CHARACTERS AND CHARACTERIZATION
Classification:
We classify characters in two ways: according to the depth of their personalities (the Round/Flat scale) and
according to whether or not they change due to their experiences in the story (the Static/Dynamic scale).
KEYS to the Round/Flat scale include:
1. Does the character exhibit only one or two personality traits? If so, then he’s Flat.
If she shows us several sides to her personality, then she’s Round.
2. Is the character truly an individual? If so, then he’s Round. Someone who is clearly
a recognizable “type” of character, a stereotype, or a “stock” character, is Flat.
THE KEY to the Static/Dynamic scale:
1. Does the character CHANGE, due to her experiences in the story? If so, she’s Dynamic.
If the character does NOT CHANGE because of what happens in the story, he’s Static.
Characterization:
Authors use a variety of methods to present characters and to give us information about them. These
methods are similar to the ways we learn about people in real life, and they can be grouped into two categories: Direct
methods, in which we gain first-hand information about the character from the author or from the character herself, and
Indirect methods, in which other characters in the story provide us with the information.
Direct Methods
The Character’s actions—what they DO
The Character’s words—what they SAY
The Character’s thoughts—what they THINK or FEEL
Physical description—provided by the narrator (or character)
Description of Personality—provided by the narrator (or character)
Indirect Methods
Other Characters’ actions—how others RESPOND or REACT to the character
Other Characters’ words—what they SAY about him
Other Characters’ thoughts—what they THINK about her
USUALLY, THE MORE IMPORTANT THE CHARACTER, THE MORE DIVERSE THE METHODS OF
CHARACTERIZATION USED TO PRESENT THAT CHARACTER!
POINT OF VIEW and NARRATIVE STYLE
The five types of narration are:
1. first-person observer
2. first-person participant
3. third-person omniscient narrator
4. third-person narrator with limited omniscience
5. objective narrator
Point of View Exercises
For each example, decide which of the five types of point of view is being used. Be careful, since these are tricky!
1. Hopeless and forlorn, the shepherd regarded his prize sheep covered with mud. Meantime the sheep was thinking about
nothing but dinner.
2. Harry knew that Gloria was stingy, but this topless convertible was worse than he had expected. He kissed her. She
spat into the wind. I guess she’s annoyed, thought Harry.
4. Harry knew that Gloria was stingy, but this topless convertible was worse than he had expected. He kissed her. She
spat into the wind. She looked annoyed.
5. Harry knew that Gloria was stingy, but this topless convertible was worse than he had expected. He kissed her. She
spat into the wind. Annoyance crept over her face like a swarm of bees.
6. The grass turned blue in front of Angelique as she stumbled in the hot wind.
Black cattle swung their long heads to stare, then bent to graze again. In the distance a speck of dust grew larger.
7. As I watched, the Mexican reached under the porch and retrieved his salad. I wondered what Maravich would do under
such provocation. Before I could imagine the next moment, I heard a shot from somewhere deep in the house and
watched Maravich’s body twist in the air.
8. I broke the walls myself, and it took a long time. Let me tell you the story from the beginning.
9. While Henry sat at the table, Marge pretended to read comic books. He was praising Verdi’s Otello, as it happened,
when Marge flicked her gum in his hair. Smiling at her youthful exuberance, Henry...