Character Flashcards
Character
A person depicted in a narrative.
Protagonist
The main character in a work, often a hero or heroine, but not always.
Antagonist
A character in the story or play who opposes the protagonist.
Coming of age story
Bildungsroman
Buldungsroman
A novel that explores the maturation of the protagonist, with the narrative usually moving the main character from childhood into adulthood.
Epiphany
An “aha” moment. The moment a character is suddenly struck with a life changing realization which changes the rest of the story.
Round Character
A character who exhibits a range of motions and who evolves over the course of the story.
Flat Character
A character embodying only one or two traits who lacks character. Also called a static character.
Foil
A contracting character who allows the protagonist to stand out more distinctly.
Stock Character
A type of flat character based on stereotype, one who falls into animate recognizable category or type.
Direct Characterization
A narrator tells the reader who a character is by describing the background, motivation, temperament, or appearance of a character.
Indirect Characterization
An author shows rather than tell us what a character is like.
