Character Interactions
Relationships and Conflicts
Protagonist
The main character who is the focus of our story.
Example:
Who is the protagonist in the story of Little Red Riding
Hood?
Little Red Riding Hood
Antagonist
The character or force that blocks the protagonist from
achieving his or her goal.
Example
Who is the antagonist in the story of Little Red Riding Hood?
The Wolf
Subordinate Characters
Not as important as the protagonist and antagonist, but they
serve a purpose in the story. Their interactions with the
protagonist help develop the character and the story’s
conflict.
In the story of Little Red Riding Hood the grandmother is
the subordinate character.
Types of Conflict
The conflict between the protagonist and the antagonist is
what hooks our interest, creates suspense, and drives the plot
of most stories.
External Conflict – conflict between the protagonist and an
outside force.
Internal Conflict – the protagonist wrestles with his or her
own fear or worry or the need to make a decision.
Dynamic Character
The protagonist in the story is usually a dynamic character.
This is a character who changes in an important way
throughout the story. By the end of the story this character
has gained a new understanding, made and important
decision, or taken a crucial action. These characters are
capable of growing, learning, and changing.
Static Characters
Subordinate characters are almost always static characters.
They are exactly the same at the end of the story as they were
at the beginning of the story.
Round Characters
Characteristics:
Are complex; exhibit a variety of traits
Show a range of emotions
Display strengths and weaknesses
Often change over the story
Role in the story:
To serve as main characters who make a story rich and
interesting.
To help define the theme
Flat Characters
Characteristics:
Are defined by only one or two traits
Show only a few emotions
May be stereotypes or stock characters
Don’t grow or change
Role in the story
To serve as minor characters who advance the plot or provide
information
To reveal something about the main characters.
Character Motivation
What is a character’s motivation – the reason behind his or
her actions?
Sometimes a character’s motivation is stated directly.
Ex: He robbed the bank to pay his bills.
More often though, you need to look for clues and details to try
to figure our the motivation. To do this you must pay attention
to:
The narrator’s direct comments about a character’s motivation
The character’s action, thoughts and values
Your own insight into human behavior.
Strategies for analyzing character change
First examine the change:
Then analyze the meaning:
Compare how a character was at the
beginning of the story with how he or she is
at the end of the story.
What lesson does the character learn, or
What insight does he or she gain?
Is the change external, such as in appearance
or circumstance? Is it an internal change or
attitude or belief?
Does the change show personal growth, or
does it lead to be the character’s downfall?
What factors, events, or characters
contributed to or caused the change?
Would the character be motivated to change
without the contributing factors?
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