Characterization Flashcards
Direct
Directly talking about the character as if reading off a list.
Indirect
Casually mixing in characterization points.
Protagonist
The main character in a story. This is also the hero in our story, that is generally fighting the antagonist.
Antagonist
The enemy holding the protagonist back. This is the villain, and works against what the protagonist wants.
Foil
Secondary/minor, and contrast/opposite.
Stereotyped / Stock
Recognizable because of the stereotypes used.
Round
Well-developed, and easily defined. Life-like, and realistic. They can surprise us.
Flat
Not well-developed, and not a lot of defining features. Maybe a little unknown and boring.
Dynamic
Undergoes an important change. They realize something is happening because of the story.
Static
Stays the same, even if something happens. Minor characters, usually.
What does characterization refer to?
Traits
Interactions
Appearance
Knowledge
Actions
Personality
What a character says
Character development and identification
What a character says
What a character does
What others/narrators say about the character
What the character looks like
What is characterization?
Characterization is the time the author takes to tell us about the character. It gets used throughout the story.
Point of view
The perspective from which the story is told.
Effective character development
Consistency, motivation, plausibility, stereotypes, and epiphany.
