Exploring Characters and Conflict in Literature

Exploring Characters and Conflict in Literature

What do you already know about characters and conflict in literature?

Flat Characters

Flat characters are those that lack depth and complexity. They are often one-dimensional and don't undergo significant development throughout the story.

Define flat characters and provide examples from well-known literature. Encourage students to think about characters they have encountered in their own reading.

Round Characters

Round characters are fully developed and multi-dimensional. They have depth, complexity, and undergo significant growth or change throughout the story.

Explain the concept of round characters and give examples from different literary works. Encourage students to think about the reasons why authors create round characters.

Protagonist

The protagonist is the central character or the main character in a story. They are often the character with whom the reader sympathizes or supports.

Define protagonist and discuss the role they play in a story. Ask students to identify protagonists from their favorite books or movies.

Antagonist

The antagonist is the character or force that opposes the protagonist. They create conflict and obstacles for the main character to overcome.

Explain the concept of an antagonist and provide examples from popular literature. Discuss the importance of conflict in storytelling.

Motivation

Motivation refers to the reasons behind a character's actions or behaviors. It helps to understand why a character behaves the way they do.

Define motivation and its significance in character development. Encourage students to analyze the motivations of characters they have encountered in their reading.

Internal Conflict

Internal conflict occurs within a character's mind or emotions. It is a struggle between different desires, beliefs, or emotions within the same character.

Explain the concept of internal conflict and provide examples from literature. Discuss the impact of internal conflict on character development.

External Conflict

External conflict involves a character's struggle against an outside force, such as another character, nature, or society. It creates tension and drives the plot forward.

Define external conflict and give examples from various literary works. Discuss how external conflicts shape the story.

Interactive Activity - Character Analysis

In pairs, analyze a character from a book or movie you both know. Identify whether the character is flat or round and discuss their motivation, internal conflict, and external conflict.

Divide students into pairs and provide them with a character analysis worksheet. Instruct them to choose a character from a shared book or movie and analyze their traits, conflicts, and motivations. Allow time for discussion and encourage students to share their findings with the class.

Recap

Characters in literature can be flat or round, with round characters being more complex and developed. The protagonist is the main character, while the antagonist opposes them. Characters are driven by motivation and may face internal and external conflicts.

Summarize the key terms and concepts discussed in the lesson. Encourage students to ask questions if anything is unclear.