Please consider supporting the following organizations to help fight for peace and freedom. In the course of your narrative journey, these changes should come about subtly and naturally. These expected traits make them more of a flat character than a round character as these characters are often one-dimensional and don't develop. Like the villain, this is an opposite of the protagonist, highlighting his strengths. This makes him or her trying to keep superficial relationships. This is the character whos not exactly in the spotlight, but pretty close to it. They often work for the solutions to create a win-win situation. Be careful not to make the villain bad just because hes the bad guy. Sure, she was there for all the dramatic moments, a foil to Daisy, but she remained unchanged. Whether you're working on a story, an essay, or an article, here's how to write better with these 5 tips. These are people your main character encounters, like the repairman, a clerk, a teller, a waiter, or someone he sits next to on a bus. He* is your focus, the person you want readers to invest in and care about. Having an in-depth knowledge of the types mentioned above is crucial to writing an interesting fiction story. This clash highlights the MCs defining attributes, giving us a better picture of who they truly are. Most novels contain romance in one form or another. I want to receive exclusive email updates from YourDictionary. This type of character in whom the main character can trust on and it ultimately helps develop his heroic characteristics. These may also overlap, though less so than the roles. All of them have a role to play in driving the story, regardless of how large or small that role is. No protagonist, no story, so develop this character first. Thank you!! This is the character which contributes the most in making the story interesting and keeps the reader confused about the persons actual nature. This type of character acts subtly and changes in the face of conflict. As with your main character, a too perfect love interest will fall flat and come off unrealistic. Every story has this type of character and evolves around it. They dont see themselves as bad. With these basic building blocks and some wonderful writing, any story can be the next bestseller. This ones pretty self-explanatory: a dynamic character is one who changes over the course of story.
Keep reading. However, a well-rounded story still requires a few tertiaries. Third in importance behind the protagonist and the sidekick, this character is usually an instigator, causing trouble for the protagonist and giving him plenty of opportunity to shine. They see themselves as justified. It is the main character or the hero and is also called the protagonist. This contrast provides the reader with a better understanding of each character. Picking up a book is a great way to meet new people. Her appearance is like that of a typical teacher with a conventional style of talking and has stereotypical manners. Next time you watch a Netflix series or read a novel, try identifying the different types of characters in the story. This is the villain, the character who opposes and undermines your protagonist. Lets quickly touch on the second major category of character types. Theyre often seen in the company of the protagonist giving advice, plotting against their rivals, and generally lending a helping hand. So be careful not to make clichs of them. With this wide-ranging arsenal of character types at your disposal, your story might just be the stuff of legends (or bestseller lists). This character doesnt have strong characteristics or doesnt reveal much about the self. youre going to need certain types of characters, 12 characters featured in almost all stories #writingtips, so its not just about the heros journey.
They're clichd or stereotypical. Static examples: Mr Collins, Miss Havisham, Harry and Zinnia Wormwood (Matildas parents), Sherlock Holmes (a rare static protagonist), Karen Smith. However, if the MC is kind and selfless and their foil is extremely self-serving, theyre probably not going to get along. Beyond that, Tom was particularly unlikeable because he was cheating on Daisy, but wouldn't let her be with the love of her life - Gatsby. Have fun meeting new people along the way. All rights reserved. It also stays static throughout the story and feels the gap in the storyline. I'll be sure to reference it when I start planning my next novel. A Classification of Character Types in Literature, Works Cited, References, and Bibliography. For