Types of Characters in Literature

TYPES OF
CHARACTERS
IN LITERATURE
ATHING, Ana Jamema M.
BSMT2C- World Literature
Mr. Jaime Cabrera
Centro Escolar University,
Philippines
I learn about types of
characters in literature,
electronic research, and
citing references by
completing this exercise.
PROTAGONISTS
ANTAGONISTS
SUPPORT CHARACTERS
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
BRAIN EXERCISE
Nothing
worth
having
comes
easy.
Related Stuff

1. Types of
Protagonists
There are four types of
protagonists.
1. THE HERO
2. THE ANTI-HERO
3. THE TRAGIC HERO
4. THE CARICATURE

HERO
 A person, typically a man, who is admired
or idealized for courage, outstanding
achievements, or noble qualities. “A war
hero“
 https://www.google.com.ph/webhp?sour
ceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-
8#q=meaning%20of%20hero
01
 A hero is form of character who does
good.
 I was crossing down the pedestrian lane
when I saw an old lady with many loads
and helped her cross the pedestrian lane.
HERO
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=famous+hero+in+a+story&espv=2&biw=1680&bih=949&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=xEKeVYr5I8PdoATe_bWgBg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=Jose+Rizal&imgrc=OcAB
5_8tHRHbGM%3A

ANTI-HERO
ANTI-HERO
 A central character in a story, movie,
or drama who lacks conventional
heroic attributes.
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q
=famous+anti+hero&espv=2&biw=168
0&bih=905&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=Z0S
eVb2kC877oQTis4iYBw&ved=0CAUQ_
AUoAA&dpr=1#q=define+anti+hero
02
 Main cast in a story but does no good; does
everything to get what he wants.
http://listverse.com/2008/02/14/top-10-greatest-movie-anti-heroes/

TRAGIC HERO
TRAGIC HERO
 A great or virtuous character in a
dramatic tragedy who is destined
for downfall, suffering, or defeat
 http://dictionary.reference.com/
browse/tragic%20hero
03
 In my own words:
 My own example:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tragic%20hero

CARICATURE
CARICATURE
 Is a description of a person using
exaggeration of some characteristics
and oversimplification of others.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ca
ricature
04
 My own example:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+CHARACTER+IN+XMEN&biw=1680&bih=905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GzifVcyzNcezyAT7n76QDQ&ved
=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=picture+OF+HOMER+SIMPSON&imgrc=02x6yL2r-JDtnM%3A

2. Types of
Antagonists
There are five kinds of
antagonists.
1. THE MAIN ANTAGONIST
2. THE NEMESIS
3. THE SHAPE-SHIFTER
4. THE CHANGE AGENT
5. THE ROMANTIC ANGLE

ANTAGONIST05
ANTAGONIST
 A person who is opposed to, struggles
against, or competes with
another; opponent; adversary.
 http://dictionary.reference.com
/browse/antagonist
 My own example:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+CHARACTER+IN+XMEN&biw=1680&bih=905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GzifVcyzNcezyAT7n76
QDQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+gladys+reyes&imgrc=xmfuT_QFfaGgjM%3A

NEMESIS06
NEMESIS
 Acts as a source of punishment
for hubristic and wicked
characters on universal moral
grounds.
 http://literarydevices.net/nemesis/
 My own example:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+of+joker&biw=1680&bih=949&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ejGfVdjhNcuiyATszoCoAg&ved=0CAYQ_
AUoAQ&dpr=1#imgrc=WQ0a2dqFMwSrVM%3A

SHAPE-SHIFTER07
SHAPE-SHIFTER
 Is a mythological creature that
can change shape at will or in
certain conditions.
 http://www.yourdictionary.com
/shape-shifter
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+OF+JACOB+IN+BLACK&imgrc=8vZX1n2z10oO2M%3A

CHANGE AGENT
08
CHANGE AGENT
 A change agent is a catalyst for
change; one who causes
change to occur.
 http://www.yourdictionary.com
/change-agent
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=CHARACTER+IN+XMEN+WEARING+BLUE+&imgrc=VuNhk50R5YZO5M%3A

