Character Types
What is a protagonist?
A protagonist is the main character in a story.
What is a dynamic character?
A dynamic character is a character that undergoes some type of internal change in a story.
Who is a static character in The Black Cat?
A static character in The Black Cat is the wife, because she never changes and stays with the narrator despite his abuse until she is murdered.
What is a topic?
A topic is one or two words describing what a story is about.
What is a topic from the poem Mother to Son by Langston Hughes.
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
Topics from Mother to Son by Langston Hughes may include dedication, perseverance, persistence, hard-work, and/or struggling.
What is an antagonist?
A person or thing going against the protagonist.
Who is the protagonist in The Black Cat?
The protagonist in The Black Cat is the narrator.
Who is a dynamic character in The Black Cat?
A dynamic character in The Black Cat is the narrator because we see him change from a husband who loves his wife and animals to an abusive, alcoholic murdered.
What is a theme?
A theme is the central idea or or an underlying meaning of a literary work. A life lesson the reader can take away from the story.
What is a theme from Mother to Son by Langston Hughes?
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor—
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been a-climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark
Where there ain’t been no light.
So boy, don’t you turn back.
Don’t you set down on the steps
’Cause you finds it’s kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now—
For I’se still goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
A theme of Mother to Son by Langston Hughes could be, "Never give up no matter how hard life gets," "Don't let the world bring you down," or something similar.
What is a flat character?
A flat character is a one-dimensional character we know very little about.
Who is the antagonist in The Black Cat?
The antagonist in The Black Cat can be seen as the cat or the narrator's alcoholism.
Who was the protagonist in Names & Nombres?
Julia was the protagonist in Names & Nombres.
How are themes written?
Themes are written as statements.
What is a topic in Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur?
You are appreciated. When I was young me and my mama had beef Seventeen years old kicked out on the streets Though back at the time, I never thought I'd see her face Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place Suspended from school and scared to go home, I was a fool With the big boys, breakin' all the rules I shed tears with my baby sister Over the years we was poorer than the other little kids And even though we had different daddy's, the same drama When things went wrong we'd blame mama I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell I finally understand for a woman it ain't easy Tryin' to raise a man you always was committed A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how ya did it There's no way I can pay you back But the plan is to show you that I understand you are appreciated Lady, don't cha know we love ya? Sweet lady Dear mama, place no one above ya, sweet lady You are appreciated, don't cha know we love ya?
Topics in Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur could include appreciation and/or unconditional love.
What is a round character?
A round character is a multi-dimensional character with many layers to their personality and one we know a lot about.
Who is a flat character in The Black Cat?
A flat character in The Black Cat is the wife, because we no very little about her other than the fact she is murdered by the narrator and she was his wife.
Who was the protagonist in The Pedestrian?
Leonard Mead was the protagonist in The Pedestrian.
What can help me determine the theme in a story?
To help you determine a theme in a story look at your topic and infer a message you believe the author is trying to convey about that topic.
What is a theme from Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur?
A theme from Dear Mama by Tupac Shakur could be "A mother's love is always unconditional." "Appreciate your mother because she will always have your back no matter what." Or something similar to these themes.
What is a static character?
A round character in The Black Cat is the narrator because we know a lot about him and see multiple sides to his personality, like his initial love for animals and his wife to his struggle with alcoholism and growing abusive.
Who is a static character in The Pedestrian?
Leonard Mead was a static character in The Pedestrian because he never changes and just wants life to be like it was before technology took over.
What was a theme in Names & Nombres?
A theme in Names & Nombres could be, "No matter what other people think or say, it doesn't change who you are." (Answers may vary but should be somewhat similar.)
Read the following poem Harlem by Langston Hughes poem and determine a topic and a theme.
What happens to a dream deferred?
Does it dry up
like a raisin in the sun?
Or fester like a sore—
And then run?
Does it stink like rotten meat?
Or crust and sugar over—
like a syrupy sweet?
Maybe it just sags
like a heavy load.
Or does it explode?
A topic in Harlem could be hopes, dreams, aspirations, and/or consequences.
A theme in Harlem could be "If you don't chase you dreams you may always regret it." If you don't follow your dreams, your life may be filled with regret and sadness." Or something similar.