Learn the character definition in literature with examples. See character development and different types, such as protagonist, static, and flat characters.
Updated: 11/21/2023
Character in Literature | Definition, Types & Examples
Table of Contents
- What Is a Literary Character?
- Understanding Character Development
- Types of Characters
- Lesson Summary
- FAQs
- Activities
Character Analysis:
In this exercise you will look at the characters of your favorite story (novel, movie, TV show, or game!) in greater depth.
Protagonist and Antagonist:
Beginning:
Which character is the protagonist? Which is the antagonist? For example, if you chose Star Wars, your protagonist would be Luke Skywalker, and your antagonist Darth Vader. If you would like to look at the other characters as well, try to identify stock characters (Jabba the Hutt) along with other protagonists. Supporting main characters are known as deuteragonists and tritagonists (they are often supporting protagonists, but sometimes can be both one of these and antagonists!). In Star Wars, Princess Leia is the deuteragonist, and Han Solo is the tritagonist.
The End:
Next, decide whether your protagonist and antagonist are flat or round characters, and static or dynamic. To continue with Star Wars as an example, Luke is dynamic and round (capable of being both selfish and selfless), and Vader is, in the first film, flat and static, but by the end of the third film, round and dynamic.
If you are not certain whether a character is round or flat, consider whether there are any similarities between the protagonist and antagonist. (The best antagonists are often somewhat similar to protagonists.) Again, in Star Wars Luke and Vader are both determined to learn the ways of the Force.
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. In his final scene, Luke is brave, is no longer naive yet is still idealistic, and has found his place in the galaxy.
The Journey:
Now you know your beginning and your destination. To examine how dynamic character changes from the beginning to end, go through and identify moments that show them changing (hint: usually this happens through a challenge or choice the character faces). Again, for example, Luke loses his naivete when he discovers his father's identity, but affirms his belief in the goodness of people by choosing to reconcile with his father.
What do you mean by literary character?
A literary character is a person, animal, or object/thing that is presented as a person, in a narrative or dramatic piece of work.
What is the literature definition of character?
In literature, a character is a person, animal, or thing/object that is being presented as a person, in a narrative.
What are main literary characters?
Some of the best known characters in literature include:
- Huckleberry Finn (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn)
- Elizabeth Bennet (Pride and Prejudice)
- Sherlock Holmes (The Sherlock Holmes series)
- Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby)
- Dracula (Dracula)
- Charlotte and Wilbur (Charlotte's Web)
And some examples of well-known characters in pop culture are:
- Darth Vader
- Bambi
- Batman
- Tony Soprano (The Sopranos)
- Eleven (Stranger Things)
Table of Contents
- What Is a Literary Character?
- Understanding Character Development
- Types of Characters
- Lesson Summary
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 events of the story.
A story must have at least one character, though most stories will have several characters interacting with one another. The role of the characters is for whom the story's events happen as they experience the story's conflict. The main characters' experience can either be internal or external, for example:
- Internal: The character overcoming grief
- External: Characters in conflict with another or a character surviving a natural disaster
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Examples of Literary Characters
Some of the most well-known stories, movies, and television shows are remembered for their characters. For instance, in To Kill a Mockingbird without the main character, Atticus Finch, the entire story would alter should a different character respond to the story's events differently.
A character's traits, such as their personalities, emotions, and experiences, impact how they respond to what happens, thus determining how the story unfolds. Some of the most notable characters in the literature include the following:
- Huckleberry Finn from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
- Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
- Sherlock Holmes The Sherlock Holmes series
- Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby
- Dracula from Dracula
- Charlotte and Wilber from Charlotte's Web
Furthermore, some examples of well-known characters in pop culture are:
- Darth Vadar
- Bambi
- Batman
- Tony Soprano from The Sopranos
- Eleven from Stranger Things
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The information readers can retrieve from a character in a piece of literature depends upon character development. Character development is how complex a character is presented; how much the author is willing to share with us. Often, this depends on how close a character is to the story's main events; readers may know very little about a character if they do not have a lot to do with the story's events.
