The Christmas holiday provides an opportunity for students to engage in a discussion about the character and roles of the story. The classic and longest-running Christmas holiday special, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, can serve as an introduction to the types of characters that are important in fictional stories. Challenge students to identify the seven types of characters and the roles they play. If it’s an end-of-semester party, consider rewarding students with a candy sleigh.
Types of characters
The main types of characters include conscious, dynamic characters, flat characters, round characters, rounded, static and stock characters. The main character trusts or shares a problem with the confidant. Dynamic characters reveal or change in history, while static characters don’t change or stay mostly the same. Foil characters are characters that have personalities or traits that are the opposite of their character or character. The round characters are well developed while the flat characters are defined by a few characteristic features. Stock characters are types of character plane that are instantly recognizable. It should be noted that characters can fall into different categories and can be more than one type of character. But the characters cannot be two opposites, such as the adversary and the primary.
Functional characters
There are many roles and characters, they can play more than one role in the story. The primary character roles are the protagonist, antagonist, main character, hero, obstacle, romantic interest, logic, emotions, and sidekick.
The bad guy, the antagonist, and the character draws the audience, the protagonist, the essential elements of a fictional story and provide the story’s purpose or plot. The main character is the character who tells the story or the character who presents the main perspective and view of the story. The hero is the hero of the story. An obstacle character is a character or character that is not the antagonist, but hinders the protagonist or opposes his problems. Logic, romantic interest, and characters’ affection provide added interest, create tension, and heighten conflict. A sidekick is a faithful friend. In travel stories, another main role is that of the Mentor character. The mentor helps the leaders or leaders.
Characters of Rudolph the Red Reindeer
In Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the roles and patterns change so as to provide ample opportunity to assess the various characters and aspects of the characters used in the story.
But the main character, the characters of the antagonists and the protagonist are easily identifiable. Sam the Snowman is the main character; he is telling a story. The protagonist is Rudolph and the antagonist is Abominable Snowman.
Likewise, Clarice is clearly romantically involved. Hermes and Claricius are both described as Rudolph’s sidekicks. Hermes and the misfit toys help Rudolph to overcome and confront his main problem or misfit obstacle and therefore both fit the “obstacle” characterization.
Who is the “hero” character? Rudolph Saves Christmas, but Hermey and Yukon Jack save Rudolph and the others from the Abominable Snowman. Foreman Elf plays a “logical” character who is very one-sided while Yukon Jack plays an “emotional” character who is emotional and energetic and quick to act. Both add tension and interesting side story elements.
Santa, the elves and Mrs. Claus are instantly recognizable as characters who do not change in history. They are flat stock characters. Hermey and Rudolph play significant roles and change throughout the story; they are dynamic, well-rounded characters.
Explore questions
What role does Donner play in the story?
Who are static, stock and flat characters?
Is Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer’s mentor?
What kinds of characters or roles do misfit toys do?
Is Foreman Elf a dynamic character?
What are the roles of King Moonraiser and Coach Comet?
References
Lee Masterson, Casting Characters, Fiction Maker
Terry W. Ervin II, Seven Common Behavior Types, The Fiction Maker
Short Stories Elements, EdNet Miss Engram’s English Classroom
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Internet Movie Database
Character, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Rudolph, the Red-nosed Reindeer, CBS
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Wikipedia
Gayle Crabtree, Making a Candy Cane Santa Sleigh, Associated Content
