Character & Characterization

Characterization: An author uses characterization to develop character in a story. They do this by using:

• Dialogue (what a character says)
• What a character says about him/herself
• What other characters say about the character
• Internal thoughts (what a character thinks about another character, him/herself, or an event)
• Actions (what a character does)
• Details (description of character's personality, physicality, spiritual or mental state)

Character Key Terms: When referring to characters, we should refer to them correctly.

• Hero/Heroine: The main character of a story (term often only used in epics or fantasy genres)
• Villain: The character who opposes the main character (term often only used in epics/fantasy)
• Antihero: A normal, ordinary character
• Protagonist: The main character of a story (term preferred for most literature)
• Antagonist: The opponent of the protagonist (term preferred for most literature)
• Foil: Either one who is opposite to the main character or nearly the same as the main character. The purpose of the foil character is to emphasize the traits of the main character by contrast, and perhaps by setting up situations in which the protagonist can show his or her character traits. A foil is a secondary character who contrasts with a major character but, in so doing, highlights various facets of the main character's personality.

Characters can be either major or minor, round or flat.

• Major characters are characters who are important to the conflict and plot of the story. They often have motivations linked with the main conflict
• Minor characters are characters who are not necessarily important to the story. They often are used to develop the main characters or to provide rising action or complications to the plot.
• Round characters have a distinct motivation and personality or “voice”; Often they are complex and dynamic (they change through the conflict of the story)
• Flat characters are characters that do not change significantly through the conflict of the plot. Sometimes the reader knows or cares little about them because of lack of detail or purpose.
• Stereotypes: Characters who are generally recognized as a “type”; These characters lack individuality and often can be boring because we already know how they will act and why.

Ways to develop character:

• Characterization: Physical characteristics and personality characteristics which develop the individualization of a character.
• Motivation: reasons for the character to act in the story
• Dialogue: What characters say helps to develop them
• What other characters say about a character also helps develop them
• Action: Describing the actions of a character helps develop them (allows writer to show not tell)