For example, suppose a story includes Sarah, a woman traveling to her mother's funeral. Amid her travels, she stops by a cafe where readers are briefly introduced to Rosie, a waitress who takes Sarah's order at a restaurant. In this case, we will likely learn a lot about Sarah but very little about Rosie's character.
Characters can be described in detail early in a narrative, usually with the author telling us specific information about their personalities, in other words, direct characterization. Alternatively, we get to know the character throughout the story, usually by how they respond to encounters with other characters and events, also known as indirect characterization.
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There are several different types of characters that are categorized based upon various factors. These factors may include:
- How close a character is to the events of the story
- How well readers get to know a character
- The relationship of the primary character to others
- Whether or not they undergo a significant change during the narrative
Most often, characters fit into multiple categories at the same time. Different types of characters include:
Protagonist vs. Antagonist Characters
The most common type of character is the protagonist. The protagonist is the main character in the story and is often considered the "good guy"; however that does not always have to be the case. The protagonist will be close to the events of the story causing the conflict to impact them directly.
The reader will closely follow the protagonist's actions and learn a lot about them through the author's description and reaction to primary situational events. Examples of well-known protagonists include:
- Harry Potter
- Tom Sawyer
- Katniss Everdeen
- Cinderella
Additionally, following the protagonist, most stories will also include an antagonist. The antagonist is often a complex character about whom the reader knows a substantial amount. The antagonist of a story can also be a group of people, such as an opposing army, nature or a natural event, or some aspect of the protagonist (an internal conflict like fear, anger, or regret). Examples of well-known antagonists include:
- The Joker
- Captain Ahab
- Dr. Frankenstein
- Darth Vader
Dynamic vs. Static Characters
Another type of character is the dynamic character. A dynamic character undergoes some significant change during the story. This change will often be a lesson learned or a challenge overcome. The events of the narrative noticeably change them, causing their perspective to be altered. Examples of dynamic characters include:
- Huckleberry Finn
- Luke Skywalker
- Jane Eyre
Opposite the dynamic character, a character that does not undergo significant change during a narrative is called a static character. These characters remain the same at the end of the story as they were at the beginning. Static characters can be main characters but are often less pivotal to the story whose role it is to move the events of the narrative along. Examples of static characters include:
- Captain Hook
- Bugs Bunny
- Lord Voldemort
Round vs. Flat Characters
Like dynamic characters, round characters are characters the author describes in detail and whose personalities are described or shown to the reader. Round characters are often also dynamic, but this is not always the case. If the author describes a character's personality in great detail but does not grow, change, or learn a lesson during the narrative, that character is round but static. Examples of dynamic characters include:
- Jay Gatsby from The Great Gatsby
- Holden Caulfield from Catcher in the Rye
- Amir from Kite Runner
If a character is not described in detail, and the author provides just one or two characteristics, that character is called a flat characer. These are simple characters who are usually minor to the plot and help move the story's events along positively or negatively. Examples of flat characters include:
- Tom Buchanan from The Great Gatsby
- Prim Everdeen from The Hunger Games
- Gaston from Beauty and the Beast
Similar to flat characters, stock characters are also used to move a narrative along. These characters are even less defined than static or flat characters are; they do not act as individuals but represent stereotypes. Authors use people's understanding of a "nosy neighbor," "army general," or "kindergarten teacher" to fill those sections of a story.
Other Types of Characters
Other types of characters include:
- Confidant character: A secondary character aligned with the protagonist and whom the protagonist trusts and confides in.
- Foil character: A character who is used to highlight the traits in another character (usually the protagonist) by displaying opposite traits him/herself. Often, but not necessarily, the antagonist.
- Villain: The "bad guy" in the story. Usually, the antagonist is the character who attempts to bring harm or ruin to the protagonist.
- Deuteragonist: This is the second most important character in the story. Often the antagonist, this character may also be a partner to the protagonist. They often directly act as aid or foil to the protagonist.
- Tertiary character: These are minor characters who (each) only appear once in a narrative and work to move a single plot element forward.