ROMANTIC ANGLE
09
ROMANTIC ANGLE
 Possess an understanding of his inner-self or
inner-world. He must also understand the
value of his experiences through emotions,
intuition, and feelings rather than logically
reasoning.
 http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-
characteristics-romantic-hero-389399
 My own example:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+CHARACTER+IN+XMEN&biw=1680&bih=905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GzifVcyzNcezyAT7n76
QDQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+pepe+le+pew&imgrc=3e0daavDWaAz5M%3A

3. Types of
Support
Characters
There are six types of
supporting characters.
1. THE SIDEKICK CHARACTER
2. THE MENTOR CHARACTER
3. THE FOIL CHARACTER
4. THE COMIC RELIEF CHARACTER
5. THE EXTRAS
6. THE CHORUS (e.g., Greek tragedy)

SIDEKICK11
CONFIDANT
 Is a close companion who is
generally regarded as
subordinate to the one he
accompanies.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sid
ekick
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+ROBIN+IN+BATMAN+&imgrc=sfsc4cPmfswRMM%3A

MENTOR10
MENTOR
 Is a typical character that
seems to represent such
universal patterns of human
nature.
 http://literarydevices.net/archet
ype/
 My own example:
https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+KUNG+FU+PANDA&biw=1680&bih=905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=n1SfVZiEMob6yATq3JLYAg&
ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ#imgrc=J5dRdqOI2zYPXM%3A

FOIL12
FOIL
 Is a character that shows qualities that
are in contrast with the qualities of
another character with the objective
to highlight the traits of the other
character.
 http://literarydevices.net/?s=foil
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+HERMIONE+GRANGER&imgrc=IBXwvB3ur6tj7M%3A

COMIC RELIEF13
COMIC RELIEF
 Is the inclusion of
a humorous character in an
(otherwise serious work), often
to relieve tension.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_reli
ef
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+OLAF&imgrc=qdOjjPvwmW5pwM%3A

EXTRAS14
EXTRAS
 Are characters in a narrative that are not
focused on by the primary storyline.
Sometimes supporting characters may
develop a complex back-story of their own,
but this is usually in relation to the main
character, rather than entirely
independently.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supporting_cha
racter
 My own example:
https://beautydart.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/beauty-in-the-movies-romeo-and-juliet/

CHORUS15
CHORUS
 A group of singers and dancers in
an ancient Greek play who take
part in or talk about the things
that are happening on stage.
 http://www.merriam-
webster.com/dictionary/chorus
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+HIGH+SCHOOL+MUSICAL+CHOIR+&imgrc=_fyWCs6sW3f_LM%3A

4. Types of
Character
Development
There are two types of
character development.
1. THE FLAT CHARACTER
2. THE ROUND CHARACTER

FLAT CHARACTER
16
COMIC RELIEF
 Is a two-dimensional character in
that he is relatively
uncomplicated and do not
change throughout the course of
a work.
 http://www.britannica.com/art/flat-
character
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+MR+BEAN&imgrc=gMu_rogB1hdgcM%3A

ROUND CHARACTER
17
ROUND CHARACTER
 Is a complex character and
undergoes development,
sometimes sufficiently to surprise
the reader.
 http://www.britannica.com/art/
flat-character
 My own example:
AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+elsa+in+&imgrc=MruGzl7vdyKcuM%3A

5. BRAIN
EXERCISE &
PRACTICE
ATHING, Ana Jamema M.
BSMT2C- World Literature
Mr. Jaime Cabrera
Centro Escolar University,
Philippines
I personalize my learning
about the types of literary
characters by completing
this activity.
1. NEW INPUTS
2. CONNECTIONS
3. APPLICATIONS
Related Stuff

New concepts learned
 What new stuff did you learn when you did
this assignment?
 Keep it short: this one slide only
 Arrange: most meaningful stuff first
NEW INPUTS
18

This reminds me of…
 Connect the new stuff you learned to
events in your own life.
 Arrange: most unforgettable events first
CONNECTIONS
19

Usefulness in real situations
 How can you use what you have learned
in some situations in your own life?
 Arrange: most emotional situations first
APPLICATIONS
20
Note: Tests can include ideas from this source.

