Characterisation Essay

Main spirit The character that plays the biggest role in the plot of the story. Major character Characters that play a big role in the story. venial character Characters that play a minor role in the story.Round characters Round characters are like real people. They have complex, multi-dimensional personalities. They are capable of maturement and changing. They are often, but not always, major characters.Flat characters They have one-dimensional personalities. They represent or portray one particular characteristic. They are a type, e.g. the prehensile lover, the fool or the grumpy, old man. They are often, but not always, minor characters.Dynamic characters They change as a result of their experiences.Static characters They do not learn from their experiences, and, thus, remain unchanged.How does the author convey character? 1. Telling The narrator tells how the character is, feels, thinks, etc. 2. Showing The character reveals his or her personality through what the character s ays and does. 3. Setting The author might use the setting (time and place) to say something about the character, e.g. about the characters emotions or feelings. 4. Comparison to other characters It might be useful to analyse how the character relate to the other characters in the story, e.g. if there are characters that are in opposition to, or different from, the character in question. 5. Appearance The characters clothes, looks and general appearance can often tell us something about the characters personality.Questions to ask when analysing characters 1. Is the character a main, major or minor character? 2. Is it a round or a flat character? 3. Is it a dynamic or a static character? 4. Does the author reveal the character through showing or telling, or both? 5. What does the way the character speaks reveal about his character? 6. What does his demeanour reveal about his character?7. Is she similar or different from other characters in the story? How does she relate to the other characters? 8. Has the setting shaped the characters personality? 9. Does the setting reflect the characters mood or emotional state?