Characters

Dynamic and Static
A dynamic character is one who goes through a personality change due to the events in the story.
A static character is one whose personality does not change throughout the story.

Round Characters
A round character is one whose personality, background, motives, and other features are fully described or explained by the author. In general, main characters are round because many insights are given.

Flat Characters
A flat character is one who is not fully described but is useful in carrying out some narrative purpose of the author. They tend to be minor characters.

Dynamic and Round
In most books the main character is both dynamic and round.

Round and Static
 Characters can be round and static. For example, think about the character James Bond. We know a great deal about this character’s personality (round), yet he does not go through an inner personality change from the beginning to the end of the story (static). Often the side-kick in a story is round and static.

Dynamic and Flat
 Characters cannot be dynamic and flat, because in a flat character we do not know enough about them to recognize a change.

Practice

State whether each character is dynamic or static. Then state whether the character is flat or round.
 

1.  Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol  dynamic or static flat or round
2.  Billy Coleman from Wilson Rawls Where the Red Fern Grows dynamic or static flat or round
3.  Will Coleman (Billy’s dad) from Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows dynamic or static flat or round
4.  Mayor Cole from Jeanne DuPrau’s  The City of Ember dynamic or static flat or round
5.  Lina Mayfleet from Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember dynamic or static flat or round
6.  Robin from the Batman Series dynamic or static flat or round
7.  Mandy, Ella's fairy godmother from Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted   dynamic or static flat or round
8.  Ella from Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted dynamic or static flat or round
9.  Weasel from Cynthia DeFelice's Weasel  dynamic or static flat or round
10.  Harry Potter from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone dynamic or static flat or round

Assignment

On your story map list these characters in The Cay.

•Phillip Enright
•Timothy
•Mrs. Enright (Grace)
•Mr. Enright (Phillip)
•Henrik van Boven

Label each as dynamic or static & round or flat.

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Answer Key

  1. Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol dynamic round

  2. Billy Coleman from Wilson Rawls Where the Red Fern Grows dynamic round

  3. Will Coleman (Billy’s dad) from Wilson Rawls’ Where the Red Fern Grows  static flat

  4. Mayor Cole from Jeanne DuPrau’s  The City of Ember static flat

  5. Lina Mayfleet from Jeanne DuPrau’s The City of Ember dynamic round

  6. Robin from the Batman Series dynamic flat

  7. Mandy, Ella's fairy godmother from Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted  static  round

  8. Ella from Gail Carson Levine's Ella Enchanted dynamic round

  9. Weasel from Cynthia DeFelice's Weasel  static round

  10. Harry Potter from J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone dynamic round

Phillip Enright dynamic round

Timothy static round

Mrs. Enright (Grace) static flat

Mr. Enright (Phillip) static flat

Henrik van Boven static flat