Characterization Lecture Notes

Definition

• Characterization: Everything a writer does to create, reveal, and develop characters.

Self-Reflection Questions

• Who are you? Hero, villain, comic relief, etc.
• First impressions: Likeable or not?
• Are you deep or superficial? Stuck or evolving?
• Physical appearance and dress code.
• People's opinions about you.

Types of Characters

Protagonist

• Main character, central to the story.
• Often the "good guy" (e.g., Luke Skywalker, Simba, Iron Man).
• Sympathetic Characters: We root for them.

Antagonist

• Opposes the protagonist, often the "bad guy" (e.g., Darth Vader, Cruella deVille).
• Unsympathetic Characters: Characters we dislike or want to see fail.

Complex Main Characters

• Not all stories have clear protagonists/antagonists.
• Fiction can reflect complex real-life personalities.
• Stories might have main and minor characters without clear "good" or "bad" labels.

Foil

• A character that contrasts with the main character to highlight certain traits.
• Example: Han Solo as a foil to Luke Skywalker.

Anti-Hero

• A protagonist with questionable traits but whom we still support (e.g., Batman in "The Dark Knight").

Character Dynamics

Dynamic Characters

• Characters who change throughout the story.
• Example: Luke Skywalker and Simba change as they grow and develop.

Static Characters

• Characters who remain the same throughout the story.
• Example: Scar in "The Lion King" and Hagrid in "Harry Potter".

Flat vs. Round Characters

Flat Characters

• Simple, with limited traits.
• Example: Many Disney characters.

Round Characters

• Complex with depth and conflicting motives.
• Example: Stanley from "Holes", who has a detailed internal reality.

Stereotypes

• Simplistic and often offensive character types.
• Used for minor characters (e.g., town drunk, nagging mother).
• Better writers add depth beyond stereotypes.

Methods of Characterization

Direct Characterization

• The author explicitly tells the reader about a character's traits.

Indirect Characterization

• Traits are revealed through actions, speech, and interactions.

Importance of Characterization

• Essential for engaging storytelling.
• Readers need to care about characters to invest in the story.
• Use characterization terms to analyze and describe story characters.

Real-Life Application

• Characters in stories mirror real life.
• Important to look beyond surface impressions in people.
• Understand you are also a main character in your life story.