A character is a person presented in a dramatic or narrative work, and characterization is the process by which a writer makes that character seem real to the reader. A hero or heroine, often called the protagonist, is the central character who engages the reader’s interest and empathy. The antagonist is the character, force, or collection of forces that stands directly opposed to the protagonist and gives rise to the conflict of the story. A static character does not change throughout the work, and the reader’s knowledge of that character does not grow, whereas a dynamic character undergoes some kind of change because of the action in the plot. A flat character embodies one or two qualities, ideas, or traits that can be readily described in a brief summary. They are not psychologically complex characters and therefore are readily accessible to readers.
I would encourage you to start a list of the essential characters in This Boy's Life--I will provide feedback for you as these submissions start rolling in.
Best,
AK
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Do Well and Let Them Talk
A class blog for the Berwick Academy English 9F class.
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Do Well and Let Them Talk
13 comments:
Toby-Protagonist
Rosemary-Static Character-Tobys mother
Dwight-Antagonist- Rosemarys husband
Roy-Antagonist and a flat character-Rosemarys boyfriend
Norma-Static Character-Dwights daughter
Skipper-static character-dwighst son
Pearl-flat character-Dwights younger daughter
Champion-flat character-Tobys Dog
Arthur-static character-Tobys friend
Dwight: static character. Dwight is as static character because he will change for no. In the boob you see Dwight try to change Toby but not himself. Also I think Dwight is an antagonist because he causes a lot of problems for Toby because Dwight is a drunk, mean and constantly coming down on Toby.
Toby: protagonist. Toby is what the book is centered around and is the person that engages the readers and changes the most.
Rosemary: flat character. Rosemary is a flat character because although she goes through many things she still continues to make the same choice: choosing a man that will hurt her in the end
Pearl: static character. Pearl is a static character because she does not change and is simple.
Norma: flat character. Norma is a flat character because all she cares about is Bobby Crow and then getting out of Concrete
Sister James: static character.
Skipper: flat character Skipper is a flat character because all he cares about is making his car perfect and getting out of Concrete.
Champion: static character. Champion is a static character because he is in the book for a short time and we do not learn that much about him.
Arthur: dynamic character. I think that Arthur is a dynamic character because he changes and tries to hang out with the popular crowed and he and Toby grow a part.
Toby: Protagonist. This is Toby’s memoir. Therefore he is the center of it.
Rosemary: Dynamic Character, Toby’s mother. Toby’s only real family.
Dwight: Antagonist. He is Toby’s cruel step father.
Pearl: Flat character. She is Toby’s step sister. When you first meet Pearl she seems to do everything Dwight says. When Dwight hits Toby Pearl stands up for him.
Skipper: Static character. He is Toby’s step brother.
Norma: Static character. She is Toby’s step sister. She marries Kenneth. She is the one thing Toby likes about Chinook.
Roy: Static character. Roy used to Rosemary’s boyfriend. Rosemary and Toby are constantly running away from him.
Arthur: Dynamic character. When you first see Arthur he is very unpopular and isn’t really making an effort to fit in. But he grows and eventually starts making friends and is a good student.
Carter, Eaton, and JZ (the student not the rapper):
Thank you for posting first, this is never an easy task.
At this time, I would encourage you to become more specific in your definitions. For example, what is it that Pearl, a static character, teaches us about Toby--how does she fill him up, make him more round?
Also, what are the essential passages that we should know about a character, the passages that help us define who they are as a character? The moments when we see them striking a pose that defines who they are?
Please know that you do not have to answers these questions, but I thought I would throw these suggestions out there.
Thank you again for going first and keep the good work coming.
Best,
AK
Protagonist- Toby--- he engages the reader by making the reader think more about what he is saying symbolically rather than literally. Toby the main character is somehow connected to all the problems in the book.
Antagonist- Dwight, Rosemary ---- Dwight gives Toby problems do to his insecurity. His insecurity makes him violent; therefore he is not a good father figure. One thing that is standing in Toby’s way is Dwight having power over Toby. While Toby’s mother is married to Dwight he has control on where they both go and what they do. For Toby the only way out of his current life right now, is to find a way to fit in.
