SEVEN COMMON CHARACTER TYPES

by Terry W. Ervin II

Fiction writers employ a variety of characters while weaving their tales. Beyond the standard
definitions of protagonist (the main character in a literary work) and antagonist (the main
character or force that opposes the protagonist in a literary work), recognizing the types of
characters and the parts they play while reading an interesting story can add to the
experience. In addition, a fuller understanding of the character types and their uses can
increase a writer’s effectiveness in weaving his own fictional tales.
Below is a list of common character types, followed by an explanation and short example:

1. CONFIDANTE- someone in whom the central character confides, thus revealing the
main character’s personality, thoughts, and intentions. The confidante does not need
to be a person.

Example: In a story, Melvin Sanders is a detective on the trail of a serial killer. He

travels with his pet dog, a pug named Chops. Instead of listening to the radio, Melvin
talks to Chops, telling him his theories about the serial killer and his concern he may
never discover the killer’s identity.

In this example Chops is a confidante.

2. DYNAMIC CHARACTER - a character which changes during the course of a story or

novel. The change in outlook or character is permanent. Sometimes a dynamic
character is called a developing character.

Example: Ebenezer Scrooge, in A Christmas Carol by Dickens, was very stingy with
his money. He worked his employees very hard for little pay. After his experiences with
the ghosts that visited him, he changed his ways, paying his employees a more than
fair wage, providing days off work and actually giving gifts.

In this example Ebenezer Scrooge is a dynamic character.

3. FLAT CHARACTER - a character who reveals only one, maybe two, personality traits
in a story or novel, and the trait(s) do not change.

Example: In a story about a friendly teacher named Sandra Smith, Louis Drud is a
janitor in her building. Louis is always tired and grumpy whenever Sandra runs across
him and says hello.
 In this example Louis Drud is a flat character.

4. FOIL - a character that is used to enhance another character through contrast.

Cinderella’s grace and beauty as opposed to her nasty, self-centered stepsisters is
one clear illustration of a foil many may recall from childhood.

Example: The main character in a story, a teenager named Sally, is a very honest
person. She always tries to tell the truth and consider everyone’s feelings. The teacher
assigns Betty to be Sally’s science lab partner. Betty enjoys gossip and likes to see
people’s reactions, especially if it involves hurt or embarrassment.

In this example Betty is a foil.

5. ROUND CHARACTER - a well-developed character who demonstrates varied and

sometimes contradictory traits. Round characters are usually dynamic (change in
some way over the course of a story).

Example: A character in a story named Elaine never cuts anybody a break. She tells
her friends and coworkers that charity and compassion have no place in society. On
the other hand, Elaine can never pass up feeding a stray kitten or puppy, and always
tries to find a good home for lost or abandoned pets.

In this example Elaine is a round character.

6. STATIC CHARACTER – a character that remains primarily the same throughout a

story or novel. Events in the story do not alter a static character’s outlook, personality,
motivation, perception, habits, etc.

Example: Bert, a bumbling salesman, never takes the time to organize his files,
properly record his sales, or follow up with customers. Finally, his boss gets fed up and
fires him. Bert struggles for two months to find a new sales position. During that time,
his car is repossessed for nonpayment and he maxes out his credit cards. Bert finally
finds a new sales position but, before a week passes, he is called into a conference
with his new boss. Bert is informed he must get organized or he’ll be fired. A week
later the new boss fires Bert after he fails to follow up with an important customer.

In this example Bert is a static character.

7. STOCK CHARACTER - a special kind of flat character who is instantly recognizable to
most readers. Possible examples include the “ruthless businessman”, “shushing old
librarian” or “dumb jock.” They are not the focus nor developed in the story.

Example: The main character in a story, Bernard, is hired by a computer company.

His secretary is a blonde named Gidget, who is cute but forgetful and never gets a
joke.

In this example Gidget is a stock character.

WHAT IS A PARENTHETICAL PHRASE OR EXPRESSION?

 A parenthetical expression is a word or words added to a sentence without

changing the meaning or grammar of the original sentence. Parenthetical
expressions give extra information but are not essential. You can add and
remove a parenthetical and the sentence works just the same.

 Parenthetical phrase is an explanatory or qualifying word, clause, or sentence

inserted into a passage.

 A parenthetical phrase gives extra information to a sentence that is already

complete.

 If you remove the parenthetical phrase, the sentence still functions perfectly – it
just isn’t as detailed.

THESE ARE THE 8 TYPES OF PARENTHETICAL PHRASES

1. INTRODUCTORY PHRASE. This element preceding the main statement provides
context for the sentence.

 Many years ago, Andrew’s brother told him the worst ghost story he’d
ever heard.

2. INTERJECTION. Interjections are words used to express strong feeling or sudden

emotion. They are included in a sentence (usually at the start) to express a sentiment
such as surprise, disgust, joy, excitement, or enthusiasm. An interjection is not
grammatically related to any other part of the sentence. An interjection imparts
information about the writer’s (or speaker’s) state of mind, as in this sentence in which
the interjection implies impatience or indignation: “Well, what do you have to say for
yourself?

 Well, you could at least try to have fun.

 Oooo, I don’t think so.
 Wait, tell me about your trip.
3. ASIDE. An aside is a statement that is subordinated to the sentence, often denoting
an ingratiating or apologetic attitude. It might also be placed within parentheses to
more clearly identify it as a trivial comment or between em dashes to signal its sudden
and/or unexpected impact.

 There are more than 800,000 known species of insects living in the world,
in case you didn’t know.
 By the way, you never told me that.

4. APPOSITIVE. In English grammar, an appositive is a noun, noun phrase, or series of

nouns placed next to another word or phrase to identify or rename it. The word
"appositive" comes from the Latin for "to put near." Nonrestrictive appositives are
usually set off by commas, parentheses, or dashes.

 Dr. Phillip K. Aston, a researcher at Miami University, has discovered a

cure for cancer.
 When I was done with it, I gave the movie script to Hans, my friend who
works for Universal Studios.

5. ABSOLUTE PHRASE. An absolute phrase is a modifier (quite often a participle), or a

modifier and a few other words, that attaches to a sentence or a noun, with no
conjunction. An absolute phrase cannot contain a finite verb. We normally explain
absolute phrases by saying that they modify entire sentences, rather than one word.

 The shooting victim, his eyes rolled completely back into his head,
was clearly dead.
 I found your grandfather running down Market Street carrying fish, cats
chasing him and meowing the whole way.

6. FREE MODIFIER. Free modifiers are words and phrases the author tacks on to a
sentence to make the sentence better. Free means you can tack on the modifier
wherever you want to - at the beginning or end of a sentence.

 Realizing they were broke, Mario and Elizabeth ended their vacation and
returned home.
7. RESUMPTIVE MODIFIER. In English grammar, a resumptive modifier is a modifier
that repeats a key word (usually at or near the end of a main clause) and then adds
informative or descriptive details related to that word.

 February’s nasty winter weather culminated in a ferocious snowstorm, a

snowstorm that would be remembered many years later.

8. SUMMATIVE MODIFIER. In English grammar, a summative modifier is a modifier

(usually a noun phrase) that appears at the end of a sentence and serves to
summarize the idea of the main clause.

 When we told her the news, Andrea went into a blind rage, something
she had never done before and hasn’t done since.