Chapter Three Character

Character is a textual representation of a human being (or an animal, a thing, or even a natural force) in fiction. It is an indispensable element in a story. In order to have a full understanding of a character's moral, dispositional and emotional qualities, etc., the reader needs to learn to analyze characters.

Characters are sometimes described as dynamic or static. Dynamic characters experience some change in personality or attitude. This change is an essential one and usually involves more than a mere change in his surroundings or condition. Static characters remain the same throughout a story. They do not develop or change beyond the way in which they are first presented.

Characters are also classified as flat or round. Flat characters are relatively uncomplicated and does not change throughout the course of a literary work. This kind of characters have only one or two “sides,” representing one or two traits. They are often stereotypes that can be summed up in a few words. Flat characters, however, when developed by a skillful writer, may be as impressive as round characters. Round characters are complex and fully developed, often prone to change. This kind of characters develop and have many “sides”or traits. Their behavior is unpredictable because they are individuals, and their personalities require careful examination.

Related literary terms in this chapter:

Antagonist is also called antihero, a rival of the hero or heroine, who may be a character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Characterization means the development and presentation of a character; the deliberate and careful accumulation of details that create a character in a literary work. Often a single detail can build up a character or reveal his/her personality rapidly. Generally, a writer develops a character in one or more of the following ways: (1) through the character's action; (2) through the character's thoughts and speeches; (3) through a physical description of the character; (4) through the opinions others have about the character; (5) through a direct statement about the character, telling what the writer thinks of him or her.

Motivation refers to the reasons, either stated or implied, for a character's behavior. To make a story believable, a writer must provide characters with motivation sufficient to explain what they do. Characters may be motivated by outside events, or by inner needs or fears.

Protagonist is also called hero, a main character in a story.