Content code
a2506
Slug (identifier)
narrative-texts-characters
Parent content
Narrative Texts—Structures & Features
Grades
Secondaire 1
Secondaire 2
Secondaire 3
Secondaire 4
Secondaire 5
Topic
Anglais
Content
Contenu
Text

Narrative texts contain a lot of characters. Here are some examples of character types often used in stories.

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Type
Anchor
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Main Characters
Anchor
main-characters
Type
Anchor
Title
Supporting Characters
Anchor
supporting-characters
Type
Anchor
Title
Villains
Anchor
villains
Type
Anchor
Title
Common Character Related Expressions
Anchor
common-character-related-expressions
Title (level 2)
Main Characters
Title slug (identifier)
main-characters
Contenu
Image
In a story the main character is called the protagonist. Most of the story
Title (level 2)
Supporting Characters
Title slug (identifier)
supporting-characters
Contenu
Image
Supporting characters help the story move along and contribute to character development.
Title (level 2)
Villains
Title slug (identifier)
villains
Contenu
Image
Villains are called antagonists. They oppose the main character of the story.
Title (level 2)
Common Character Related Expressions
Title slug (identifier)
common-character-related-expressions
Contenu
Title (level 3)
Protagonist
Title slug (identifier)
protagonist
Corps

Main character in a story. The character responsible for making the story progress.

Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings series (Tolkien, 1954-1955)
Alice in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Lewis, 1865)
Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl, 1964)
Title (level 3)
Antagonist
Title slug (identifier)
antagonist
Corps

Main character’s adversary. The character responsible for creating conflict for the protagonist.

Lord Voldemort to Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series (Rowling, 1997-2007)
Captain Hook to Peter Pan in The Little White Bird (Barrie, 1902)
The Wicked Witch of the West to Dorothy in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900)
Title (level 3)
Sidekick
Title slug (identifier)
sidekick
Corps

A supporting character helping the protagonist progress through a story. Often also serves as the foil for the protagonist.

Samwise Gamgee to Frodo Baggins in The Lord of the Rings series (Tolkien, 1954-1955)
Ron Weasley to Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series (Rowling, 1997-2007)
Inigo Montoya to Westley in The Princess Bride (Goldman, 1973)
Title (level 3)
Foil
Title slug (identifier)
foil
Corps

A character used to elevate and emphasize another character’s qualities by contrasting them. The foil can be on the protagonist’s side (sidekick) or against (antagonist).

Dr. John Watson to Sherlock Holmes in the Sherlock Holmes series (Doyle, 1887-1927)
Lieutenant Dan to Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump (Groom, 1986)
Draco Malfoy to Harry Potter in the Harry Potter series (Rowling, 1997-2007)
Title (level 3)
Round characters
Title slug (identifier)
round-characters
Corps

Well developed and complex characters that affect and change with the story.

Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series (Rowling, 1997-2007)
Ponyboy Curtis in The Outsiders (Hinton, 1967)
Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby (Fitzgerald, 1925)
Title (level 3)
Flat characters
Title slug (identifier)
flat-characters
Corps

Characters with 1 or 2 simple traits used to advance certain plot points. They serve a specific purpose in the story.

Boromir in The Lord of the Rings series (Tolkien, 1954-1955)
John Hammond in Jurassic Park (Crichton, 1990)
Ginny Weasley in the Harry Potter series (Rowling, 1997-2007)
Title (level 3)
Archetype
Title slug (identifier)
archetype
Corps

A type of character with universal attributes and easily recognizable qualities.

Lover archetype:

Romeo & Juliet in Romeo and Juliet (Shakespeare 1597)
Buttercup in The Princess Bride (Goldman, 1973)

Creator archetype:

Dr. Victor Frankenstein in Frankenstein (Shelley, 1818)
Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Dahl, 1964)

Everyman archetype:

Arthur Dent in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Douglas 1979)
Jonathan Harker in Dracula (Stoker 1897)

Mentor archetype: 

Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series (Rowling, 1997-2007)
The Giver in The Giver (Lowry, 1993)
Title (level 2)
See Also
Title slug (identifier)
see-also
Contenu
Links
Type
Internal
Title
Narrative Texts—Structures & Features
Internal link
/en/node/36714
Type
Internal
Title
Narrative Texts—Forms, Genres & Literary Devices
Internal link
/en/node/36720
Type
Internal
Title
Text Types
Internal link
/en/node/36544
Type
Internal
Title
Text Features
Internal link
/en/node/36367
Type
Internal
Title
The Plot Diagram
Internal link
/en/node/36615
Type
Internal
Title
Response Process
Internal link
/en/node/36261
Type
Internal
Title
Reading Guides
Internal link
/en/node/37526
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