Character TraitsA WebQuest for High School Resource Classes

Deborah ButlerAugust 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• egotistical• elderly • stout• selfish• honest• persistent• active• ambitious• arrogant• bewildered• candid• conscientious• considerate

• adventurous• crafty• domineering• lackadaisical• loquacious• jovial• languid• facetious• complacent• conceited• meticulous• determined• timid• 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 CharactersProtagonist: 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 character that remains the

same throughout the story.

a. round character

b. static character

c. dynamic character

Click here and try again.

Correct!!!

Quiz 2

Quiz 2

Person or thing fighting

against the hero of a

story.

a. protagonist

b. static

c. antagonist

Click here and try again.

Correct!!!

Quiz 3

Quiz 3

A character who

changes or grows in a

work of literature.

a. dynamic character

b. static character

c. flat character

Click here and try again.

Correct!!!

Quiz 4

Quiz 4

These characters show

many personality traits.

They change, develop, and

adjust to situations.

a. static characters

b. flat characters

c. round characters

Click here and try again.

Correct!!!

Quiz 5

Quiz 5

The main character of a

story or novel.

a. round character

b. antagonist

c. protagonist

Correct!!!

Quiz 6

Click here and try again.

Quiz 6

Characters constructed

around a single idea or

quality.

a. round character

b. flat character

c. protagonist

Click here and try again.

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

1

Developing

2

Accomplished

3

Mastered

4

Score

Introduction: title, author, and

theme

Unclear, missing 2 elements, and not

complete sentences

Complete sentences that

does not apply to the story

Complete sentences that

apply to the story

Complete sentences that

apply to the story with evidence

Plot and setting

Unclear and missing an

element

Complete sentences with

misspellings and/or missing

information

Complete sentences,

thoughts, correct spelling, but has

missing information

Complete sentences, clear

thoughts, and information

Specify character types including the protagonist and antagonist

Mentions characters, but not

character types

Mentions character types,

but not the protagonist or

antagonist

Mentions the character types with less than 3

errors in grammar and spelling

Summary includes all elements and

no errors in spelling and

grammar

Summarizes the story (rising

action, climax, and falling

action)

Summary is missing 1 or 2

elements

Summary is missing 1 element and has errors in

grammar and spelling

Summary includes all elements and has less than 2

errors in grammar and spelling

Summary includes all elements and

no errors in grammar and

spelling

PowerPoint oral presentation and

organization

Late, needed assistance in

presenting, and not prepared or

organized

On-time, prepared, but needed

assistance in presenting

On-time, clear, loud, but needed some assistance

in presenting

On-time, clear/loud voice, and

organized with colorful graphics

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 PageWeb 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

Character Traits