a character who has many sides over the course of a story is known as a

What are the main characters of a story called?

Every story must have main characters. These are the characters that will have the greatest effect on the plot or are the most affected by what happens in the story. There are many ways to categorize main characters: protagonist or antagonist, dynamic or static character, and round or flat characters.

How do other characters develop over the course of a story?

Other characters develop over the course of a story, starting out one way and ending up different, becoming changed by what happens to them. Or you might only see one side of the character for a while but at some point, another side is revealed, proving the character to be more complex.

What is a flat character in a story?

The Role of the Flat Character in a Story. One-dimensional characters are also known as flat characters or characters in fictional stories that do not change much from the start of the story to the end.

What is character in literature?

Character can be defined as any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work. There are many types of characters that exist in literature, each with its own development and function. Are you a student or a teacher?

What are side characters in a story called?

What Are Supporting Characters? A supporting character is a person who plays a role in the life of a story's protagonist. Novelists and screenwriters don't anchor a story around supporting characters, but they use them in the process of worldbuilding to create a compelling backdrop to the main character's story arc.

What's a tertiary character?

Tertiary characters: Tertiary characters populate the world of the story but do not necessarily link to the main storyline. These minor characters serve any number of functions and may have varying degrees of personal dynamism.

What is a foil character?

In literature, authors will sometimes highlight certain aspects of a character's personality by using a foil: a supporting character who has a contrasting personality and set of values. Putting the foil and main character in close proximity helps draw readers' attention to the latter's attributes.

What is a protagonist character?

Definition of protagonist 1a(1) : the principal character in a literary work (such as a drama or story) (2) : the leading actor or principal character in a television show, movie, book, etc. b : an active participant in an event. 2 : a leader, proponent, or supporter of a cause : champion.

What is a tritagonist?

Definition of tritagonist : the actor taking the part of third importance in a play (as in the ancient Greek theater) — compare deuteragonist, protagonist.

What is secondary character?

So, what are secondary characters? They are those in our stories who play a significant role, and appear in multiple scenes, but who are not the main focus of the primary plot. These supporting characters may be the focal point of their own subplots and so they are integral to the story as a whole.

What is a stock character in a story?

stock character, a character in a drama or fiction that represents a type and that is recognizable as belonging to a certain genre. Related Topics: theatrical production. See all related content → Most of the characters in the commedia dell'arte, such as Columbine and Harlequin, are stock characters.

Who is a static character?

a literary or dramatic character who undergoes little or no inner change; a character who does not grow or develop.

What is a flat character?

A flat character is a character with little to no complex emotions, motivations, or personality. They also don't undergo any kind of change to make them more well-rounded. In other words, they're the opposite of a "round character," who has a fully fleshed out profile and changes throughout the story.

What is antagonist in a story?

antagonist, in literature, the principal opponent or foil of the main character, who is referred to as the protagonist, in a drama or narrative. The word is from the Greek antagnistḗs, “opponent or rival.”

What is protagonist and antagonist?

What is the difference between an antagonist and a protagonist? In literature, a protagonist is the main character of the story. They may be the good guy, but sometimes they are evil. The antagonist, in contrast, works against this main character to stop them from reaching their goal.

What is a protagonist or antagonist?

The protagonist works toward the central story goals, while the antagonist works against the goals. The words “protagonist” and “antagonist” are antonyms. In storytelling terms, this means that protagonists and antagonists are opposing forces in a story.

What is a character in a story?

Lesson Summary. A character is any person, animal, or figure represented in a literary work. Characters are essential to a good story, and it is the main characters that have the greatest effect on the plot or are the most affected by the events of the story.

What is character in literature?

Definition of Character in Literature. All stories must have certain characteristics or elements. Without these elements, any piece of literature would cease to make sense or serve a purpose. For example, stories must have a plot, or events that take place. Another essential story element is the character.

Why is Tris a dynamic character?

In the Divergent series, Tris is a dynamic character because she changes from a shy, weak girl into a strong, confident woman. Tobias, who later becomes Tris' boyfriend, is also a dynamic character.

What is the protagonist in a story?

Nearly every story has at least one protagonist. A protagonist is a main character who generates the action of a story and engages the reader's interest and empathy. The protagonist is often the hero or heroine. For example, in the popular Divergent trilogy, the protagonist is Tris.

How to tell if a character is static or dynamic?

To help determine if a character is static or dynamic, write out a list of traits the character displays in their first scene, and the traits they display in their final scene. In his first scene, Luke is complaining, naive, and curious about the galaxy.

What is the purpose of characters?

The general purpose of characters is to extend the plot. Many stories employ multiple types of characters. Every story must have main characters. These are the characters that will have the greatest effect on the plot or are the most affected by what happens in the story.

What is character development?

Character development refers to how developed and complex a character is. Some characters start out as highly developed. For example, if we know something about how a character walks and talks, what she thinks, who she associates with, and what kind of secrets she has, she is naturally more complex and developed.

Who categorized the characters in a work of fiction?

These archetypes have been categorized by Swiss psychologist Carl Jung, the American literary theorist Joseph Campbell, and generations of authors, screenwriters, and storytellers. Here are the 12 commonly discussed character archetypes:

How many character types are there in a story?

