Types of Characters in Fiction

"What does characterization do for a story? In a nutshell, it

allows us to empathize with the protagonist and secondary
characters, and thus feel that what is happening to these
people in the story is vicariously happening to us; and it also
gives us a sense of verisimilitude, or the semblance of living
reality. An important part of characterization is dialogue, for it
is both spoken and inward dialogue that afford us the
opportunity to see into the characters' hearts and examine
their motivations. In the best of stories, it is actually
characterization that moves the story along, because a
compelling character in a difficult situation creates his or her
own plot."

Karen Bernardo, Characterization in Literature

In fictional literature, authors use many different types

of characters to tell their stories. Different types of
characters fulfill different roles in the narrative process,
and with a little bit of analysis, you can usually detect
some or all of the types below.

 Major or central characters are vital to the

development and resolution of the conflict. In other
words, the plot and resolution of conflict revolves
around these characters.
 Minor characters serve to complement the major
characters and help move the plot events forward.
 Dynamic - A dynamic character is a person
who changes over time, usually as a result of
resolving a central conflict or facing a major crisis.
Most dynamic characters tend to be central rather
than peripheral characters, because resolving the
conflict is the major role of central characters.
 Static - A static character is someone who does
not change over time; his or her personality does
not transform or evolve.
 Round - A rounded character is anyone who has
a complex personality; he or she is often
portrayed as a conflicted and contradictory person.
 Flat - A flat character is the opposite of a round
character. This literary personality is notable
for one kind of personality trait or
characteristic.
 Stock - Stock characters are those types of
characters who have become conventional or
stereotypicalthrough repeated use in particular
types of stories. Stock characters are instantly
recognizable to readers or audience members (e.g.
the femme fatale, the cynical but moral private eye,
the mad scientist, the geeky boy with glasses, and
the faithful sidekick). Stock characters are normally
one-dimensional flat characters, but sometimes
stock personalities are deeply conflicted, rounded
characters (e.g. the "Hamlet" type).
 Protagonist - The protagonist is the central person
in a story, and is often referred to as the story's
main character. He or she (or they) is faced with a
conflict that must be resolved. The protagonist may
not always be admirable (e.g. an anti-hero);
nevertheless s/he must command involvement on
the part of the reader, or better yet, empathy.
 Antagonist - The antagonist is the character(s) (or
situation) that represents the opposition against
which the protagonist must contend. In other
words, the antagonist is an obstacle that the
protagonist must overcome.
 Anti-Hero - A major character, usually the
protagonist, who lacks conventional nobility of
mind, and who struggles for values not deemed
universally admirable. Duddy, in
Mordecai Richler's The Apprenticeship of
Duddy Kravitz, is a classic anti-hero. He's
vulgar, manipulative and self-centered.
Nevertheless, Duddy is the center of the story, and
we are drawn to the challenges he must overcome
and the goals he seeks to achieve.
 Foil - A foil is any character (usually the antagonist
or an important supporting character) whose
personal qualities contrast with another character
(usually the protagonist). By providing this contrast,
we get to know more about the other character.
 Symbolic - A symbolic character is any major or
minor character whose very existence represents
some major idea or aspect of society. For example,
in Lord of the Flies, Piggy is a symbol of both the
rationality and physical weakness of modern
civilization; Jack, on the other hand, symbolizes the
violent tendencies (the Id) that William Golding
believes is within human nature. 

 Direct presentation (or characterization) - This

refers to what the speaker or narrator directly
says or thinks about a character. In other
words, in a direct characterization, the reader
is told what the character is like. When
Dickens describes Scrooge like this: "I present
him to you: Ebenezer Scrooge....the most
tightfisted hand at the grindstone, Scrooge! A
squeezing, wrenching, grasping, scraping,
clutching, covetous, old sinner!" - this is very
direct characterization!
 Indirect presentation (or characterization) - This
refers to what the character says or does. The
reader theninfers what the character is all about.
This mimics how we understand people in the real
world, since we can't "get inside their heads". In
other words, in an indirect characterization, it's the
reader who is obliged to figure out what the
 character is like. And sometimes the reader will get
it wrong.
 
Ten (Direct or Indirect) Ways in which a Character Can
Be Revealed

a. By psychological description.
b. By physical description.
c. By probing what s/he thinks.
d. By what s/he says.
e. By how s/he says it.
f. By what s/he does.
g. By what others say about him or her.
h. By his or her environment.
i. By her reaction to others.
j. By his reaction to himself.
 
 
Things to Remember:
1. Literary characters may embody more than one of
these character types at the same time. A dynamic
character may also be the antagonist, and a
protagonist can also be, say, a flat and stock
character (i.e. the one-dimensional hero). 
 2. Here's a very common mistake: while characters
are often round and dynamic, that does not mean
these two terms mean the same thing. The former
refers to a character's complexity, while the latter
refers to a character's development over time.
Students also make this mistake with flat and static
characters. 
 
