Characterization & Character Types

Why do we like or dislike characters?

Characterization

• The two methods an author uses to reveal a character to the reader

1. Direct Characterization

• An author TELLS you what a character is like.– Ex.– Roger was fast.– Ex.—Glenda was mean and cold-hearted.

2. Indirect Characterization

• The author SHOWS you what a character is like through their actions, thoughts, and the way other characters react to them.– Ex.– Roger ran past the 3rd place runner, past the

2nd place runner, and finally passed the guy in first to win the race!

– Ex.—Glenda watched the whimpering puppy stuck in the fence with delight on her face.

Direct or Indirect? “Because, if he wants kids, Gale won’t have any trouble finding a wife. He’s good-looking, he’s strong enough to handle the work in the mines, and he can hunt” (10).

“I hug Prim because I know these next few hours will be terrible for her. Her first reaping. She’s about as safe as you can get, since she’s only entered once. I wouldn’t let her take out any tesserae. But she’s worried about me” (15).

Major and Minor Characters

• Major Characters: the one or two main characters who dominate the story.

• Minor Characters: help tell the major characters’ tale by interacting with major characters and showing aspects of their personality.

Major and Minor Character Examples

• Katniss• Peeta

• Gale• Prim• Katniss and Prim’s

mother• Haymitch

The MAJOR Characters

• Protagonist: the central character in the work– NOTE: NOT necessarily a “hero”. Sometimes our

main characters are not heroes.– Can you think of an example of a non-heroic

protagonist?

• Antagonist: the opponent, enemy, or force against the protagonist and the cause of the rise of the central conflict in the work.

We know Katniss is the protagonist, but who is her antagonist?

• President Snow?• The Capitol?• The other tributes?

Characters are either Dynamic or Static

• Dynamic: a character who changes as a result of the plot.

• Static: A character who stays the same throughout the story.

Characters are either Round or Flat

• Round Character: a complex character. The reader is shown many aspects of their personality.

• Flat Character: usually static and shown to have only one or two aspects.

Using dynamic, static, round and flat how would you describe MAJOR characters? MINOR?

Cont…

• Major Characters are usually ROUND and DYNAMIC

• Minor Characters are usually STATIC and FLAT.

Character Foils

• Characters whose purpose is to contrast with the major character in one of two ways:1. The foil is the opposite of the major character, so

the major character’s strength and virtues shine that much brighter

2. The foil may resemble the major character, but with lesser versions of the character’s strengths and virtues, again highlighting those aspects in the major character

Discuss with a partner:

• Who is a character foil to Katniss? Explain why.