Types of Characters

Definitions

100

A character who is the main character of the story. The conflict happens to him/her/it.

The protagonist

200

The character who causes the conflict.

The antagonist.

300

A character who does NOT CHANGE throughout the story.

Static character

400

A character that has many different personality traits. The audience sees more than one side of them throughout the story.

Round Character

500

A character whose personality traits CONTRAST to that of another character. You might say they are opposites.

Foil character

That's a trait!

100

If a character finds a baby bird on the sidewalk and places it back in its nest, what is a trait that character possesses?

Caring, kind, nice, environmentally aware, etc. (answers may vary- but should be similar to those listed)

200

If a character constantly teases and pesters his older brother after school, what is a trait the character possesses?

Mean-spirited, annoying, childish (answers may vary- but should be similar to those listed)

300

If a character is constantly reading and trying to answer life's big questions, what is a trait she might possess?

curious, intelligent, bibliophile, eager, excited (answers may vary- but should be similar to those listed)

400

If a character continues trying to get on the high school baseball team even though they didn't make it their first two times they are...

resilient (answers may vary- but should be similar to those listed)

500

If a character goes around school instructing everyone the best ways to do things and bragging about her own skills, what are two traits that her FOIL would possess?

humble, meek, quiet, selfless (answers will vary)

This or That?

100

A man is serious all day at work and no-nonsense with his customers. He goes home and is laid-back and fun-loving with his kids. Round or Flat? Why?

Round. We see more than one side of him.

200

An art teacher is imaginative and creative with her students all day at school, only to go home and continue to create beautiful masterpieces from her imagination all night. Round or flat? Why?

Flat because we only see the one side of her-- the creative side.

300

What general/stock category might characters like Dumbledore, Gandalf, and Yoda fall into?

mentor or wise old man

400

At the beginning of a story, a boy is friendly to his classmates and eager to make friends. By the end of the story, he has made many friends, but suddenly starts being more bossy and rude to them. Is the boy dynamic or static? Why?

Dynamic because he changes from friendly to rude.

500

At the beginning of a story, a puppy is loveable and cute and playful and energetic. As an adult dog, he never loses his sense of playfulness. Is the puppy dynamic of static?

Static because he does not change. He is always playful.

Example City

100

What point of view is this passage? HOW DO YOU KNOW? After dropping her son off at school, Sara sat at a traffic light and waited. She was on her way to her office job as a secretary in a law office. It was mainly paperwork with very little time to interact with other people, but Sara had gotten used to that.

Third person point of view.

200

Give an example of a flat character in literature.

Answers will vary. Should be a character that only has one personality trait.

300

Give two examples of dynamic characters from literature.

Answers will vary. Should be characters who change.

400

What point of view is this passage? HOW DO YOU KNOW? Before each practice begins, make sure you check the court and remove any debris from the playing surface. When your players arrive, check that they have the proper footwear and that they’ve removed any jewelry, which could injure the player wearing the jewelry or another player.

Second person point of view

500

What point of view is this passage? HOW DO YOU KNOW? Marilla’s lips twitched understandingly. She had expected Mrs. Rachel to say this; she had known that the sight of Matthew jaunting off so unaccountably would be too much for her neighbor’s curiosity. If Marilla had said that Matthew had gone to Bright River to meet a kangaroo from Australia Mrs. Rachel could not have been more astonished.

Third person point of view