The author has developed several complex characters in your novel. A complex character is also called a round character, a character who has many sides and who is complicated like a human being.
A flat character shows only one side, and is usually a stereotype or a stock character. Stock means the character is a "typical" example of a group of people; some examples are a friendly fireman who saves kittens from trees, and a crabby librarian who wears heavy glasses and scowls. These figures represent respectively all firemen and all librarians, though they don't represent any particular individual.
Next, we will look at how the author has developed round characters in your novel. This lesson will prepare you to develop a character sketch of the main character, who is always a round or complex character.
(Open School BC, 2008)
We learn about the characters in a novel in many ways. The process of creating believable characters, and of sharing information through characters, is called characterization.
The methods authors use to create their characters are:
telling us directly what kind of person the character is
describing the character's physical appearance, habits, clothing, and environment
showing what the character says
showing what the character does
showing what other characters say about him or her
telling what the character thinks
STEP THREE: Developing a Character.
Characterization
Answer the following question and ADD them to your Characterization Assignment, which includes the two Chapter Summaries, and these answers. (15 Marks)
How would an author portray you in a story? Using four of the six methods of characterization listed in the following example, write a few lines of description that show your character through each of the methods you have chosen. Or, if you prefer, invent a character, as in the following example.
Notice that in the four short descriptions that follow we learn a lot about "Mrs. Webber," and some character descriptions contradict each other: she seems to be happy to volunteer, but really she wishes that more parents would get involved.
Example: She stood at the counter and quickly finished her breakfast, tidying the counter as she ate.
Method: showing what the character does
Example: "Yes, I would be happy to volunteer for the fall dance. Should I bake some cupcakes too?"
Method: showing what the character says
Example: "Mrs. Webber is an amazing woman; I don't know how she manages to do so much and keep such a tidy house," Mrs. Arnold commented.
Method: showing what other characters say about her.
Example: If only a few more parents would get involved in their kid's activities, then I'd have a few minutes to sit down, thought Mrs. Webber.