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There are two required elements of a story, the primary element being the characters. There are many different character types in literature; each type plays a different role in moving a narrative along. Some of the common types of character include: protagonist, antagonist, dynamic, static, round, and flat.
Individual characters in a narrative can fit into more than one category at a time. The type of character depends on how close they are to the story's events, how detailed the author describes them, and how significantly the events of the story impact them.
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Video Transcript
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. 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.
Character Development & Character Types
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.
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.
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. There are many ways to categorize main characters: protagonist or antagonist, dynamic or static character, and round or flat characters. A character can also often fit into more than one category or move through categories.
Protagonist vs. Antagonist Characters
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. The story is told from her point of view, and she is central to all the action in the plot. The protagonist is usually a well-developed character; in this way, she is more relatable.
The opposite of the protagonist is the antagonist. An antagonist is a character who opposes the protagonist. In that same book series, Tris is opposed both by Eric, a sadistic trainer, and Jeanine Matthews, a cold-hearted, prejudiced scientist. Together, the protagonist or protagonists and antagonist or antagonists move the plot along, create the action, and draw the reader's interest.
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Dynamic vs. Static Characters
The concept of dynamic and static characters is closely tied to character development. A dynamic character is one who goes through some sort of change; they show character development. A protagonist is usually 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. He changes from a hard, cold, and distant person to someone who has weaknesses, shows great love, and ends up fighting for the greater good alongside Tris.
Static characters, on the other hand, are those who do not change throughout the course of the story. They serve to show contrast to dynamic ones, refusing to grow and remaining in one place or mentality. In Divergent, the two antagonists, Eric and Jeannine, remain mean and sadistic throughout the series.
Round vs. Flat Characters
The concept of round and flat characters is also closely tied to character development. Round characters are fully-developed figures in the story. They are more realistic and complex and show a true depth of personality. They require more attention by the reader; they can make surprise decisions or puzzling ones. Many factors can affect round characters, and they react to those factors realistically. In Divergent, Tobias proves himself to be a round character. As his past abuse by his father and his ostracism and loneliness from being divergent are revealed, we begin to see a much deeper side to him.
On the other hand, flat characters are those who don't develop or change throughout the course of the story. These characters are uncomplicated and one-dimensional, having only one or two obvious qualities or characteristics. For example, Neville in the Harry Potter series is the clumsy counterpart to Harry. He messes up his magic, gets bitten by books with teeth, and gets pushed around. For the most part, Neville's antics are silly and mainly serve to provide some comic relief.
Some characters start out as flat, but develop throughout the story, which can propel the story along. At the end of Harry Potter, Neville begins to show signs of being a strong leader in his own right and ends up playing a crucial role in Harry defeating the evil Lord Voldemort. When he does this, he changes from being a flat character to a round character. This type of character development throughout a piece of literature often provides intrigue and can draw the reader into the story.
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One subcategory of the flat character is the stock character. A stock character is a representation of some sort of stereotype. Stock characters are usually predictable and exist to serve a specific purpose. A good example would be Cinderella's stepsisters; they don't change, are not fully developed, and do not draw empathy from the reader. Their purpose is to highlight Cinderella's goodness and beauty and to serve as an obstacle to her happiness.
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.
The different types of characters include protagonists, antagonists, dynamic, static, round, flat, and stock. They can both fit into more than one category and change from one category to another throughout the course of a story. The more rounded or fully-developed the character is, the more the reader will empathize with the character, and the more realistic the story will appear.
Literary Character Definition & Vocabulary
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- Character: A person, animal, or figure represented in a piece of literature.
- Character development: Character development is how complex and developed a character is.
- Protagonist: The main character who generates the action of a story and engages interest and empathy.
- Antagonist: The character who opposes the protagonist.
- Dynamic character: A character who goes through some sort of change.
- Static character: A character who does not change throughout the course of the story.
- Round character: A character who is a fully-developed figure.
- Flat character: A character who does not develop or change throughout the story.
- Stock character: A character who is a representation of some sort of stereotype.
Learning Outcome
Your goal, as you finish the lesson, should be to:
- Define character
- Explain character development
- Differentiate between the different character types
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