example, a dynamic figurecreates a compelling arc for readers to follow, and a symbolic one represents some underlying theme or moral. For example, if the MC is introverted, their foil might be super extroverted, but that wouldnt necessarily preclude the two of them from becoming friends. Of course, not all secondary figures are friends some are arch-enemies but even these less-friendly deuteragonists still lend depth to a story. Regardless of the intensity or the length of their role, they have a place in the story. The main villain in the Harry Potter series, i.e. Do you know how many characters types are there in literature? This doesnt refer to their temperament, such as being nice or mean, but rather their nature within the story, such as being dynamic or static. In contrast to a dynamic character, a static character does not change over time. Now go put them to use if you havent already! If you're writing in the first person and choosing to tell your story through a narrator, that will typically become your protagonist. I got a 100% on my project because of this. But most often, the sidekick is a friend who supports the protagonist, offering advice, adding depth to the story. The antagonist might be their foil. Carl Gustav Jung, a psychologist, has prepared a character archetypes list of 12 basic types responsible for the human motivation for all type of activities. This is someone with a complex personality. This Will Help You Develop Characters, Your Ultimate Guide to Character Development: 9 Steps to Creating Memorable Heroes, Character Motivation: How to Craft Realistic Characters, 12 Character Archetypes You Can Use to Create Heroes Your Reader Will Love, potentially heroic qualities that emerge in the climax, Jack Ryan and Marko Ramius in Tom Clancys, have a realistic and sympathetic backstory, force the protagonist to make difficult choices, President Coriolanus Snow in Suzanne Collinss, Professor James Moriarty in many of Arthur Conan Doyles Sherlock Holmes mysteries, Dr. John Watson in Sir Arthur Conan Doyles, Princess Leia and Han Solo in George Lucass, Albus Dumbledore and Hermione in J.K. Rowlings, Parvati and Padma Patil in J.K. Rowlings, Effie Trinket to Katniss Everdeen in Suzanne Collinss, Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter in J.K. Rowlings, Dr. John Watson to Sherlock Holmes in Sir Arthur Conan Doyles. Yes! But, have you ever read a book where the main character was lacking in sound moral judgment?
Now I can use something like this before writing my fanfictions. In fiction, when there is a protagonist or a main character who plays a role of a hero who takes the stand for the good and truth, the antagonist plays against this heroic character and tries to stop him by posing threats to his and others lives. Typically, we imagine our main characters to be admirable. They are radical and outrageous and bring revolution to overturn the system that is not working. Stock examples (that are effectively embellished or spun): Scout Finch (the child), Nick Bottom (the fool), Haymitch Abernathy (the mentor). Though these two often have an antagonistic relationship, the foil is not usually the primary antagonist. Youll recognize a love interest by the protagonists strong reaction to them, though that reaction can vary widely. Great stories have exciting twists, relatable characters, vivid descriptions, and lasting effects.
Then on the other hand, theres the static character the one who doesnt change. Maybe you'll look up to them, as in a brave and intelligent protagonist. So when planning a character, you might start out with a stock, but you have to embellish and add other unique elements to give them depth. For example, if the protagonist is loyal, brave, and morally sound, each of those qualities will be augmented every time we read more about the foil character who's disloyal, cowardly, and selfish. Let's take a look at the types of characters in fiction. AWESOME!now i actually know what im doing when i plan my stories! Click here to download my character worksheet. Protagonists are often heroic, like Katniss, but they don't have to be. Worry no more! This love interest is typically a deuteragonist, but not exclusively (hence why this separate category). If you cant make your college assignment in time you can get professional assistance from any service weve chosen for you. They fit perfectly in this type as per the round character literary definition. 
The confidante is an essential tool through whom your protagonists thoughts and feelings are revealed. 
