I learn about types of
characters in literature,
electronic research, and
citing references by
completing this exercise.
PROTAGONISTS
ANTAGONISTS
SUPPORT CHARACTERS
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
BRAIN EXERCISE
“I can do
all things
through
Christ who
strengthe
ns me.”
Philippians
4:13
TYPES OF
CHARACTERS
IN LITERATURE
Reynoso, Ramsey Ann R.
BSMT-2B Humanities 13
July 05, 2015
Mr. Jaime Cabrera
CEU, Philippines
Related Stuff
1. THE HERO
2. THE ANTI-HERO
3. THE TRAGIC HERO
4. THE CARICATURE
1. Types of
Protagonists
There are four types of
protagonists.
HERO
01
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
 The
main character in a literary
work; the term is also used in a
specialized sense for any figure
celebrated in the ancient
legends of a people or in such
early heroic epics.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero
retrieved from wikipedia
HERO
He/She is the focus of the story.
 Odysseus is a combination of the self-made, selfassured man and the embodiment of the
standards and mores of his culture. He is favored
by the gods and respected and admired by the
mortals.

Photo Source: © Peter Tikos & Richard Vass © 2012 Delta Vision - http://www.deviantart.com/art/Odysseus-288947505
ANTI-HERO
02
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.


An anti-hero is a protagonist or
other notable figure who is
conspicuously lacking in heroic
qualities.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/antihero-definition-examplescharacteristics.html retrieved from Study.
com
ANTI-HERO


An anti-hero is a flawed character, he has evolved
beyond the tragic hero. He doesn't always possess purely
good qualities or personality traits.
The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. Holden Caulfield is
out of shape because he smokes too much. His general
health is poor. He is alternately depressed, confused,
angry, anxious, perceptive, bigoted, resentful, thoughtful,
kind, and horny. To put it simply, Holden is struggling.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=holden+
caulfield&imgrc=q5pTdNFm0lz61M%3A from risaaa.deviantart.com
TRAGIC HERO
03
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.


A tragic hero is a person of noble
birth with heroic or
potentially heroic qualities. This
person is fated by the Gods or by
some supernatural force to doom
and destruction or at least to great
suffering.
www.csus.edu/indiv/s/santorar/engl190v/trag
.hero.htm retrieved from csus.edu
TRAGIC HERO


A tragic hero is the one who suffers at first but in the
end survives whatever problems he has faced.
Hamlet is the quintessential tragic hero. Being part of
the royal family makes him prone to negative and
stressful situations and thus his engagement with
words to level in which he is almost crippled is
absolutely tragic, even if it is not because of anything
he had overtly done.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CAY
Q_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=Hamlet&imgrc=gMLInMwHc5X2zM%3A from wikipedia
CARICATURE
04
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
A
caricature is like a stereotype,
or something that exaggerates
characteristics beyond all
reason.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/i
ndex?qid=20101023141121AAWFbQy
from answers.com
CARICATURE
 It
gives a vivid description and an exaggeration
to a character just to make an impact to the
reader or viewer.
 The portrait of Mr. Chadband from Bleak House
being intently scrutinized.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=Mr+and+mrs+chadband+caricature&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=2NqYVeekFJWE8gWetqzAAg&ved=0CAYQ_
AUoAQ#imgrc=xfhFb2Y-7DoLkM%3A
1. THE MAIN ANTAGONIST
2. THE NEMESIS
3. THE SHAPE-SHIFTER
4. THE CHANGE AGENT
5. THE ROMANTIC ANGLE
2. Types of
Antagonists
There are five kinds of
antagonists.
ANTAGONIST
05
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
ANTAGONIST
 An
antagonist is a character,
group of characters, institution,
or concept that stands in or
represents opposition against
which the protagonist(s) must
contend.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antagonist
from wikipedia
 The
antagonist is the one who contradicts the
hero.
 Poseidon - God of the sea. As the suitors are
Odysseus's mortal antagonists, Poseidon is his
divine antagonist. He despises Odysseus for
blinding his son, the Cyclops Polyphemus, and
constantly hampers his journey home.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=antagonist+in+odyssey&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=z9eYVa__Jsrp8AXzyqO4CQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=i
sch&q=poseidon&imgrc=N0IVbd4_shxPDM%3A from www.comicvine.com
NEMESIS
06
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
 The
inescapable agent of
someone's or something's
downfall. A rival who just
somehow seems able to get the
best of you.

http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionar
y/nemesis from vocabulary.com
NEMESIS
 The
nemesis is always greater than the hero but
in the end the hero always wins.
 In the Harry Potter series, Voldemort is
Harry's nemesis. Voldemort is constantly
attempting to cause Harry's downfall-and
essentially, the downfall of the "good" by
promoting "evil."
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=voldemort&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5uSYVfbVD4SE8gWUt464AQ&sqi=2&ved=0CAY
SHAPE-SHIFTER
07
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
SHAPE-SHIFTER
 The
shape-shifter doesn’t mean
that you need to transform
literally. It is more about nobody
is ever sure about that
character’s motive.

http://shannaswendson.blogspot.com
/2008/09/archetypes-shapeshifter.html
 They
can be the hidden card of the story or the
one who will cause mass destruction.
 Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=voldemort&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=XNyYVbRFzt3wBcryiYgI&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=Jac
k+Sparrow&imgrc=K8pRWJAAjOBncM%3A
CHANGE AGENT
08
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.


