Abril, Angelinn Meryl V. (Types of Character in Literature)
1. TYPES OF
CHARACTERS
IN LITERATURE
Abril, Angelinn Meryl V.
BSMT2C Humanities 13
July 10, 2015
Mr. Jaime Cabrera
Centro Escolar University,
Philippines
I learn about types of
characters in literature,
electronic research, and
citing references by
completing this exercise.
PROTAGONISTS
ANTAGONISTS
SUPPORT CHARACTERS
CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT
BRAIN EXERCISE
If others
can why
can’t I?
Related Stuff
2. 1. Types of
Protagonists
There are four types of
protagonists.
1. THE HERO
2. THE ANTI-HERO
3. THE TRAGIC HERO
4. THE CARICATURE
3. HERO
a person who, in the opinion of
others, has heroicqualities or ha
s performed a heroic act and isr
egarded as a model or ideal
http://www.thelistlove.com/10-
super-superman-facts/16-9/#
01
A hero is someone who is admired for being
brave in saving someone else’s life.
My example of a hero is Superman, because I
have known him since I was a kid. Everytime I
hear the word hero, he is the first one that
comes into my mind because of his abilities
Photo Source & hyperlink
HERO
4. ANTI-HERO
ANTI-HERO
An antihero is a protagonist who
has the opposite of most of the
traditional attributes of a hero
http://wallpaperswide.com/johnny
_depp_pirates_of_the_caribbean_
on_stranger_tides_2011-
wallpapers.html
02
An antihero is the one who makes a movie
complicated and exciting. He lacks heroic
qualities.
In my own example, I chose Captain Jack
Sparrow because of his appearance as well as
his mission to regain his ship in the movie.
Photo Source & hyperlink
5. TRAGIC HERO
TRAGIC HERO
A tragic hero is a person of noble
birth with heroic or potentially
heroic qualities.
http://images4.fanpop.com/image
/photos/22900000/Juliet-Capulet-
Montague-1968-romeo-and-juliet-
by-franco-zeffirelli-22924842-540-
720.jpg
03
Tragic hero is the character destined to
downfall, suffering or defeat
I chose Juliet from the movie (Romeo & Juliet)
because seeing ourselves in their position brings
emotional release
Photo Source & hyperlink
6. CARICATURE
CARICATURE
“a caricature is a description of a
person using exaggeration of some
characteristics and
oversimplification of others”
http://cdnlava360.saturn.netdna-
cdn.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/10/02-
Caricature.jpg
04
It is a drawing that makes someone look silly or
funny and sometimes it it is expresses in an
exaggerated way.
In my example it is Mr. Bean as we all know he
was able to display acts of silliness with his films &
in this picture he looks distorted.
Photo Source & hyperlink
7. 2. Types of
Antagonists
There are five kinds of
antagonists.
1. THE MAIN ANTAGONIST
2. THE NEMESIS
3. THE SHAPE-SHIFTER
4. THE CHANGE AGENT
5. THE ROMANTIC ANGLE
8. ANTAGONIST05
ANTAGONIST
”One who opposes and conten
ds against another.”
http://listverse.wpengine.netdn
a-cdn.com/wp-
content/uploads/2012/11/imag
es.jpg
An antagonist is the one who makes conflict for
the main character.
In my example it is the witch in the movie Snow
White, she opposes Snow White so that she can
poison her with the apple fruit.
Photo Source & hyperlink
9. Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
NEMESIS06
NEMESIS
“an opponent or enemy that is
very difficult to defeat.”
http://blogs-
images.forbes.com/insertcoin/fil
es/2014/10/mordor-orc.jpg
It is the source of harm and ruin.
In my example it is a person armed which at first
glance you will came up to a conclusion that he
is a destroyer.
Photo Source & hyperlink
10. Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
SHAPE-SHIFTER07
SHAPE-SHIFTER
“Shapeshifters can be cursed
into a different form. They can
be born with transfiguring
capabilities.”
http://vignette3.wikia.nocookie.
net/marvelmovies/images/c/c6
/Mystique_thumb.jpg/revision/la
test?cb=20110521222709
They are the characters that can transform in
different forms or in disguise.
In my example, it is Mystique of X-men movie she
is able to copy the appearance of others to
pursue plans that can destroy for her revenge.
Photo Source & hyperlink
11. Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
CHANGE AGENT
08
CHANGE AGENT
“Change agent is used in
literature to encompass
phenomena and events which
drive change.”
http://reverbpress.com/wp-
content/uploads/2014/12/Samu
el.jpg
They are able to interact with many groups. They
form ties and make changes.
In my example it is Samuel Jackson. He takes the
job of coaching undisciplined basketball players
driven by his vision of changing the lives of the
players.
Photo Source & hyperlink
12. ROMANTIC ANGLE
09
ROMANTIC ANGLE
“A novel or other prose
narrative depicting heroic or
marvelous deeds, pageantry &
romantic exploits.”
http://s1.dmcdn.net/IjS8v.jpg
It is a made up story full of romantic spirit and
excitement.
The movie Love, Rosie is my example. It is a
mixture of love & friendship even if they are miles
away. It’s a twist and turn kind of movie.
Photo Source & hyperlink
13. 3. Types of
Support
Characters
There are six types of
supporting characters.