 
 
For more information, check out the Open School's
discussion of characterization.
  Seven Common Character Types
by Terry W. Ervin II

Fiction writers employ a variety of characters while weaving

their tales. Beyond the standard definitions of protagonist (the
main character in a literary work) and antagonist (the main
character or force that opposes the protagonist in a literary
work), recognizing the types of characters and the parts they
play while reading an interesting story can add to the
experience. In addition, a fuller understanding of the character
types and their uses can increase a writer’s effectiveness in
weaving his own fictional tales.
Below is a list of common character types, followed by an
explanation and short example.

Confidante- someone in whom the central character

confides, thus revealing the main character’s personality,
thoughts, and intentions. The confidante does not need to be
a person.

Example: In a story, Melvin Sanders is a detective on the trail

of a serial killer. He travels with his pet dog, a pug named
Chops. Instead of listening to the radio, Melvin talks to Chops,
telling him his theories about the serial killer and his concern
he may never discover the killer’s identity.

In this example Chops is a confidante.

Dynamic Character - a character which changes during the

course of a story or novel. The change in outlook or character
is permanent. Sometimes a dynamic character is called a
developing character. 

Example: Ebenezer Scrooge, in A Christmas Carol by

Dickens, was very stingy with his money. He worked his
employees very very hard for little pay. After his experiences
with the ghosts that visited him, he changed his ways, paying
his employees a more than fair wage, providing days off work
and actually giving gifts.

In this example Ebenezer Scrooge is a dynamic character.

Flat Character - a character who reveals only one, maybe

two, personality traits in a story or novel, and the trait(s) do
not change.

Example: In a story about a friendly teacher named Sandra

Smith, Louis Drud is a janitor in her building. Louis is always
tired and grumpy whenever Sandra runs across him and says
hello.

In this example Louis Drud is a flat character.

Foil - a character that is used to enhance another character

through contrast. Cinderella’s grace and beauty as opposed
to her nasty, self-centered stepsisters is one clear illustration
of a foil many may recall from childhood.
Example: The main character in a story, a teenager named
Sally, is a very honest person. She always tries to tell the truth
and consider everyone’s feelings. The teacher assigns Betty
to be Sally’s science lab partner. Betty enjoys gossip and likes
to see people’s reactions, especially if it involves hurt or
embarrassment.

In this example Betty is a foil.

Round Character - a well developed character who

demonstrates varied and sometimes contradictory traits.
Round characters are usually dynamic (change in some way
over the course of a story).

Example: A character in a story named Elaine never cuts

anybody a break. She tells her friends and coworkers that
charity and compassion have no place in society. On the
other hand, Elaine can never pass up feeding a stray kitten or
puppy, and always tries to find a good home for lost or
abandoned pets.

In this example Elaine is a round character.

Static Character – a character that remains primarily the

same throughout a story or novel. Events in the story do not
alter a static character’s outlook, personality, motivation,
perception, habits, etc.

Example: Bert, a bumbling salesman, never takes the time to

organize his files, properly record his sales, or follow up with
customers. Finally, his boss gets fed up and fires him. Bert
struggles for two months to find a new sales position. During
that time, his car is repossessed for nonpayment and he
maxes out his credit cards. Bert finally finds a new sales
position but, before a week passes, he is called into a
conference with his new boss. Bert is informed he must get
organized or he’ll be fired. A week later the new boss fires
Bert after he fails to follow up with an important customer.

In this example Bert is a static character.

Stock Character - a special kind of flat character who is

instantly recognizable to most readers. Possible examples
include the “ruthless businessman”, “shushing old librarian” or
“dumb jock.” They are not the focus nor developed in the
story.

Example: The main character in a story, Bernard, is hired by a

computer company. His secretary is a blonde named Gidget,
who is cute but forgetful and never gets a joke.

In this example Gidget is a stock character.

Although the character types are listed separately, characters

may be (and often are) a combination. A foil, for example,
could also be a round, flat, or even a stock character. While
most protagonists in novels are dynamic (change over the
course of the novel) and round, they don’t have to be,
especially if the novel is plot driven as opposed to character
driven. It’s not unheard of for a short story to feature a static
protagonist.

Some character types are, by definition, opposite and cannot

be considered. For example, one cannot have a character
that is both flat and round, or a character that is both static
and dynamic.

The terms are useful for understanding a character and his

place within the story. But, in the end, it is not about how a
character can be named and classified (except maybe within
the confines of a literature course). As a writer, it’s all about
understanding the characters as you create and bring life to
them for the reader. 

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