Character Flashcards
What is character?
A person depicted in a narrative.
What is a protagonist?
The main character in a work, often a hero or heroine but not always.
What is an antagonist?
A character in a story who opposes the protagonist. Not necessarily an enemy, but creates or intensifies a conflict for the protagonist.
What is a coming of age story?
A novel that explores the maturation of the protagonist, with the narrative usually moving the main character from childhood into adulthood.
What is an epiphany?
The moment when a character is suddenly struck with a life-changing realization which changes the rest of the story.
What is a round character?
A character who exhibits a range of emotions and who evolves over the course of the story.
What is a flat character?
A character embodying only one or two traits and who lacks character development. Often only exists to provide background.
What is a foil?
A contrasting character who allows the protagonist to stand out more distinctly.
What is a stock character?
A type of flat character based on a stereotype; One who falls into an immediately recognizable category or type and thus resists unique characterization.
What is direct characterization?
A narrator tells the reader who a character is by describing the background motivation, temperament, or appearance of a character.
What is indirect characterization?
An author shows rather than tells us what a character is like through what the character says, does, or thinks or through what others say about the character.
