Characters and Conflict

English IIMango

Static/Flat Characters

• Character whose personality does not change• Example from “Marin”: “[Marin is] too much

trouble…lights a cigarette…skirts are shorter…waiting for a car to stop…” (27).

• Emerging Theme: Sometimes we have to do something to make a change in our lives—we can’t just sit around and wait for something to happen.

• Justification (ties back to emerging theme):

Dynamic/Round Character

• Personality changes over the course of the story• Example from “The Family of Little Feet”: – “We have legs…all our own, good to look at, and long”

(40).– “Lucy hides the shoes…until one Tuesday her mother…

throws them away. But no one complains” (42). • Emerging Theme: Sometimes kids are too eager to

grow up and are unprepared for the adversity they may encounter along the way.

• Justification (Tie back to emerging theme)

Protagonist

• Main character of a work• Example from “A Rice Sandwich”: “I got it in my

head one day to ask my mother to make me a sandwich and write a note to the principal so I could eat in the canteen too” (43).

• Emerging Theme: Although at times we are eager to see what is “on the other side” we realize to sometimes appreciate our current situation as it stands.

• Justification (ties to emerging theme):

Antagonist

• The character or force against whom the protagonist struggles

• Example from “The First Job”: “…just as I was about to put my lips on his cheek, he grabs my face with both hands and kisses me hard on the mouth and doesn’t let go” (55).

• Emerging Theme: It is important to be discern from what may be a potentially bad idea. What may seem innocent at first may turn out to be a major conflict.

• Justification (ties to emerging theme):

External Conflict

• Struggle between a person and an outside force• Example from “Those Who Don’t”: “Those who

don’t know any better come into our neighborhood scared…they think we’re dangerous”(28).

• Emerging Theme: Sometimes people make pre-judgments about people’s appearances without truly knowing who that person is.

• Justification (ties to emerging theme):

Internal Conflict

• Mental struggle arising from opposing demands

• Example from “ ”: • Emerging Theme:• Justification (ties into emerging theme):