A change agent is a person from
inside or outside the organization who
helps an organization transform itself
by focusing on such matters as
organizational effectiveness,
improvement, and development.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/chang
e-agent-definition-role-quiz.html
CHANGE AGENT
The focus is on the people in the organization and
their interactions. A change agent usually focuses
his efforts on the effect of changing technologies,
structures and tasks on interpersonal and group
relationships in the organization.
 Beatrice Prior from The Divergent

Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=voldemort&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=XNyYVbRFzt3wBcryiYgI&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=be
atrice+prior&imgrc=frKa6T6_qvNxFM%3A
ROMANTIC ANGLE
09
Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
A
love affair, an intense and
happy but short-lived affair
involving young people. A spirit
of or inclination for adventure,
excitement, or mystery.

http://www.wordreference.com/defini
tion/romance
ROMANTIC ANGLE
 The
romantic angle usually gives an edge to a
story. People loved the idea of being in love so it
will give a better taste to it.
 Margo and Quentin from Paper Towns
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=voldemort&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=XNyYVbRFzt3wBcryiYgI&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=ma
rgo+and+quentin+from+paper+towns&imgrc=zviUJYlBjYZfGM%3A
1. THE SIDEKICK CHARACTER
2. THE MENTOR CHARACTER
3. THE FOIL CHARACTER
4. THE COMIC RELIEF CHARACTER
5. THE EXTRAS
6. THE CHORUS (e.g., Greek tragedy)
3. Types of
Support
Characters
There are six types of
supporting characters.
SIDEKICK
11
A
person's assistant or close
associate, especially one who
has less authority than that
person.

www.merriamwebster.com/dictionary/sidekick retrieved
from Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary
CONFIDANT
A
sidekick is the one who supports the hero.
 Don Quixote, an older man who, after reading
one to many fairytales, decides to go out on a
quest of his own. He shortly recruits one of his
neighbors, Sancho, to be his squire, promising
him the governorship of an island.
Photo Source: 2010 SAM SCHLINKER - Thttp://flavorwire.com/127231/the-top-10-sidekicks-in-literature/5
MENTOR
10
 Mentor
is someone who imparts
wisdom to and shares
knowledge with a less
experienced colleague.
 Roberts, Andy. (1999) "The origins of
the term mentor“.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentor
ROMANTIC ANGLE
 Mentor
is the one who gives advices and
teaches those who are in need.
 As Mentor, the goddess encouraged
Telemachus to stand up against the suitors and
go abroad to find out what happened to his
father.
Photo Source:
http://www.google.com.ph/imgres?imgurl=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/04/Telemachus_and_Mentor1.JPG&imgrefurl=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Me
ntor&h=500&w=416&tbnid=nP3dLv7hDP2yzM:&zoom=1&tbnh=160&tbnw=133&usg=__2Mh6CH7ifgHjpHyu2dXQslAYohE=&docid=12CKHoll4Go1cM
FOIL
12


FOIL


A foil's main purpose is to show
contrast to the protagonist. In this
way, a foil can show how things
could have been different for the
protagonist if he had chosen a
different path.
http://study.com/academy/lesson/characterfoil-definition-examples.html retrieved from
Study.com
It is a character who is a contrast with the protagonist in order
to highlight particular qualities of the other character.
Leartes serves as a foil to Hamlet. Leartes has many similarities
with Hamlet. Upon hearing of his father's death, Leartes
rushes home from France ready to take action against the
murderer. Leartes' decisiveness, courage and nobility in the
face of the same situation as Hamlet show him as a strong
foil.
Photo
Source:https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved
COMIC RELIEF
13
 Comic
relief is the inclusion of a
humorous character, scene, or
witty dialogue in an otherwise
serious work, often to relieve
tension.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_re
lief from Wikipidea
COMIC RELIEF


Comic relief is something that puts a little bit of
laughter.
Some critics see the fight between Odysseus and Irus
as comic relief, but it is hardly a laughing matter for
anyone other than the pernicious suitors. Although
the old clown annoys Odysseus, Odysseus doesn't
really want to hurt him.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&
q=fight+between+Odysseus+and+Irus&imgrc=Sb-UmFBO29FXuM%3A from spiritoftheages.com
EXTRAS
14
 They
Insert any photo that
shows this idea. The photo
should be clear and
should fit and fill this space.
EXTRAS


are unlikely to speak
or even be named. Extras
don't involve much work hardly any, in fact.

