Character Traits: Deborah Butler

Character Traits
A WebQuest for High School Resource Classes
Deborah Butler
August 14, 2007
Introduction
In the development of a story, there is a need for characters. As the story unfolds, each character
reveals certain qualities called character traits. A character’s words, thoughts, and actions usually show
these traits. There needs to be a variety of characters, so the reader can emphasize and understand the
plot of the story. Characters may evolve as the plot develops.
.
Objective
Students will meet the Kansas reading indicator 2.1.1., identify and describe different types of characters
and analyze their development.
• Protagonist
• Antagonist
• Round
• Flat
• Static
• Dynamic
Task
Character Traits
To use Dictionary.com scroll through the words and click
• generous • adventurous
• egotistical • crafty
• elderly • domineering
• stout • lackadaisical
• selfish • loquacious
• honest • jovial
• persistent • languid
• active • facetious
• ambitious • complacent
• arrogant • conceited
• bewildered • meticulous
• candid • determined
• conscientious • timid
• considerate • ornery
Exit
Task
Students will return to their English classes prepared to identify, describe, and analyze the various
character traits found in their literature readings.
Students will create a PowerPoint presentation.
Process
1. Click here character traits.

2. Click here types of characters.
3. Click here flash cards1., flash cards 2.
4. Click here quiz.
5. Click here PowerPoint presentation.
Types of Characters
Protagonist: The main character, central, is the good one in a story or novel. The one who can adapt to
new situations. Answer the question, “Whose story is this?” Usually a story has one, but a novel can
have several protagonist characters.
Antagonist: The antagonist character fights against the hero, the protagonist, of a story or novel. The
antagonist can be destructive, bad or evil. The antagonist can be a character, an animal, an
inanimate object, or nature. An example of this is the whale in Moby Dick.
Round characters: They can recognize, change, develop, and adjust to situations. They are complex,
have many sides, and touch lives at many points. They usually change in the story because they
profit from experiences.
Flat characters: They do not change, develop, or grow in the story. They are the opposite of round
characters. They usually have one or two traits and can be summed up easily. Example, Gollum in
Lord of the Rings is a flat character because he is obsessed with one thing, the recovery of the ring.
Some stories can have all flat characters, for example, Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Dynamic characters: Characters that change and grow in a work of literature. They are round
characters.
Static characters: Characters that remain the same throughout the story or novel. They are flat
characters.
Process
Flash Cards
Protagonist Antagonist Round
Flat Static Dynamic
Process
Protagonist
The main character, central, the good one in

a story or novel. The one who can adapt to
new situations. Answer the question,
“Whose story is this?” Usually a story has
one, but a novel can have several.
Flash cards
Antagonist
The character fighting against the hero, the
protagonist, of a story or novel. They can be
destructive, bad, or evil. They can be a
character, an animal, an inanimate object, or
nature. An example of this is the whale in
Moby Dick.
Flash cards
Round
They can recognize, change, develop, and
adjust to situations. They are complex,
have
many sides, and touch lives at many points.
The characters usually change in the story
because they profit from experiences.
Flash cards
Flat
They do not change, develop, or grow in the story.
They are the opposite of round characters. They
usually have one or two traits and can be summed
up easily. Example, Gollum in Lord of the Rings is
a flat character because he is obsessed with one
thing, the recovery of the ring. Some stories can
have all flat characters, for example, Christmas
Carol by Charles Dickens.
Flash cards
Dynamic
Characters that change and grow in a work

of literature. They are round characters.
Flash cards
Static
Characters that remain the same throughout

the story or novel. They are flat characters.
Flash cards
Quiz 1
a. round character
A character that remains the

b. static character
same throughout the story.
c. dynamic character
Click here and try again.
Correct!!!
Quiz 2
Quiz 2
a. protagonist
Person or thing fighting
against the hero of a b. static
story.
c. antagonist
Correct!!!
Quiz 3
Quiz 3
a. dynamic character
A character who
changes or grows in a
b. static character
work of literature.
c. flat character
Correct!!!
Quiz 4
Quiz 4
a. static characters
These characters show
many personality traits. b. flat characters
They change, develop, and
c. round characters
adjust to situations.
Correct!!!
Quiz 5
Quiz 5
a. round character
The main character of a

b. antagonist
story or novel.
c. protagonist
Correct!!!
Quiz 6
Quiz 6
a. round character
Characters constructed
around a single idea or b. flat character
quality.
c. protagonist
Correct!!!
Process
PowerPoint Presentation
In your PowerPoint presentation include the following:
1. Introduction (title, author, and theme)

2. Plot and setting
3. Specify characters (protagonist, antagonist, round, flat, dynamic,
and static).
4. Summary
5. PowerPoint, oral, presentation (rubric)
Conclusion
Beginning Developing Accomplished Mastered Score
1 2 3 4
Unclear, missing 2 Complete Complete Complete

Introduction: elements, and not sentences that sentences that sentences that
title, author, and complete does not apply to apply to the story apply to the story
theme sentences the story with evidence
Unclear and Complete Complete Complete

Plot and setting missing an sentences with sentences, sentences, clear
element misspellings thoughts, correct thoughts, and
and/or missing spelling, but has information
information missing
information
Specify character Mentions Mentions Mentions the Summary includes

types including characters, but not character types, character types all elements and
the protagonist character types but not the with less than 3 no errors in
and antagonist protagonist or errors in grammar spelling and
antagonist and spelling grammar
Summarizes the Summary is Summary is Summary includes Summary includes

story (rising missing 1 or 2 missing 1 element all elements and all elements and
action, climax, elements and has errors in has less than 2 no errors in
and falling grammar and errors in grammar grammar and
action) spelling and spelling spelling
PowerPoint oral Late, needed On-time, prepared, On-time, clear, On-time, clear/loud
presentation and assistance in but needed loud, but needed voice, and
organization presenting, and assistance in some assistance organized with
not prepared or presenting in presenting colorful graphics
organized
Conclusion
Conclusion
Students, you have meet the Kansas reading indicator 2.1.1., identifying and describing
different types of characters, and you analyzed their development with your PowerPoint
Presentation.
Teacher Page
Teacher Page
Web sites
http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/content/2331
http://www.fvdes.com/welch/skills/characters.htm
http://www.fvdes.com/welch/skills/furtherfictionnotes.htm
http://www.quia.com/mc/30222.html
http://www.geocities.com/educationplace/poe/gl.htm
http://www.humboldt.edu/~tdd2/Character.htm
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Character Traits

A WebQuest for High School Resource Classes

Students will create a PowerPoint presentation.

1. Click here character traits.

Protagonist Antagonist Round

Flat Static Dynamic

The main character, central, the good one in

Characters that change and grow in a work

Characters that remain the same throughout

A character that remains the

The main character of a

1. Introduction (title, author, and theme)

Unclear, missing 2 Complete Complete Complete

Unclear and Complete Complete Complete

Specify character Mentions Mentions Mentions the Summary includes

Summarizes the Summary is Summary is Summary includes Summary includes

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