Character Terms for AP Literature Flashcards

7243649991	Mentor	a common archetype in literature. The mentor is usually old, and this person often has some kind of magical abilities or a much greater breadth of knowledge than others possess. Mentors help heroes along their journeys, usually by teaching them how to help themselves (though mentors sometimes directly intervene in extreme situations). The mentor often ends up dying but is sometimes resurrected or revisited even after death.	0
7243652188	Stock Character	a dramatic or literary character representing a type in a conventional manner and recurring in many works. a character in literature, theater, or film of a type quickly recognized and accepted by the reader or viewer and requiring no development by the writer.	1
7243652189	Dynamic Character	a literary or dramatic character who undergoes an important inner change, as a change in personality or attitude; also undergoes changes throughout the narrative, due to conflicts he encounters on his journey. A dynamic character faces trials and tribulations, and takes time to learn from his encounters, his experiences, and his mistakes, as well as from other characters.	2
7243652897	Flat Character	two-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work. a type of character in fiction that does not change too much from the start of the narrative to its end. Flat characters are often said not to have any emotional depth.	3
7243652898	Round Character	a complex personality. Like real people, they have depth in feelings and passions. a round character has many layers of personality. Writers define a round character fully, both physically and mentally. It is the character with whom the audience can sympathize, associate with, or relate to, as he seems a character they might have seen in their real lives.	4
7243653453	Foil	a character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character with the objective to highlight the traits of the other character.	5
7243654725	Confidant/Confidante	confidant refers to someone to whom private or personal matters are confided (i.e., someone trusted). A confidant or confidante is someone to whom private matters are confided. (The words confidant and confidante are interchangeable, but strict grammarians reserve confidant for males and confidante for females.)	6
7243657646	Direct Characterization	how an author tells his or her reader about a character; when the author specifically reveals traits about the character in a direct, straightforward manner.	7
7243659928	Indirect Characterization	the process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance, etc.	8