the of
the
quality
of appear
the
work
than
plot
characters
ashould
flat
character.
make
often
it seem
as as
it once
did.
can
inevitable.
minor
players
Audiences
inToday,
a story we
or as
appreciate
humor
appreciate
simplistic
creatures
andthe
identify
in withora
irony of a character who
character
children’s
who
fairylearns
tales.
from
These
experiences
multiple
experience
characters
are
adapts
the
conflicts and
andsometimes
crisesto
and
changes
called
(be they
characters.
or
thenstock
returns
topositive
the same
negative
changes).
behavior
that triggered the
action of the story
(example: Dumb and
Dumber)
12
Stock Characters
Stock characters are those types of characters who have become
conventional or stereotypical through repeated use in particular
types of stories. Stock characters are instantly recognizable to
readers or audience members.
Stock characters are normally one-dimensional flat characters, but
sometimes stock personalities are deeply conflicted, rounded
characters. Some stock characters include
High school types
- jock
- geek
- misfit
- rebel
- beauty queen
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And More Characters
The Anti-Hero
The Symbolic Character
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Types of Conflict – Know thy Antagonist
Remember types of conflict occurring in a short story:
 Internal Conflict (the “your-own-worse-enemy” scenario)


Person vs. self
External Conflict





Person
Person
Person
Person
Person
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
vs.
person
nature
society
fate
technology
__________________________________
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Now It’s Your Turn


A rich array of characters is essential to a story, and
understanding character or the way an author characterizes
is key to enhancing your enjoyment of a work of fiction.
With a partner identify at least two types of characters
(from movies or television) from each of the following
categories:





Round Character
Flat Character
Dynamic Character
Static Character
Be prepared to provide evidence (ethos) to defend your
answer.
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