Characters
In short stories, characters are part of what makes a story interesting, and they are necessary in order to have conflict. There are a number of terms that can be used to describe characters. In this interactivity, click on each of the labels to learn more about the types of characters. Click the player button to begin.
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Character Example - Cinderella
Consider the characters from the story of Cinderella. The protagonist of the story is definitely Cinderella because she is the main character around who the story is centered. The antagonists are her evil family, including her stepmother and stepsisters. They are the opposing characters who are working against Cinderella. Along with Cinderella, they are all the primary characters in the story. The secondary characters would definitely be the prince, the fairy godmother, and Cinderella's animal friends; they were necessary to move along the plot, but they are not really main characters. There are other characters mentioned in the story, like the king; however, these characters would not really be considered primary or secondary characters because their absence in the story wouldn't hurt the plot.
Cinderella is a dynamic character because she undergoes a major change from a maid to a princess throughout the plot of the story. The wicked stepmother and stepsisters are static characters because they remain evil from beginning to end. Cinderella is a round character because she is good, patient, and obedient, but she also disobeys her stepmother and attends the ball against her wishes. The wicked stepmother and stepsisters are flat characters because they are one thing - wicked!
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassaunt
"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassaunt is a short story in which a woman is planning to attend a ball and is hesitant to appear poor. She borrows a necklace from a friend, loses the necklace, and then spends ten years working to replace the necklace. Like most of de Maupassaunt's stories, it has a twist ending. Because of his talent, Guy de Maupassaunt is recognized a one of the "fathers" of the modern short story. Written in French in 1884, "The Necklace" was first published in a French newspaper.
Now, read "The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassaunt. Make sure to use your active reading strategies. While you read, take specific notes about the characters in the story, noting how they fit into the categories of characters that you just learned. Who are the primary characters? Are there static and dynamic characters in the story?
Characters Review
Now that you have explored the types of characters found in stories, review your knowledge in this non-graded activity. Read each description and drag and drop the correct label into the blank provided. Then, click SUBMIT to check your responses. Click the player button to get started.