Character Flashcards
Character
A person depicted in a narrative. While this term generally refers to a human beings, it can also include animals or inanimate objects that are given human characteristics. Several more specific terms are used to refer to types of characters frequently employed by author.
Protagonist
the character who drives the action–the character whose fate matters most. In other words, they are involved in —and often central to—the plot or conflict of the story, but are also usually the emotional heart of the narrative.
Antagonist
A character in a story or play who opposes the protagonist; while not necessarily an enemy, the antagonist creates or intensifies a conflict for the protagonist. An evil antagonist is a villain.
Coming-of-age story
A coming of age story, also called a Bildungsroman, is all about the protagonist’s journey from being a child to being an adult. It is a journey that takes a young person from naïve to wise, from idealist to realist, and from immature to mature
Bildungsroman
class of novel that depicts and explores the manner in which the protagonist develops morally and psychologically. The German word Bildungsroman means “novel of education” or “novel of formation.”
Epiphany
a usually sudden manifestation or perception of the essential nature or meaning of something
Round Characters
A round character refers to a character in a fictional work with depth or a complex personality. This character type seems lifelike to readers because they learn many details about them, such as their history, thoughts, emotions and personality traits
Flat Characters
A character embodying only one or two traits and who lacks character development; for this reason, a flat character is also called a static character. Often such characters exist only to provide background or adequate motivation for a protagonist.
Stock Characters
A stock character, also known as a character archetype, is a type of character in a narrative (e.g. a novel, play, television show, or film) whom audiences recognize across many narratives or as part of a storytelling tradition or convention.
Direct Characterization
Direct characterization happens when the author explicitly tells the reader what he or she wants us to learn about the character. Indirect characterization occurs when the author shows the reader parts of the character that helps them understand the character’s personality and the effect they have on other characters
Indirect Characterization
Indirect characterization is a type of literary device that reveals details about a character without stating them explicitly. Instead of describing a character in a straightforward way, the author shows their traits through that character’s actions, speech, thoughts, appearance, and how other characters react to them.
