Character in literature refers to the individuals who populate a story, bringing it to life through their actions, thoughts, dialogue, and relationships. Characters are the central elements of a narrative, and their development, personalities, and experiences contribute to the themes and messages the author aims to convey.
Most writers understand how to categorize their characters based on classic, “comic book-style” labels: heroes, villains, sidekicks, etc. But in the ever-intricate realm of stories, there are many more nuanced types to consider. In this post, we will explore 12 different types of characters, divided by their role in a story, and by their quality.
Characters are an essential part to any literary work. They make the story possible, and, the way in which the characters are built, can help to bring the story to life. In this video, we will take a look at the definition of a character (within literature), and then we will look at character development and the different types of characters.
In a story, a character is a human, animal, being, creature or an object. In order to execute the acts and deliver dialogues, authors use characters, pushing the story along a plotline. A tale can have only one (protagonist) character and yet be a full story. The conflict of this character may be an internal one (with himself), or a conflict ...
Definition of "Character": Narrative Figure. In literature, movies, and plays, "character" refers to the person, animal, or entity that drives the story. Characters embody themes and move the plot forward, often becoming memorable icons. Definition of "Character": Personal Qualities "Character" also signifies the moral or ethical attributes of ...
Fictional characters are, by definition, imaginary creations. They are invented persons, animals, or beings that appear in narratives such as novels or movie scripts. Although fictional characters are not real, they are usually based on true-to-life traits and mannerisms, which makes them become alive in our minds.
Static characters remain unchanged throughout the story. Their core traits stay consistent, providing stability in a narrative—like Sherlock Holmes, who retains his deductive reasoning skills across stories. On the other hand, dynamic characters undergo significant development.
Function of Character. The main function of a character in a story is to extend or prolong the plot, make it readable and interesting. Many stories use multiple characters, and every story has a main character that affects the plot a great deal. The main character could be a protagonist, an antagonist, a dynamic, a static, a flat, or a round ...
Characters are the focal points of a story. Understanding the different types of characters is crucial for both readers and writers, as it enhances comprehension and storytelling ability. Whether it is a novel, a short story, or a screenplay, characters are the soul that breathes life into the plot and setting.
A literary character is a person, animal, or object/thing presented as a person in a narrative. There are two required elements of a story; the first being characters, the second is the plot or ...
Types of Characters in a Story. Characters come in all shapes, sizes, and personalities. Knowing the various character archetypes is essential to understanding how they interact with the plot and with each other. Below is a breakdown of the most common character types, along with examples to illustrate each one. Protagonist
We often refer to a main character as the “hero” of their story, but when looking at character and story archetypes, a hero is a specific type of headliner. The hero archetype is a noble figure who stands up for those weaker than themself, often sacrificing their own well-being in pursuit of the greater good. These characters are courageous ...
Usually, the protagonist is also a Round character, “a developing three-dimensional character” (Knorr and Schell 165). In other words, the protagonist must be a character that grows and changes during the story; it is the progress of this change that keeps the reader interested and cheering for the character. Archetypes
Characters are the first key element of a story, followed by the plot or the story's events. There must be at least one character in every story, even if most stories feature multiple characters communicating with one another. As they navigate the conflict in the story, the characters play the role of those for whom the events unfold.
Archetypes in a story are characters that represent a fixed set of behaviors and can be found throughout history in all works of fiction. When these behaviors become repetitive, they become stock characters. Looking at this stock character definition, we can see that these types of characters are known to most readers and can help bring a sense ...
Based on this, we can categorize characters into three types according to how often they appear in the story. 1. Main Character. This character type takes up more than two-thirds of the story in scene time and participates in most of the plot events. Protagonists, antagonists, and even deuteragonists—depending on their story arcs—can count ...
Character Definition of Character All memories need sure necessary elements. Without these elements, literary works often fail to make sense. For instance, one among the essential elements of each tale is a plot with a series of activities. Another critical detail is a individual. A person can be any person, a figure, an inanimate object, or ...
There are two major types of characters: static and dynamic. Readers can analyze characters by their appearance, behavior and actions, biography, dialogue, emotions, and thoughts. Two Major Types of Characters: Static. The static character is one who is "flat" and two-dimensional. Such a character is usually recognized by one or two simple traits.
