Questions on Character, Characterization & Character Development

Directions: Read a myth of your choosing and answer the questions below.

In literature, characterization refers to the process of creating a character. How does Edith Hamilton describe the major characters of the myth you chose to read?

There are a couple of ways an author can characterize a person in a story: directly or indirectly. Direct characterization is when the author literally tells you about a character with adjectives. What adjectives does Edith Hamilton use to describe Eros?

Indirect characterization is when the author describes what a character says, thinks, does, or looks like. When an author writes about a girl who slaps her so-called friend, the reader concludes that the character is mean. The author does not use the word “mean” but is able to communicate the fact that the girl in the story is mean by showing what that character does. This kind of characterization is known as indirect. In Hamilton’s description, what is something Eros does, says, or thinks? Based on this information, what conclusions can you draw about Eros?

In literature, a round character is a character the readers learn so much about it’s almost as if they know the character personally; the readers see many sides of the character. Based on the short descriptions of the major characters in classical mythology, who is one example of a round character, and what information do you learn about this character to support this answer?

The opposite of a round character is a flat character. A flat character is a person in the story that the reader only knows one thing about. Flat characters usually have supporting roles or cameo appearances. Who is one example of a flat character? Hermes is a flat character because the only role he has in a myth is a messenger boy between the gods.

A dynamic character is one who changes throughout the course of a story. A dynamic character may be flat or round. Based on what you’ve read about myths so far, who is an example of a dynamic character?

Unlike a dynamic character, a static character stays the same throughout the story. A static character may have a major or minor role in the story, but not change at all. Who is an example of a static character in classical mythology?

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