Works Cited
 https://www.google.com.ph/webhp?sourceid=chrome-
instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=meaning%20of%20hero
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=famous+hero+in+a+story&espv=2&biw=1680
&bih=949&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=xEKeVYr5I8PdoATe_bWgBg&ved=0CAY
Q_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=Jose+Rizal&imgrc=OcAB5_8tHRHbGM%3A
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=famous+anti+hero&espv=2&biw=1680&bih=
905&source=lnms&sa=X&ei=Z0SeVb2kC877oQTis4iYBw&ved=0CAUQ_AUoAA&dpr=1
#q=define+anti+hero
 http://listverse.com/2008/02/14/top-10-greatest-movie-anti-heroes/
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tragic%20hero
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tragic%20hero
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caricature
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+CHARACTER+IN+XMEN&biw=16
80&bih=905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GzifVcyzNcezyAT7n76QDQ&ved=0C
AYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=picture+OF+HOMER+SIMPSON&imgrc=02x6yL2r-
JDtnM%3A
 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/antagonist
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+CHARACTER+IN+XMEN&biw=16
80&bih=905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GzifVcyzNcezyAT7n76QDQ&ved=0C
AYQ_AUoAQ#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+gladys+reyes&imgrc=xmfuT_QFfaGgjM%3A
REFERENCING
21

REFERENCING
Works Cited
 http://literarydevices.net/nemesis/
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+of+joker&biw=1680&bih=949&source=lnms
&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ejGfVdjhNcuiyATszoCoAg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1#imgrc=WQ0
a2dqFMwSrVM%3A
 http://www.yourdictionary.com/shape-shifter
&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ejGfVdjhNcuiyATszoCoAg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1#tbm=isch&q
=picture+OF+JACOB+IN+BLACK&imgrc=8vZX1n2z10oO2M%3A
 http://www.yourdictionary.com/change-agent
=CHARACTER+IN+XMEN+WEARING+BLUE+&imgrc=VuNhk50R5YZO5M%3A
 http://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-characteristics-romantic-hero-389399
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+CHARACTER+IN+XMEN&biw=1680&bih=
905&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=GzifVcyzNcezyAT7n76QDQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#t
bm=isch&q=picture+of+pepe+le+pew&imgrc=3e0daavDWaAz5M%3A
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sidekick
=picture+of+ROBIN+IN+BATMAN+&imgrc=sfsc4cPmfswRMM%3A
22

REFERENCING
Works Cited
 http://literarydevices.net/archetype/
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+OF+KUNG+FU+PANDA&biw=1680&bih=905
&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=n1SfVZiEMob6yATq3JLYAg&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAQ#imgr
c=J5dRdqOI2zYPXM%3A
 http://literarydevices.net/?s=foil
=picture+of+HERMIONE+GRANGER&imgrc=IBXwvB3ur6tj7M%3A
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comic_relief
=picture+of+OLAF&imgrc=qdOjjPvwmW5pwM%3A
 http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chorus
=picture+of+HIGH+SCHOOL+MUSICAL+CHOIR+&imgrc=_fyWCs6sW3f_LM%3A
 http://www.britannica.com/art/flat-character
=picture+of+MR+BEAN&imgrc=gMu_rogB1hdgcM%3A
23

Works Cited
 http://www.britannica.com/art/flat-character
 https://www.google.com.ph/search?q=picture+of+joker&biw=1680&bih=949&sourc
e=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=ejGfVdjhNcuiyATszoCoAg&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ&dpr=1
#tbm=isch&q=picture+of+elsa+in+&imgrc=MruGzl7vdyKcuM%3A
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supporting_character
 https://beautydart.wordpress.com/2011/02/10/beauty-in-the-movies-romeo-and-
juliet/
REFERENCING24

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