Types of characters
Protagonist
Person on whom actions centers
Character who drives the action forward
Character who attempts
to accomplish something
Usually seen as “the good guy” or
hero/heroine
Usually round & dynamic
Antagonist
Character or force that holds the action back
Character who wants something in
opposition to the protagonist
Usually seen as the “bad guy” or villain
Foil character
Secondary or minor character
Character who is a contrast or opposite to the protagonist
Character who emphasizes or
highlights the traits of the
protagonist because he/she
is the direct opposite
Dynamic Character
Undergoes an important change in personality in the
story
Comes to some sort of realization that permanently
changes the character
A change occurs within the character because of the
events of the story
The protagonist is usually dynamic, but not always
Static Character
Remains the same throughout the story
Although something may happen to the character, it does not cause the
character to change
The protagonist is usually
dynamic, but not always
Round character
Has many traits, both good and bad
Not easily defined because we know many details about the character
Realistic and life-like
Most major characters are
round
“The test of a round character is
whether it is capable of surprising
in a convincing way. If it never
surprises, t is flat.”
- E.M. Forster
Flat character
Does not have many
Traits
Easily defined in a
single sentence
because we know
little about the
Character
Sometimes stereotyped
Most minor characters are flat
Swiss philosopher Car Jung discovered certain
similarities in the myths of different civilizations which
had no possible contact with one another. By
examining these myths and individuals’ dreams, he
concluded that there are certain patterns which were
simply innate to the human psyche- a part of the
unconscious of every individual.
- Carl Jung, “Archetypes in Literature”
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A larger-than-life character that often
goes on some kind of journey or quest.
In the course of his journey, the hero
demonstrates the qualities and abilities
valued by his culture.
At birth, someone tries to kill hero (or
curse them).
Usually taken away, raised by foster
parents
Audience or reader knows little of
his/her childhood
Alfred
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The protector and leader
Father or mother figure
Serve as guardians, teachers,
or counselors to the initiate
Sometimes work as role
models
The “good mother” or “good
father”
Sebastian
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Loyal to the hero
Retainers-work for the hero
Friends-often heroic themselves
Act in a way that represent the hero’s
nobility
Protectors
Ron
Flounder
 An
animal helping our
hero through his journey.
Timon and
Pumba
Gingy
Sometimes we see
the man in distress
and the damsel
rescuing him
 Vulnerable, naïve,
helpless
 Must be rescued by
the hero
 Often used as bait
 Representing purity
and innocence.
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Figure banished
from a social
group from
some crime
against
mankind
◦ Real crime
◦ Imagined
crime
 Destined to
become a
wanderer
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Donkey
Hancock
A woman who
uses her power
(intellect, magic,
or most of all,
beauty) to make
men, especially
the Hero, weak.
Ultimately brings
about his
downfall
Megara
Ursula
A
woman, often a
hag (though she
may be disguised
as a beautiful
young woman),
who attempts to
trap and destroy
the protagonist
 Can also be the
“bad mother”
 The
antagonist,
especially in
opposition to
the hero.
 Evil
 Cruel and
Malicious
 Cunning
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Offers a trade for the
hero’s soul, or the
thing most important
to them “Demonic
Pact”
Very Cunning
Unreliable, dishonest
Joker
Hades
 “Side-kicks”
for
the antagonist
 In it for
themselves
 Don’t hesitate to
turn on, or run
away from the
villain if they’re
in danger
Flotsam and Jetsam
Banzai, Ed, Shenzi
• Love is
disapproved
of by society,
friends, or
family
 It WILL end
badly, often
with the
death of one
or both
characters
Rose and Jack
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Symbolic of fruition,
abundance.
Offers spiritual and emotional
nourishment to those with
whom she comes in contact.
Often depicted in earth
colors.
Mrs. Weasley
Fairy Godmother
A woman who is a
source of
inspiration to the
hero
 The hero has an
intellectual rather
than physical
attraction to her
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