Character Traits
A WebQuest for High School Resource Classes
Deborah Butler
August 14, 2007
Introduction
In the development of a story, there is a need for characters. As the story unfolds, each character reveals
certain qualities called character traits. A character’s words, thoughts, and actions usually show these
traits. There needs to be a variety of characters, so the reader can emphasize and understand the plot of
the story. Characters may evolve as the plot develops.
.
Objective
Students will meet the Kansas reading indicator 2.1.1., identify and describe different types of characters
and analyze their development.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Protagonist
Antagonist
Round
Flat
Static
Dynamic
Task
Character Traits
To use Dictionary.com scroll through the words and click
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
generous
egotistical
elderly
stout
selfish
honest
persistent
active
ambitious
arrogant
bewildered
candid
conscientious
considerate
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
adventurous
crafty
domineering
lackadaisical
loquacious
jovial
languid
facetious
complacent
conceited
meticulous
determined
timid
ornery
Exit
Task
Students will return to their English classes prepared to identify, describe, and analyze the various
character traits found in their literature readings.
Students will create a PowerPoint presentation.
Process
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Click here character traits.
Click here types of characters.
Click here flash cards1., flash cards 2.
Click here quiz.
Click here PowerPoint presentation.
Types of Characters
Protagonist: The main character, central, is the good one in a story or novel. The one who can adapt to
new situations. Answer the question, “Whose story is this?” Usually a story has one, but a novel can
have several protagonist characters.
Antagonist: The antagonist character fights against the hero, the protagonist, of a story or novel. The
antagonist can be destructive, bad or evil. The antagonist can be a character, an animal, an inanimate
object, or nature. An example of this is the whale in Moby Dick.
Round characters: They can recognize, change, develop, and adjust to situations. They are complex,
have many sides, and touch lives at many points. They usually change in the story because they profit
from experiences.
Flat characters: They do not change, develop, or grow in the story. They are the opposite of round
characters. They usually have one or two traits and can be summed up easily. Example, Gollum in
Lord of the Rings is a flat character because he is obsessed with one thing, the recovery of the ring.
Some stories can have all flat characters, for example, Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Dynamic characters: Characters that change and grow in a work of literature. They are round characters.
Static characters: Characters that remain the same throughout the story or novel. They are flat
characters.
Process
Flash Cards
Protagonist
Antagonist
Round
Flat
Static
Dynamic
Process
Protagonist
The main character, central, the good one in
a story or novel. The one who can adapt to
new situations. Answer the question,
“Whose story is this?” Usually a story has
one, but a novel can have several.
Flash cards
Antagonist
The character fighting against the hero, the
protagonist, of a story or novel. They can be
destructive, bad, or evil. They can be a
character, an animal, an inanimate object, or
nature. An example of this is the whale in
Moby Dick.
Flash cards
Round
They can recognize, change, develop, and
adjust to situations. They are complex, have
many sides, and touch lives at many points.
The characters usually change in the story
because they profit from experiences.
Flash cards
Flat
They do not change, develop, or grow in the story.
They are the opposite of round characters. They
usually have one or two traits and can be summed
up easily. Example, Gollum in Lord of the Rings is
a flat character because he is obsessed with one
thing, the recovery of the ring. Some stories can
have all flat characters, for example, Christmas
Carol by Charles Dickens.
Flash cards
Dynamic
Characters that change and grow in a work
of literature. They are round characters.
Flash cards
Static
Characters that remain the same throughout
the story or novel. They are flat characters.
Flash cards
Quiz 1
a. round character
A character that remains the
same throughout the story.
b. static character
c. dynamic character
Click here and try again.
Correct!!!
Quiz 2
Quiz 2
a. protagonist
Person or thing fighting
against the hero of a
story.
b. static
c. antagonist
Click here and try again.
Correct!!!
Quiz 3
Quiz 3
A character who
changes or grows in a
work of literature.
a.
dynamic character
b.
static character
c.
flat character
Click here and try again.
Correct!!!
Quiz 4
Quiz 4
a. static characters
These characters show
many personality traits.
They change, develop, and
adjust to situations.
b. flat characters
c. round characters
Click here and try again.
Correct!!!
Quiz 5
Quiz 5
a. round character
The main character of a
story or novel.
b. antagonist
c. protagonist
Correct!!!
Quiz 6
Click here and try again.
Quiz 6
a. round character
Characters constructed
around a single idea or
quality.
b. flat character
c. protagonist
Click here and try again.
Correct!!!
Process
PowerPoint Presentation
In your PowerPoint presentation include the following:
1.
2.
3.
Introduction (title, author, and theme)
Plot and setting
Specify characters (protagonist, antagonist, round, flat, dynamic,
and static).
4. Summary
5. PowerPoint, oral, presentation (rubric)
Conclusion
Beginning
Developing
Accomplished
Mastered
1
2
3
4
Unclear, missing 2
elements, and not
complete
sentences
Complete
sentences that
does not apply to
the story
Complete
sentences that
apply to the story
Complete
sentences that
apply to the story
with evidence
Unclear and
missing an
element
Complete
sentences with
misspellings
and/or missing
information
Complete
sentences,
thoughts, correct
spelling, but has
missing
information
Complete
sentences, clear
thoughts, and
information
Specify character
types including
the protagonist
and antagonist
Mentions
characters, but not
character types
Mentions
character types,
but not the
protagonist or
antagonist
Mentions the
character types
with less than 3
errors in grammar
and spelling
Summary includes
all elements and
no errors in
spelling and
grammar
Summarizes the
story (rising
action, climax,
and falling
action)
Summary is
missing 1 or 2
elements
Summary is
missing 1 element
and has errors in
grammar and
spelling
Summary includes
all elements and
has less than 2
errors in grammar
and spelling
Summary includes
all elements and
no errors in
grammar and
spelling
PowerPoint oral
presentation and
organization
Late, needed
assistance in
presenting, and
not prepared or
organized
On-time, prepared,
but needed
assistance in
presenting
On-time, clear,
loud, but needed
some assistance
in presenting
On-time, clear/loud
voice, and
organized with
colorful graphics
Introduction:
title, author, and
theme
Plot and setting
Conclusion
Score
Conclusion
Students, you have meet the Kansas reading indicator 2.1.1., identifying and describing
different types of characters, and you analyzed their development with your PowerPoint
Presentation.
Teacher Page
Teacher Page
Web sites
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2331
http://www.fvdes.com/welch/skills/characters.htm
http://www.fvdes.com/welch/skills/furtherfictionnotes.htm
http://www.quia.com/mc/30222.html
http://www.geocities.com/educationplace/poe/gl.htm
http://www.humboldt.edu/~tdd2/Character.htm
Character Traits