By Harvey Chapman, Copyright ©
and TM Novel Writing Help, 20082015 http://www.novel-writinghelp.com/minor-characters.html
Extras are just minor characters that has nothing to
do with the story.
If your character eats in a restaurant or walks down
the street and there is no mention whatsoever of the
people around them, the scene will lack realism.
Extras in novels aren't really characters at all, more a
part of the setting.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&
q=extra+characters+hamlet&imgrc=B4-qFHQKA3_b7M%3A from www.pinterest.com
CHORUS
15
A
group of characters in Greek
tragedy (and in later forms of
drama), who comment on the
action of a play without
participation in it.

CHORUS
http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072405
228/student_view0/drama_glossary.html from
http://highered.mheducation.com/
 These
are the characters that comments on
things but doesn’t have a participation in it.
 Charagos suggested Kreon to make Antigone his
wife.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&
q=Charagos+in+odyssey&imgrc=H0OpfvdneE84FM%3A from www.answers.com
1. THE FLAT CHARACTER
2. THE ROUND CHARACTER
4. Types of
Character
Development
There are two types of
character development.
FLAT CHARACTER
16
 We
see only one side, or trait, of
these characters. You likely can
name only one or two
characteristics of them.

COMIC RELIEF
https://sheehyenglish.wikispaces.com/Round+and+Flat+
Characters retrieved from SheehyEnglish.wikispaces.com
 It
is a minor character with one or two
personalities.
 In The Odyssey, the suitors are flat characters.
We see one side of them-their bad side.
Photo Source:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=odysseus&biw=1366&bih=667&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=dbOYVazcDMLfmAXrtJbgCA&sqi=2&ved=0CAY
ROUND CHARACTER
17
 These
characters are many
sided and complex, with more
than three characteristics
shown. Usually we see they
have virtues and faults

ROUND CHARACTER
https://sheehyenglish.wikispaces.com/Round+and+Flat+Characters
retrieved from Sheehy-English.wikispaces.com
 The
round character is someone that has several
sides in their personality.
 Odysseus is definitely a round character. He has
good sides (he is strong and brave and wise)
and bad ones (he is a bit full of himself and that
gets him in trouble with Poseiden when he brags
about blinding Polyphemus the cyclops).
Photo Source: © Peter Tikos & Richard Vass © 2012 Delta Vision - http://www.deviantart.com/art/Odysseus288947505
I personalize my learning
about the types of literary
characters by completing
this activity.
NEW INPUTS
CONNECTIONS
APPLICATIONS
1.
2.
3.
5. BRAIN
EXERCISE &
PRACTICE
Reynoso, Ramsey Ann R.
BSMT-2B Humanities 13
July 05, 2015
Mr. Jaime Cabrera
CEU, Philippines
Related Stuff
NEW INPUTS
18
New concepts learned
I
have learned all the different kinds of
characters in literature. I never thought that
there are so much more than the
protagonists and the antagonists.
 I have learned all their importance and their
differences.
 I have realized that each character supports
each other characters as well.
CONNECTIONS
19
This reminds me of…
 Everyone
who enters our life is important.
Even though some of them stays in just a
little of time they still taught us a lesson.
Without them you cannot be yourself
today because they have helped you so
much. Everything happens for a reason.
Everyone around you is connected to you
and to the others. Learn to value
everyone in your life.
APPLICATIONS
20
Usefulness in real situations
 Value
everyone around us for they are
the ones who shaped us. We need to
know each and others importance.
Prioritizing people may help you a lot but
always remember that everyone is
valuable to you. Struggles may come but
as a person you have to be strong and
face. Everything that happens around us
has a purpose.
Note: Tests can include ideas from this source.
REFERENCING
21
Works Cited








https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero retrieved from Wikipedia
http://study.com/academy/lesson/anti-hero-definition-examplescharacteristics.html retrieved from Study. com
www.csus.edu/indiv/s/santorar/engl190v/trag.hero.htm retrieved from
csus.edu
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101023141121AAWFb
Qy from answers.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antagonist from Wikipedia
Roberts, Andy. (1999) "The origins of the term mentor“.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mentor
http://study.com/academy/lesson/character-foil-definitionexamples.html retrieved from Study.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_relief from Wikipidea

By Harvey Chapman, Copyright © and TM Novel Writing Help, 2008-2015
http://www.novel-writing-help.com/minor-characters.html

http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072405228/student_view0/dra
ma_glossary.html from http://highered.mheducation.com/

https://sheehy-english.wikispaces.com/Round+and+Flat+Characters
retrieved from Sheehy-English.wikispaces.com