a character that
the author
includes in order
to point out
main points of
another
character
(typically the
protagonist)
Act 5, Scene 2 of Shakespeare's Hamlet, "I'll
be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance/
Your skill shall, like a star 'i the darkest
night, Stick fiery off indeed")
i.e., main character
Antagonist
adversary of the protagonist
can be a person, the environment,
an institution, an ideal, etc.
How much of the character is revealed to the audience?
a lot
the character is "round"
not much
the character is "flat"
Does the character change over the course of the story?
yes
the character is "dynamic"
no
the character is "static"
miscellaneous terms
antihero
ordinary, inglorious citizen of the modern
world
typically has negative traits that we, as readers,
struggle to accept
verisimilitude
reality vs
probability
The appearance of being real. Therefore,
determine what characters may possibly do
and what they most frequently do.
stock
character
characters who appear in repeating situations (i.e., insensitive
father, interfering mother, greedy political, nagging wife, lovable
drunk, etc)