Literary Elements:

CHARACTER AND SETTING

CHARACTER
A character is a person, animal, or creature that takes part in the action of a literary work.

MAJOR and MINOR CHARACTERS

The main, or major, character is the most important character in a story, poem, or play.

A minor character is one who takes part in the action but is not the focus of attention.

PROTAGONIST
The protagonist is the main character in a literary work. The protagonist is typically the good guy.

ANTAGONIST
An antagonist is a character or a force in conflict with a main character, or protagonist.

Characters can also sometimes be classified as either:

1) Flat or Round 2) Dynamic or Static

Flat Characters
A flat character is one-sided and often stereotypical. She/he is portrayed as having only one trait and thus lacks the depth that people in real life have.

Round Characters
A round character, on the other hand, is fully developed and exhibits many traits- often both faults and virtues.

Dynamic Characters
A dynamic character is one who changes or grows during the course of the work.

Static Characters
A static character, on the other hand, is one who does not change during the course of the work.

CHARACTERIZATION
Characterization is the act of creating and developing a character. Authors use two major methods of characterization- direct and indirect.

Direct Characterization
The writer tells the readers directly what a character is like by stating the characters traits or characteristics.

For example: . . . he was a simple, good-natured man; he was moreover a kind neighbor and an obedient, henpecked husband.
from Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Indirect Characterization
The writer depends on the reader to draw conclusions about the characters traits. The writer reveals the traits through: 1) Appearance 2) Dialogue 3) Private Thoughts 4) Actions 5) Effect on others

Indirect Characterization
APPEARANCE: The way writers describe characters appearance physical features, clothing, and general demeanorprovides insight into their personalities.

For example:
(After his twenty-year nap) The appearance of Rip, with his long grizzled beard, his rusty fowling piece, his uncouth dress, . . . soon attracted the attention of the tavern politicians.
from Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Indirect Characterization
DIALOGUE: Dialogue can reveal a lot about characters. Pay attention not only to what characters say but also how they say it.
For example: (Entering the village after his twenty-year nap) God knows, exclaimed [Rip] . . ., Im not myself.Im somebody elsethats me yondernothats somebody else got into my shoesI was myself last night; but I fell asleep on the mountainand theyve changed my gunand everythings changedand Im changedand I cant tell whats my name, or who I am!
from Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Indirect Characterization
PRIVATE THOUGHTS:
Characters private thoughts can reveal what they think, feel, want, or fear.
For example: (Rip learns that friends have passed away in his absence) Rips heart died away, at hearing of these sad changes in his home and his friends, and finding himself thus alone in the world . . . he had no courage to ask after any more friends, but cried out in despair, Does nobody here know Rip Van Winkle?
from Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Indirect Characterization
ACTIONS:
Characters actionswhat they do and how they do ittell a great deal about them.
For example: He assisted at their sports, made their playthings, taught them to fly kites and shoot marbles, and told them long stories. . . .
from Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

Indirect Characterization
EFFECTS ON OTHERS:
The effect a character has on others also helps readers understand what the character is like. For example:
The children of the village . . . would shout with joy whenever he approached. . . . Whenever he went dodging about the village he was surrounded by a troop of them . . . and not a dog would bark at him throughout the neighborhood.
from Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving

SETTING
The setting describes where and when the story takes place. It helps build background and create images in the mind. It helps set the tone or mood of the story. Details of setting include:
Time of day Time of year Time in History Scenery Weather Location

SETTING
The place may be a specific country, state, region, community, neighborhood, building, institution, or home. Details such as dialects, clothing, customs, and modes of transportation are often used to establish setting. In most stories, the setting serves as a backdrop a context in which the characters interact. Setting can also help to create a feeling, or atmosphere.

Using the Five Senses

A good setting helps the reader visualize SIGHT the places in the SMELL story. TASTE FEEL A good author SOUND includes descriptions of the setting using the five senses.

Which is better?
1) The castle was beside the water.

OR 2) The waves crashed loudly against the shoreline. The fog lifted lightly and the medieval castle came into view. It was a beautiful site! The fog brushed my face and I could smell the smoke from the fire in the distance and taste the sea salt on my lips.