What is a flat characte8/26/2023 ![]() Most stories contain more static characters than dynamic characters. Here's how to pronounce static character: stat-ik kar-ik-ter Static Characters in Depth Many of literature's most lifelike and memorable characters are static. On the contrary, many static characters-like Romeo, for instance-are quite complex. Just because a character is static does not mean that they are "bad" or overly simplistic.Static characters can be protagonists, antagonists, or other minor characters, and a narrative can have more than one static character.The opposite of a static character is a dynamic character: one who does undergo internal changes over the course of a story.Some additional key details about static characters: ![]() For instance, in Romeo and Juliet, it can be argued that Romeo is a static character: he's defined by his impulsiveness and emotionally volatility, and rather than changing these traits, he ultimately dies because of them. Antagonists are often static characters, but any character in a story can be static. In this interview, screenwriter Travis Seppala talks more about how and why these characters are commonly used as plot devices that move a story forward.What is a static character? Here’s a quick and simple definition:Ī character is said to be "static" if they do not undergo any substantial internal changes as a result of the story's major plot developments. Using characters with a flat arc to move the plot along is effective because they do not distract the audience with any character details. This is common in film genres that are more plot-driven than character driven films or a character study. The first reason to use this character type is to simply move the plot along. Otherwise, the character will be uninteresting and unnecessary. The important thing is to know their purpose before you write them in. There are several reasons to use these characters in a story. Flat characters in movies What is a flat character used for? There are many examples of iconic characters that can be defined as flay and actually are great for specific purposes. What is a flat character used for then? Well, despite what it may seem, they are not always uninteresting or not useful. You might be thinking that a round character in all aspects sounds better than their flat counterparts. His entire personality can be summed up as “surfer turtle.” Yet he serves an important purpose in moving the plot forward. A great example of this can be found in the character Crush from one of the best animated movies Finding Nemo.Ĭrush is a flat character example that stems from the surfer stereotype. These stereotypes assign these characters their defining qualities. Stereotypicalįlat characters usually stem from some type of stereotype or character archetype. Think of Biff from Back to the Future or Deebo from Friday - bullies who serve a very important function for the protagonists' character arcs. These characters lack complexity in that they have no internal conflict, no complex relationships, and only a few defining qualities.Ī “bully” is a common flat character example that lacks any defining qualities besides being mean and nasty. They are one dimensional and lack any complexity. One-dimensionalįlat characters are exactly that - flat. To better distinguish the criteria of these character and how they work, let’s look at the traits of a flat character in detail. Flat character meaning Traits of a flat character
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