This type must also be used sparingly or at least subtly, so the reader doesnt feel like the symbolism is too heavy-handed. Perhaps they're people we'd love to know in the "real world." Neville Longbottom is the best example of a dynamic character who converts himself from a simple student of the school to a leader of the students and leads the students in a fight against the evil character Lord Voldemort. Often, this is the person that stands in the way of - antagonizes - whatever the main character is trying to achieve. Some of the great examples of the characters of this type are Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley in the Harry Potter series. We must also choose how to convey the topic to the reader. In this novel, F. Scott Fitzgerald made Nick the narrator, even though Gatsby was the protagonist. Have you ever encountered a character with a difficult mother or spouse? When you think of a flat character, you'll immediately perceive one characteristic and that will, essentially, define who they are. And as they color outside the lines, they, too, will have to face some type of conflict. It also helps a protagonist see the problems in a different way by bringing out another side of him. (*I use the pronoun he inclusively to represent both genders, male and female.*). They are: The hero:We have already discussed this type of character. Remember, you may only use one or two types of characters from this list. Foil examples: Draco Malfoy, Effie Trinket, Lydia Bennet, George and Lennie, Kirk and Spock. Perhaps this is someone like the main character's father or mentor. Note that a fiction story doesnt necessarily have to focus only on one hero character. Make him a worthy foe by giving him realistic, believable motives. what we called that character? The protagonist is likely a pretty familiar concept for most of us: this is the main character, the big cheese, the star of the show. An intense evil or villain character makes a hero or the main character more important and ideal that makes the story stronger and more interesting. However, he's more than that. The protagonist should be easy, but some others can be a fun challenge. If they come out the other side, they've typically grown or evolved in some way. How do they overlap? Find out here. So, while he may be self-serving, he's also capable of friendship and kind acts. As we mentioned earlier, a symbolic character is used to represent something larger and more important than themselves, which usually ties into the overall message of the book or series. Affect is usually a verb that means to create a change in something, while effect is usually a noun that describes a change that is caused by something. (We certainly couldnt blame you. Characters like Jack and Lestat are antiheroes. Other instances include the seductive femme fatale such as Poison Ivy, or the buttoned-up school teacher like Professor McGonagall. (Even Indiana Jones was afraid of snakes.). Tom is a "rough and gruff" kind of guy while Gatsby is more sensitive and quiet. They say it takes all kinds to make the world go round and the same is true of stories. Many stories have more than one protagonist or hero who help each other and plays equal roles until the end. A foil character is someone whose personality and values fundamentally clash with the protagonists. But, he couldn't have her because she was married to Tom Buchanan. The caregiver:As the term suggests, this type of character is caring and helps others. As you probably know, the most important role in any story is the protagonist (which well discuss below). 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meetthem. Examples of Narration: 3 Main Types in Literature. A flat character is the opposite of the round character. This character develops itself and rather becomes complex as the story progresses as he or she doesnt stick to the limited qualities. Resist the temptation to create a perfect lead character. Note that an antagonist doesnt always need to be a person or a group of people working to ensure the misery of the protagonist. They stand in opposition to one another.
Take Albus Dumbledore: he might seem like a pretty stock mentor in his wizened appearance and sage manner. These types tend to define narrative purpose in a story. These static figures tend to be unlikable, such as Cinderellas stepsisters and Harry Potters aunt and uncle their ignorance to how theyre mistreating our hero makes them people we love to hate, and boosts our sympathy for the protagonist. The protagonist often raises from nothing or comes out as a strong person after being a victim of a destructive event. Thank you so much. Take this free assessment now and learn to unlock your true potential: Wait! The lover:This character loves to be in the relationship and love the people, situations and work around him or her. This type of character is the life of a plot along with the main character and keeps readers interested by posing the questions and making them curious about what will happen next. Reedsy is more than just a blog. However, his lighthearted wisecracks and weaknesses shown later in the series demonstrate that, while he may be based on a well-worn archetype, hes a fully-fledged character in his own right. and Every single story has to have a protagonist, no matter what. You can call this character a main or major character or also a dynamic character due to the changes and development in the personality. This doesnt necessarily mean theyre a good person indeed, many of the best round characters are deeply flawed. The innocent:This type of person tries to be happy by being non-harmful to others and expecting the same from them. Become a member today to discover how we can help you publish a beautiful book. But behind your favorite story is a strong structure, made up of the essential elements of storytelling: plot, character, setting, theme, point of view, and tone. Their presence and close relationship to the protagonist gives the story warmth and heart, so its not just about the heros journey, but about the friends they make along the way (awww). Still, 95% of the time, the protag is the hero and the antag is the villain. We all have them in real life, after all the barista you only see once a week, the random guy you sit next to in class so any realistic fictional story should include them too. They flit in and out of the MCs life, perhaps only appearing in one or two scenes throughout the book.