Character
Protagonist: The character
experiencing the conflict
*NOT the good guy!—Samuel: people in the subway
Antagonist: Source of
protagonist’s conflict or stumbling block for protagonist in resolving conflict;
a person, protagonist, a concept (time), natural forces
*NOT the bad guy: Samuel: boys; Salvation: Aunt, congregation,
Langston; Lesson: Miss Moore
Dynamic: Character has an
inward change as a result of the conflict—perspective, view of life (Salvation;
Lesson)
Static: Character does not change (Armand; Désirée)
Round: We have a “full”
picture of the character’s emotions and intent (Salvation; Lesson)
Flat: We do not feel or
experience the character’s emotions or inner thoughts for more than a few
sentences. (Samuel; Désirée’s Baby)
Methods of
Characterization:
·
Description: Physical
Picture (Miss Moore)
·
Action: What char. does gives us insight into him/her
(Armand)
·
Dialogue: What char. says (or what other characters say
about him/her) gives us insight into him/her (Armand; Miss Moore)
·
Narration: What is told about char. reveals him/her
(Samuel, the man who pulls the brake; Miss Moore)
·
Combo: A complete picture is formed by using a combo (action and
narration: man in Samuel who pulls the
emergency brake).