Characters
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Golem Vs. Schmeagle
As you’re watching the video clip, write
down at least 3 adjectives or
characteristics you could write that would
describe G0lem and Schmeagle.
Characterization
• Definition:
o Techniques writers use to create and
develop characters.
o The way that an author presents details
that give you clues about a character’s
personality
• Purpose:
o To make the characters believable.
Character Development
Strategies
o Presenting the character’s words (dialogue)
and actions
o Presenting the character’s thoughts
o Description of the character’s appearance
o Showing what others think about the
character
Character
Development
Strategy
L: Looks
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A: Acts
S: Says
T: Thinks
O: Others (What others think)
*Each section should be at least
2 complete sentences
Practice!
L: Looks
A: Acts
S: Says
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T: Thinks
O: Others (What others think)
You Try: Characterize yourself using LASTO!
Remember, each section should be at
least 2 complete sentences
Role of a Character
oThe function the character serves
in the story
Types
of Characters
Protagonist:
• The character that the story revolves around
• Involved in the main conflict of the plot and
usually changes in some way throughout the
story.
• NOT necessarily the good guy!
• Example Protagonists:
o Harry Potter
o Katniss Everdeen
o Batman
Types
of Characters
Antagonist
• The character (or force) that creates a conflict for
the protagonist.
• Doesn’t necessarily have to be an person. It could
be death, the devil, an illness, or any other
challenge.
• Can be a likeable character (“the good guy”)
whereas the protagonist can represent evil (“the
bad guy”).
• Example Antagonists:
o Voldemort
o President Snow
o The Joker
Types
of Characters
Static Character:
• A character that DOES NOT change
throughout the story
o Usually a minor character
o Static=Same
Types
of Characters
Dynamic Character:
o A character that DOES change
throughout the story
o Usually a main character
o Dynamic=different
Types of
Characters
Practice!
o Identify the protagonist
and
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antagonist from “The Scholarship
Jacket”
o Identify a static character and a
dynamic character from “Seventh
Grade”
Conflict
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Conflict
Definition: A struggle between
opposing forces.
• Conflict is the problem in the
story.
• here are two main kinds of
conflict: external and internal.
Importance of
Conflict
• Necessary for the plot of a story.
• Adds excitement and suspense.
• A reader can learn more about the
characters personality by how they handle
the conflict
• There can be more than one conflict present
in a story
Types of
Conflict
Man Vs. Man
• External
• Ex = out
• One character is having a
problem/conflict with another
character
• Mental or Physical
Man Vs. Man
Examples:
• Two small boys fight over who will get
the last popsicle
• A boss fires her employee
Man Vs. Nature
• External
• One character is having a problem/conflict with
nature that is beyond his or her control
Man Vs. Nature
Examples:
• A family is stranded in a snowstorm
• A man is trapped in quicksand
Man Vs. Society
• External
• A character having a problem/conflict with the
rules or laws that govern the society he or she
lives in
Man Vs. Society
Examples:
•
•
A driver is in a hurry and runs a red
light
A teenager breaks his town’s curfew
Man Vs. Technology
o External
o A character having a problem/conflict with technology
Man Vs. Technology
Examples
• A robot turning on people
• A GPS giving the wrong directions
Man Vs. Self
o
o
o
o
o
Internal Conflict
In = in (or not)
A struggle within a character’s mind
Inside (can’t see it)
Usually a decision
Man Vs. Self
Examples
o A teacher knows she shouldn’t drink coffee, but she
keeps drinking it every day
o A student can’t decide if he wants to try out for the
basketball team
Central Conflict
o
o
o
o
The main problem in a story
Can be internal or external
Often the driving force behind the plot
Other conflicts may stem from this conflict
Central Conflict
Examples
• Harry tries to defeat Voldemort
• Batman wants to stop Bane from destroying Gotham
Your Turn:
Table 1: Man Vs. Self (Using “Seventh Grade”)
Table 2: Man Vs. Man (Using “The Scholarship Jacket”)
Table 3: Man Vs. Society (Using “Nobel Experiment”)
Table 4: Man Vs. Nature (Create your own)
Table 5: Man Vs. Technology (Create your own)
Table 6: Central Conflict (Using “Nobel Experiment”)
Some Possibilities:
Table 1: Man Vs. Self-Victor debates how he should act in French
class in front of Teresa
Table 2: Man Vs. Man-The teachers struggle with who to give the
Scholarship Jacket to
Table 3: Man Vs. Society-Branch Rickey fights to have Jackie
Robinson become the first African American Player in MLB
Table 4: Man Vs. Nature- Getting caught in a blizzard on your way
home from work
Table 5: Man Vs. Technology- You’re using the GPS on your phone
during a hike and the battery dies
Table 6: Central Conflict-Because of segregation, African
Americans were unable to participate in white sports
Your Turn:
Where Are You
Now?
Listen to the song, as you pay attention to the lyrics, try
to identify the central conflict.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3xLNrkqvCA
Your Turn:
Where Are You
Now?
Central Conflict: The main character once had
someone by his/her side and now that person is gone.
The protagonist is now struggling with the lasting
memories, and wondering how things ended up the way
they did.