Types of Characters

These are the common types of characters we see in literature.

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• Round characters

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• Flat characters

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• Dynamic characters

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• Static characters

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• Stereotype

Round Characters

• Round characters have various characteristics or traits.

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• A round character can change or grow.

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• Readers see more than one side of a round character.

Flat Character

• Readers see one side of a flat character.

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• Flat characters are usually minor characters and reveal one or two traits.

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• Flat characters may be used as a contrast to a major character.

Dynamic Character

Characters who develop and change are not only round characters, but often dynamic.

Scrooge changes from a tight-fisted, greedy unhappy man to one who was generous and loved life.

Gru changes from a villain set on destroying the world to a loving father.

Static Character

• Static characters are one dimensional—readers see only one side.

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• Static characters stay the same and do not develop.

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• Readers learn little about this character.

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• Static characters are flat characters.

Stereotypes/Stock

• Sometimes characters with common, generalized traits are repeatedly found in unrelated stories.

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• These characters are known by what they do and how they act.

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• The author doesn’t need to tell us much about the character because we’ve encountered the stereotype before and can make some inferences.

Detective

Protagonist

The Protagonist is central to the action of a story and moves against the antagonist.

Antagonist

The antagonist is the villain or a force which opposes the the protagonist.

Can you figure out what kind of character these are?

Meet Megamind!

• His nemesis is Metro Man (the city’s big hero and defender)
• He wants to ruin Metro City and defeat Metro Man.
• He falls in love with Roxanne.
• He stops Tighten from destroying Metro City.
• He becomes the new hero of Metro City.

1. Flat Character
2. Static Character
3. Stereotype
4. Dynamic Character

Dynamic Character!

Meet Mother Gothel

• Gothel kidnaps baby Rapunzel so she can use her magic hair to stay young.
• Gothel keeps the truth from Rapunzel about her real parents.
• Gothel won’t let Rapunzel out of the tower.
• Gothel stabs Flynn, the man Rapunzel loves.

1. Round Character
2. Protagonist
3. Antagonist
4. Dynamic Character

Antagonist!

Meet Katniss!

• She is strong, independent and able to provide for herself, but can also feel vulnerable.
• She can be snarly but she can also be kind.
• She is tough but gets scared.
• She is smart, but can make mistakes when she’s impulsive.
• She loves her family but finds it hard to open herself to romantic love.

1. Stereotype
2. Flat character
3. Round character
4. Static character

Round Character!

Meet Mrs Weasly!

• She’s a mother to 7 children.
• She washes their clothes and takes care of the house.
• She fusses over her children and wants them safe.
• She’s a great cook.
• She’s proud of her children’s achievements.

1. Flat Character
2. Round Character
3. Dynamic Character
4. Protagonist

Flat Character!

Meet Percy Jackson!

• He’s a hero.
• His friends look up to him.
• He goes on a lot of quests.
• It’s up to him to save the world.
• He has to fight monsters.

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1. Antagonist
2. Stereotype
3. Static Character
4. Protagonist

Protagonist!

Meet Snow White!

• She’s sweet and kind.
• She’s good and loving.
• Her Step-mother is cruel to her.
• She helps out some dwarves.
• She almost dies.
• When she awakens, she’s good, sweet, kind and loving.

1. Stereotype
2. Static Character
3. Round Character
4. Dynamic Character

Static Character!

Meet Anakin/Darth Vader

• He was a precocious boy who had the “force” in him.
• He fought with the Jedi’s for good.
• Because of jealousy and fear, he went over to “the Dark Side”
• He sacrifices his own life to save his son’s life.

1. Static Character
2. Stereotype
3. Flat Character
4. Dynamic Character

Dynamic Character!