Character Flashcards
What is a protagonist?
Main character in a work; often a hero or heroine, but not always.
What is an antagonist?
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.
What is a coming-of-age story/ bildungsroman?
Novel that explores the maturation of the protagonist, with the narrative usually moving the main character from childhood to adulthood.
What is an epiphany?
Moment when a character is suddenly struck with a life-changing realization which changes the rest of the story.
What is a round character?
Character who exhibits a range of emotions and who evolves over the course of the story.
What is a flat character?
Character embodying only one or two traits and who lacks character development; for this reason, flat character is also called a static character. often such characters exist only to provide background or adequate motivation for a protagonist’s actions.
What is a stock character?
Type of flat character based on stereotypes; one who falls into an immediately recognizable category or type - such as the absentminded professor or the town drunk - thus resists unique characterization. Stock characters can be artfully used for humor or satire.
What is direct characterization?
Narrator tells the reader who a character is by describing the background, motivation, temperament, or appearance of a character.
What is indirect characterization?
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.
What is character?
person depicted in a narrative. While this term generally refers to 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 employment by authors.
