Whitney Institute Middle School

Narrative Writing - Features of Fiction: Character Types

Notes should be copied into your ELA Notebook.

Thursday, October 7th - Features of Fiction: Character Types

Character Types:

• Protagonist - The main character in a story. Makes key decisions that affect the plot and propels it forward. Usually a "good guy", but not always. (eg. Simba, The Lion King)
• Antagonist - The primary character that opposes the main character. An adversary. Usually seen as the "bad guy", but may not actually be bad. (eg. Scar, The Lion King)
• Major - A character that is important to the story's plot and/or theme. Often changes throughout the story. (eg. Buzz & Woody, Toy Story)
• Minor - A character that exists to support the storylnie. They do not change, and appear on the sidelines. (eg. Wheezy, Toy Story)
• Dynamic - A character that changes and evolves throughout the story. It can be for the better or the worse. (eg. Shrek)
• Static - A character that stays the same throughout the story. Who they were at the beginning is exactly who they are at the end. (eg. Gingy, Shrek)
• Flat - There is little to this character - they have no complex emotions or personality variations. We often know little else about them, as well. (eg. Olaf, Frozen)
• Round - There is a lot to these characters - we see them in their good and bad moments, and how they evolve and change. (eg. Elsa, Frozen)
• Foil - A character whose purpose is to accentuate or draw attention to the qualities of another character, usually the protaganist. (eg. Nick Wilde for Lt. Judy Hopps, Zootopia)
• Confidant - A trusted friend to the protagonist that serves as a sounding board - they listen to their inner thoughts, examine their character and advise them. Can be an authority figure or even a servant. (eg. Alfred for Bruce Wayne, Batman)
• Tragic Hero - A protagonist, usually of great or virtuous character, who is destine for suffering or defeat. (eg. Tadashi Hamada, Big Hero 6)
• Anti-Hero - A protagonist who lacks conventional heroic attributes. They are often a mix of hero and villain and are typically very complex characters. (eg. Deadpool)
• Stock Character - These are sterotypical characters that audiences recognize as a part of a specific genre. They are typically flat, static, minor characters, but not always. Examples:
  • Perpetual soldier (eg. Toy Soldiers, Toy Story)
  • Boy next door (eg. Luke Skywalker, Star Wars)
  • Con artist (eg. Mundungus Fletcher & Gilderoy Lockhart, Harry Potteri)
  • Dumb blonde (eg. Bubbles, The Powerpuff Girls, and Johnn Bravo)
  • Mad scientist (eg. Dr. Heinz Doofenshmirtz, Phineas & Ferb)
  • Mean popular girl (eg. Pacifica Northwest, Gravity Falls)
  • Nerd (eg. Millhouse, The Simpsons)
  • Disney Princess (eg. Cinderella)

Kahoot! Character Types review quiz