If we categorize character types by the role they play in a narrative, we can hone in on seven distinct varieties: the protagonist, the antagonist, the love interest, the confidant, deuteragonists, tertiary characters, and the foil. Protagonist: The main character of the story is the protagonist. They should be carefully crafted with ...

How to categorize characters?

There are three ways to categorize character types. One is via archetypes—broad descriptions of the different types of characters that populate human storytelling. Another way is to group characters by the role they play over the course of the story. The third method is to group characters by quality, spelling out the way they change or stay ...

How to classify characters?

One way to classify characters is by examining how they change (or don’t change) over the course of a story. Grouped in this way by character development, character types include the dynamic character, the round character, the static character, the stock character, and the symbolic character. Dynamic character: A dynamic character is one who ...

What is a foil character?

Foil: A foil character primarily exists to bring the protagonist’s qualities into sharper relief.

What is an anti hero?

Anti-heroes are villainous people who function in a protagonist’s role. Love interest: The love interest is the protagonist’s object of desire. A good love interest will be compelling and three-dimensional, like Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby or Rhett Butler in Gone With the Wind.

What are the strengths of the creator?

The Creator: a motivated visionary who creates art or structures during the narrative. Their strengths include creativity, willpower, and conviction. Their weaknesses include self-involvement, single-mindedness, and lack of practical skills. Famous creators include Zeus, Dr. Emmett Brown, and Dr. Moreau.

Why are round characters called major characters?

Round characters are also known as “main characters,” or “major characters,” because they are suitable to surprise the readers in a very convincing manner. Major characters must be round characters to be believable.

What is a round character?

Definition of Round Character. A round character in a novel, play, or story is a complex personality. Like real people, they have depth in feelings and passions. For instance, in the movie “Shrek,” the main character says “‘ Ogres are like onions ,” which means that, what appears to them is not the only truth.

Why do authors develop round characters?

In play writing and fiction writing, authors develop round characters to make their stories more believable and effective. These characters bring surprise to the readers’ expectations by undergoing a significant metamorphosis at the end of a narrative – as compared to what they were in the initial phases. Hence, due to this development, the audience can relate their own lives to this transformed character. By the end, after developing new traits, a round character also demonstrates new facets of human behavior.

What are some examples of round characters?

Example #3: Hamlet, Hamlet (by William Shakespeare) Yet another great example of a round character is Hamlet. He is a complex, enigmatic, and mysterious character that is knowledgeable, philosophical, intelligent, and thoughtful by nature. Hamlet makes hasty decisions, yet he delays his revenge. His contemplative nature also becomes his tragic ...

Why is Gatsby a tragic hero?

Gatsby is a tragic hero with a fatal flaw – that of obsession over his beloved Daisy. He is a man of great mystery, because no one knows his whereabouts, or how he becomes rich. Readers learn about his different sides and different traits.

What is the role of a character in a story?

Their role is often to highlight the main character, and they typically hold a simple and small perspective about life or the situation in the story. Their character is often a stereotype and may simply be used as a literary device to keep the narrative moving.

What are some examples of one-dimensional characters?

A one-dimensional character can be summed up in a certain trait or characteristic. In All Quiet on the Western Front, for example, Paul Bäumer's high school teacher, Kantorek, maintains the role of a one-dimensional character, because he maintains a sense of idealistic patriotism despite his encounters with war atrocities. Additional one-dimension characters from famous books and plays include: 1 Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare) 2 Elizabeth Proctor from The Crucible (By Arthur Miller) 3 Gertrude from Hamlet (William Shakespeare) 4 Miss Maudie from To Kill a Mockingbird (By Harper Lee)

How to keep characters well rounded?

Allow characters to hold strong opinions. Giving characters a mix of relatable features, such as positive traits, along with character flaws, like mistakes and fears, will keep them well-rounded. Share the motivations and desires of the characters through their thoughts, actions, and obstacles, such as other characters.

Why is it important to have strong character development?

With that said, it's important to have strong character development overall to create rounded characters that have some depth to them. This helps characters imitate being a real human being. Being able to relate to characters in this way, as a reader, makes them far more interesting and realistic.

How to avoid writing one dimension characters?

How to Avoid Writing One-dimension Characters in a Story. Characters that lack internal conflict or multiple facets to their personality are often dubbed as flat or one- dimensional characters. This is often seen as a bad thing in a story, especially for first-time writers, when all of the characters are one-dimensional.

What is the role of flat characters?

The Role of the Flat Character in a Story. One-dimensional characters are also known as flat characters or characters in fictional stories that do not change much from the start of the story to the end. It is thought that these type of characters have little to no emotional depth. Their role is often to highlight the main character, ...

Who are the characters in the one dimension?

Additional one-dimension characters from famous books and plays include: Benvolio from Romeo and Juliet (By William Shakespeare) Elizabeth Proctor from The Crucible (By Arthur Miller) Gertrude from Hamlet (William Shakespeare) Miss Maudie from To Kill a Mockingbird (By Harper Lee)