Characterization of Literary Figures

This page provides an overview of how characters are developed and presented in fictional literature. It covers the different types of characters, methods of characterization, and tips for writing character analyses.

Types of Literary Characters

The page outlines various character types based on their role and characteristics:

• Protagonist - The main character
• Antagonist - The character opposing the protagonist
• Modern hero - An average person
• Anti-hero - A flawed or struggling character
• Tragic hero - A character whose flaws lead to their downfall
• Romantic hero - A strong-willed character who defies norms
• Hemingway hero - A tough, masculine archetype

It also categorizes characters as major vs minor, dynamic vs static, and round vs flat.

Definition: A round character is complex and multi-dimensional, while a flat character is one-dimensional and often stereotypical.

Methods of Characterization

The page explains two main approaches:

1. Direct characterization - Explicitly stating a character's traits
2. Indirect characterization - Revealing traits through:
   • Speech
   • Thoughts
   • Effects on others
   • Actions
   • Appearance

Example: Indirect characterization through speech could involve analyzing a character's word choice, tone, or manner of speaking to infer personality traits.

Writing a Literary Characterization

The page provides a 3-step process for writing character analyses:

1. Collect facts and clues from the text
2. Draw conclusions about the character
3. Structure the analysis with an introduction, main body, and conclusion

Highlight: When writing a characterization, use the simple present tense and support your analysis with specific textual references.