Characters and POV

• Literatuur
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Characters and POV

Reading your book

Learning about characters

and POV

Time to read

Quietly reading

Name as many famous main characters you know (books, shows, movies, games, etc.(

Characters in a book

Every book has characters. The most important character in a book is the main character. The main character is often the protagonist. The protagonist is the "good guy" in a book. The protagonist often has a conflict with the antagonist, the "bad guy". Next to the protagonist and the antagonist, there are also minor characters. 

Who is the protagonist in "The Lion King"?

Who is the antagonist in "The Lion King"?

Name 5 minor characters in "The Lion King"

Think about your book; who is the protagonist in your book? (nonfiction does not have a protagonist)

Think about your book; who is the antagonist in your book? (nonfiction does not have a antagonist)

Think about your book; can you name at least 2 minor characters?

Which character traits can you come up with? (funny, intelligent, creative, etc.)

Types of characters

Some characters are flat, flat characters are types or caricatures defined by a single idea or quality. A stereotype is flat. Round characters have the three-dimensional complexity of real people. 

Is the main character in your book flat or round? Name at least two of their character traits:

Point of view

Stories can be told from different point of views. The POV refers to who is telling or narrating the story. Some points of view are more reliable than others. 

Which POV is the least reliable?

1. First person POV
2. Third person POV

From which point of view is your book written? What kind of effect does this have?

Would you like to be friends with the main character in your book? Why / why not?