Rosemary is in Toby’s way because she can’t realize her mistakes/stand up for herself and do what is best for Toby and herself. She goes from one bad relationship to the next, which leaves Toby trying to find himself as a young man that has no guidance. All of Toby’s problems come back to his mother doing or not doing something (Lack of discipline – relationships)
Static- Pearl, Norma, Kenneth ------
Pearl is the same person when we first met her to where we are in the book right now. Her relationships between other characters in the book have stayed the same; her personality has also stayed the same. She has little to do with any of the major problems the protagonist has had to deal with.
Kenneth’s character doesn’t have any conflicts that have to do with Toby and where he wants to go. He stays the same throughout the few chapters he is in. He is and stays stubborn and cocky.
Norma has always been the character in the back ground that was always good. She has never shown her angry side. Her character is a person who seems to have no worries and is content on who they are as a person except her last interaction with Bobby.
Dynamic Characters- Toby, Skipper, and Bobby Crow -----
Toby changes as a person each time he is abused. He finally realizes who he is by look at himself from the outside. Not only does this give him self confidence, but he now is able to stand up to Dwight.
We first see Skippers character as a tough man, and then we later realize how soft he is on the inside right before his wedding.
When Bobby Crow was dating Norma who he loved he was kind, and a nice man. When Norma leaves him to get away from Dwight/start a new life, we see him change into a person that had so much capability, into a man with a lot of hate and anger for letting something had could never get back (love) go.
Flat- Pearl, Kenneth ------
Pearl and Kenneth are simple characters that have only one side to them. The side the reader sees. They are predictable on what there actions and words are to be, and don’t have to do much with the plot of the story.
Toby:Protagonist/dynamic character; Toby is the protagonist in that the story is told from his view point, making him the central character. The only way a reader can get connected to the book and get the symbolism, is through Toby as well. We see Toby change through his ideals of change, to a lier and a thief.
Dwight: Antagonist/static character; Dwight is constantly acting against Toby. Toby wants to change for the better but Dwight keeps preventing him from doing that. Dwight's twisted ideals do somewhat rub off on Toby no matter how much Toby hates him. Such as the way Dwight always goes overboard when Toby 'does something wrong'. We see Toby becoming more extreme like this when he starts arguing with Arthur. Dwight does not experience any 'change of heart' during to course of the novel, so most readers tend to dislike him throughout the entire novel. (Or was that just me?)
Rosemary: Antagonist/static character; I say Rosemary is an antagonist because of how her jumping from man to man, changing from lifestyle to lifestyle affects Toby. Toby does not have stability in his life, so it hurts him by making it even harder for him to find his identity. Rosemary does not change much over the course of the novel either. She does not dramatically change her parenting or find a stable life.
Roy: static character; Roy is Rosemary's old boyfriend who takes Toby out to shoot cans from time to time. He stalks Rosemary and is quite creepy. Roy does not change himself throughout the book, in the short time we see him. But Roy does have an affect on Toby in that he gives Toby his 'pose', the rifle. The rifle is Toby's imaginary power and lack of it. The rifle also serves as Rosemary's 'pose', when she wins the shooting competition. Her 'pose' was that of being admired.
Skipper: dynamic character; Skipper and his car are an important point in this book. Skipper spends all his time trying to fix up the car, which can be interpreted as himself. Skipper goes away to fix up the inside of his car, his insides, away from Dwight. But on his way back, his car gets ruined in a sandstorm. The inside of it is wrecked because of the sand. Skipper needs to leave Dwight to fix himself, but he shouldn't return next time.
Norma: static character; Norma spends her whole life with Dwight. Then she marries Kenneth just to get away from him. Norma does the same thing Rosemary does to get away from her father. Marries a not so great guy just to get away. She knows and we know she is not going to be happy with this man, but as long as it gets her away from Dwight....
Kenneth: static character; Kenneth is equal to Dwight. He argues with people and annoys them. Dwight even hates him. But this shows us that since Dwight hates someone that does the exact same thing he does, it must mean he hates his own character. Dwight hates himself.
Arthur: dynamic character; Toby starts out the book not liking Arthur. But after Arthur and Toby fight each other they become friends. Arthur is really the only good influence on Toby. Toby believes Arthur a 'citizen' and is really what Toby had aspired to be. I believe it is Toby's envy of what Arthur was that made Arthur and him grow apart.
Toby: Protagonist- Toby is a protagonist because the book is written by him. He is the one recieves the actions and words from the antagonists and statics like Dwight, Rosemary, and Pearl, to name a few. He has not obtained an identity. