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The ProtagonistThe AntagonistConflictSubordinate CharactersDynamic CharactersStatic CharactersMotivationPractice
Character Interactions
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The protagonist is the main character and the focus of readers’ attention. A good protagonist
The Protagonist
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• is complicated and contradictory, like a real person
• has both strengths and weaknesses
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The Antagonist
The antagonist is the force that blocks the protagonist from getting what he or she wants. The antagonist may be
• a nonhuman force• another character
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Conflict
Conflict is a struggle that occurs when the protagonist must find a way to overcome or get around the antagonist.
Conflicts drive plots, create suspense, and intrigue readers.
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Conflict
What kind of conflict does Jing-mei face?
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Quick CheckAnd after seeing my mother’s disappointed face again, something inside me began to die. I hated the tests, the raised hopes and failed expectations. Before going to bed that night, I looked in the mirror above the bathroom sink and when I saw only my face staring back—and that it would always be this ordinary face—I began to cry. Such a sad, ugly girl! I made high-pitched noises like a crazed animal, trying to scratch out the face in the mirror.
from “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan
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Subordinate Characters
Subordinate characters populate the protagonist’s world. Their relationship with the protagonist helps
• develop the plot and add complexity to the story
• reveal the protagonist’s character
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Dynamic characters change or grow as a result of the story’s action. They
Dynamic Characters
• are main characters• gain a new understanding, make an important
decision, or take a crucial action• help reveal the meaning of the story
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Static characters are usually exactly the same as the story ends as they were when it began. They
Static Characters
• are almost always subordinate characters• support the plot without distracting readers
from the main action—the protagonist’s conflict and growth
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Writers make characters believable by revealing what motivates them to act as they do. A character’s motivation
Motivation
• reveals why characters act, feel, and think as they do
• must usually be inferred from clues in the story
• is based on his or her needs or conflicts
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Motivation
What motivates Jing-mei?
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Quick CheckI looked at my reflection, blinking so I could see more clearly. The girl staring back at me was angry, powerful. This girl and I were the same. I had new thoughts, willful thoughts, or rather thoughts filled with lots of wont’s. I won’t let her change me, I promised myself. I won’t be what I’m not.
from “Two Kinds” by Amy Tan
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Work with a partner to analyze a short story you have recently read. Use a data bank like the one shown here.
Practice
Data BankMain character:What main character wants:(motivation)Relationship with subordinate character(s)Conflict:Resolution:How main character changes:
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The End