Examples of character development in literature. Character 2023-01-04
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Character development is an essential element of literature, as it allows readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level and helps to bring the story to life. It involves the transformation of a character over the course of a story, and can be accomplished through a variety of means, such as personal growth, relationships with other characters, and experiences and events within the story. Here are a few examples of character development in literature:
Holden Caulfield in "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger - Throughout the novel, Holden undergoes significant character development as he struggles to find his place in the world and come to terms with the death of his younger brother. He begins the novel as a cynical and rebellious teenager, but as he encounters various challenges and experiences, he begins to mature and come to a better understanding of himself and the world around him.
Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee - Atticus is a compassionate and fair-minded lawyer who is dedicated to upholding justice in the face of racial prejudice. He serves as a role model for his children, and his actions and words throughout the novel help to shape their moral development.
Elizabeth Bennet in "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen - Elizabeth is a strong-willed and intelligent young woman who initially judges others based on their social status and appearance. However, as she gets to know Mr. Darcy and experiences various events throughout the novel, she learns to look beyond these superficial qualities and recognizes the true value of people.
Gatsby in "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Gatsby is a mysterious and enigmatic character who has made a fortune through questionable means. As the story unfolds, we learn about his past and the events that have shaped him into the person he is today. Through his interactions with other characters and his ultimate tragic end, Gatsby undergoes significant character development and serves as a commentary on the corrupting influence of wealth and power.
Holden in "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger - Holden is a complex and troubled teenager who is struggling to find his place in the world. As he encounters various challenges and experiences throughout the novel, he begins to mature and come to a better understanding of himself and the world around him.
In conclusion, character development is an integral part of literature, as it allows readers to connect with the characters on a deeper level and helps to bring the story to life. Through personal growth, relationships, and experiences, characters undergo transformation and help to shape the themes and messages of the story.
Character Examples
What world does your character hope to see? First off, What is Character Development? To create something new and beautiful? You can also see how their personality affects those around them. Direct Characterization In The Pancake House 919 Words 4 Pages If you chose direct characterization, what are you doing as a writer? She used to live with a flock of birds on Lenox Avenue. The protagonist is often a Round Character The round characters are well-developed and complex figures in a story. What are your greatest strengths? Characters in stories can be well-developed, major characters or minor characters. Diversity As a Part of Character Development This is an important step now more than ever. That said, if someone in your story has negative character traits, they can certainly undergo a negative character arc. You can see how they react to situations instead of just describing them with no explanation.
Character Description Examples: Create People, not Caricatures
We typically will know their age, their size, ethnicity, and any other distinctive physical characteristics that would be pertinent to the story. Margaret Atwood, The Blind Assassin 2000 , p. He was such a miserable specimen, the children said, all humps and hollows. It may shock you, and frankly, rock the foundation from which you have created all of your characters in the past. The character traits for the character at the beginning of the story are: trusting, naive, talkative, entitled, soft-bodied, and expensively dressed.
The plot causes the characteristics of the child by the end of the story to become: discerning, wise, quiet, more aware of the needs of others, muscular, and dressed in cheaper, practical clothing. For example, stories must have a plot, or events that take place. Describe characters through multiple POVs One of the great benefits of a story with multiple viewpoint characters is you can create impressions of people through different facets of their personality. The plot develops as the characters face these conflicts and eventually resolve the conflict. Examples of the character's circumstances are where they live, their family structure, social status, etc. He forces his workers to work hard, but gives them peanuts in return.
Character Analysis in Literature: Definition & Examples
The general purpose of characters is to extend the plot. It all depends on how much the author wants to focus on certain characters versus others. At the story's end, Scrooge becomes generous and caring towards the people in his life. Then, the character's parents have a tragic accident making the child an orphan who experiences hardships and betrayals in the orphanage and a new home. What you will do, what you will say, how you interact with the world. For example, an author might have a character talk about himself or herself in order to explain his or her actions.
As you work to create your own questionnaire for characters, you can search for existing examples. When Daisy is questioning whether she should marry Tom, she receives an extravagant pearl necklace from him. On the other hand, flat characters are those who don't develop or change throughout the course of the story. Gargantua and Pentagruel in The Life of Gargantua and of Pantagruel by François Rabelais Cowardly Not brave; gracelessly showing fear in the face of conflict. Janie Crawford in Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston.
This means putting them in situations where they can display different sides of their personality or traits that you have written about them having. In fact, given the list above, many times the antihero, who lacks the normal optimism and moralism of a traditional BUT… people also enjoy the reassurance that characters and their stories provide, because they can see people overcoming obstacles and succeeding. For other cases, there's indirect characterization, or the portrayal of characteristics through that person's words, thoughts, deeds, interactions, or appearance. What makes this character strong, and why? Archetype vs Stereotype in Character Development As you begin to plot out the characters in your story, you need to be aware of An archetypal character is one defined by their plot function, ie what they are trying to achieve. Or an author might have a character discuss issues relevant to the plot. Scrooge ultimately transforms from his stingy, hateful self into a model of humanity and goodwill.
How Does the Character Develop Over the Course of the Story?
Character traits are the features of a character's appearance and personality - how the character looks and behaves, and they may also be referred to as the characteristics of the character. Romeo in Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Greedy Demonstrating a selfish and excessive desire for wealth and material goods. Atticus is a multifaceted character who chose to diverge from the family tradition of growing cotton in favor of a law career. Character Development Examples: Summing Up Each protagonist in the above character development examples endures their own set of conflicts. With a focus on exploring and analyzing literary elements through short stories, short works of nonfiction, novels, and poetry, Kristy Robins Kristy Robins is a resource teacher at Essentials in Writing. Where is this character going? Think of conflict as worked out in plot threads. This gives the movie more of an "on-screen" feel instead of a "book" feel.
The author may not have directly stated that this character is brave or heroic, but you can infer that this is a character trait by evaluating the character's behaviors in the story. This is the essence of character development. Catchphrase A catchphrase will be a short phrase or expression used by a specific character, that recurs in a similar form throughout the course of the script. Therefore, character development is not always dramatic or extreme to meet the reader's need for both familiarity and interest. In Character Development, Complement or Contrast Other Characters It is important to understand how a particular character compares to other characters, and furthermore, what their motivational relationship is to them. In his final scene, Luke is brave, is no longer naive yet is still idealistic, and has found his place in the galaxy. In the real world, our physical appearances affect how other people treat us for better or for worse.
