Speaking of characters…

When you think of characters in a story, I’m sure your mind tends to go towards protagonist, antagonist, foil, or maybe things like main character or villain. Whatever you might call the people in the story that make the story what it is.

However, I’m not talking about that here. I’m talking about the characters themselves and what makes them the way they are. Do they have a deep background? Do they have a lot of personality? Are they more just for a quick line or two?

Dynamic Characters

Dynamic characters make great protagonists because they change over the course of the story. This change is usually brought about by a major event, kind of forcing them to change. This change they undergo will usually be something internal, like willingness to do something, attitude, personality, or mental state. It can also be something like ability.

Round Characters

Round characters have very humanistic qualities, making them relatable to readers. Like dynamic characters, round characters will usually show change in some way as well. However, they show more willingness and ability to change from the beginning, not necessarily requiring any specific event to change, which is part of what makes them feel more human.

Static Characters

Regardless of what happens over the course of the story, static characters do not change. They don’t undergo any sort of personal or physical growth that alters them. It’s important to note that static characters are not the same as flat characters (which I’ll get into in a minute) because they still have fully formed personalities.

Stock Characters

Stock characters are characters that are built on well-known stereotypes and expectations. These characters are predictable, and like static characters, stock characters don’t usually undergo change, helping to keep that predictability. Stock characters usually have a predetermined and specific role in a story, and they don’t stray from that.

Flat Characters

Unlike their static cousins who can be complex and deep, flat characters are shallow in terms of personality and detail. Though, both of these types share the trait of not experiencing change. Flat characters also usually have one strong trait that they kind of become known for throughout the course of the story, any other traits they show are normally small or insignificant.

Symbolic Characters

Symbolic characters are exactly what they sound like: characters that represent something, such as ideas, morality, popular themes, social constructs, and more. These characters can have some dynamic qualities, but they don’t always experience change. The major thing with these characters is that their symbolism is prominent and consistent throughout the story.

The Bottom Line

There is a plethora of characters, character types, character traits. You can make so many combinations to give your story the feel and qualities you desire. Round protagonists, symbolic foils, flat supporting characters. Whatever mix of things that will tell the story the way you need and want!