1. THE SIDEKICK CHARACTER
2. THE MENTOR CHARACTER
3. THE FOIL CHARACTER
4. THE COMIC RELIEF CHARACTER
5. THE EXTRAS
6. THE CHORUS (e.g., Greek tragedy)
14. SIDEKICK11
CONFIDANT
“A sidekick is a close
companion who is generally
regarded as subordinate to the
one he accompanies.”
http://blog.longbowadvantage.
com/Portals/216195/images/shr
ek%20and%20donkey.jpg
A sidekick is someone is like an assistant, close
companion or a friend.
In my example, Donkey is the companion of
Shrek in the movie. He may annoy Shrek
sometimes but he never leaves.
Photo Source & hyperlink
15. MENTOR10
ROMANTIC ANGLE
“A wise and trusted counselor or
teacher.”
http://images5.fanpop.com/im
age/photos/28900000/Professor-
Charles-Xavier-professor-
charles-francis-xavier-28939827-
360-315.jpg
It is someone who guides the character
throughout the story.
In my example it is Professor Xavier of X-men
movie because he is really the teacher of the
special kids with powers. He was able to teach
them how to control their powers with respect for
humanity.
Photo Source & hyperlink
16. FOIL12
FOIL
“ a character whose values
differ from those of the
protagonist.
http://ak-
hdl.buzzfed.com/static/enhanc
ed/webdr06/2013/7/2/11/enha
nced-buzz-31452-1372780296-
24.jpg
It is a character who contrasts the protagonist.
In my example the foil character is Scar who is
the uncle of the main character Simba. Even if
they’re family related his uncle scar is jealous of
Simba.
Photo Source & hyperlink
17. COMIC RELIEF13
COMIC RELIEF
“A character whose primary
role is to relieve tension with
oddball or hysterical antics.”
http://www.laredso.com/wp-
content/uploads/Cute-Olaf-
Frozen-HD-Wallpaper.jpg
It is usually the funny character in the movie.
From the most famous disney movie Frozen. Olaf
an inanimate snowman. He is able to display
funny scenes like when he is thinking of what
snowman's do in summer.
Photo Source & hyperlink
18. .
EXTRAS14
EXTRAS
extra is a performer in
a film, who appears in a
nonspeaking (silent)
usually in the background
ie.busy street
.https://www.distractify.co
m/hidden-disney-
1197822067.html
Characters that are not really important, they
usually appear in just a glance or glimpse.
From the picture above you are able to see the
kitchenware which is from the Beauty & the
beast movie. They appeared in Tarzan movie.
Photo Source & hyperlink
19. Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
CHORUS15
CHORUS
“Is a homogeneous, non-
individualised group of
performers in the plays
of classical Greece.” action
http://openhighschoolcourses.o
rg/pluginfile.php/1409/mod_bo
ok/chapter/1053/b_and_w_cho
rus.jpg
It is a group of singers and dancers participating
on plays.
From the picture above it is an example of
chorus in which the participants are singing with
actions.
Photo Source & hyperlink
21. Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
FLAT CHARACTER
16
COMIC RELIEF
“Flat characters are two-dimensional
in that they are relatively
uncomplicated and do not change
throughout the course of a work.”
https://s-media-cache-
ak0.pinimg.com/236x/65/e8/22/65e8
22dde400acb1f523933df35ac6f9.jpg
They do not undergo change/growth in the story
My example is Bella Swan of the movie Twilight.
She remained the same as the story go by.
Photo Source & hyperlink
22. Insert any photo
that shows this
idea. The photo
should be clear
and should fit
and fill this
space.
ROUND CHARACTER
17
ROUND CHARACTER
“Round characters are complex and
undergo development, sometimes
sufficiently to surprise the reader.”
http://healingfromcapitalism.com/wp
-content/uploads/2014/02/melissa-
mccarthys-identity-thief-steals-
audiencesheres-your-box-office-
roundup.jpg
They are the characters that undergo change as
story go by.
Melissa McCarthy is an example of a flat
character in the movie Identity Thief. Though she
is engaged in illegal acts at the end of the story
she became the opposite and the reason
beyond her behavior is shown.
Photo Source & hyperlink
23. 5. BRAIN
EXERCISE &
PRACTICE
Abril, Angelinn Meryl V.
BSMT2C Humanity 13
July 10, 2015
Sir Jaime Cabrera
Centro Escolar University,
Philippines
I personalize my learning
about the types of literary
characters by completing
this activity.
1. NEW INPUTS
2. CONNECTIONS
3. APPLICATIONS
Related Stuff
24. New concepts learned
I learned to analyze a movie pointing out
the different characters in a film. There are
several terms that is new to me and with the
help of this activity I knew the different
functions of the persons behind the movie.
NEW INPUTS
18
25. This reminds me of…
A movie is like a life, you met different
people with different attitudes from you. I
was able to correlate this because in
times when you meet a person you don’t
know if he/she will stay in your life or will
bring you lesson. Just like characters in
movies, they have different functions,
responsibility and role in a movie.
CONNECTIONS
19
26. Usefulness in real situations
In my life I'm the protagonist and meeting
new people can either help me or put me
down. Just like in movies there will always
be a person who will not like you
(antagonist in movie) I believe that each
and everyone of us has it’s own role in life,
we all have different paths and decision
to make.
APPLICATIONS
20
Note: Tests can include ideas from this source.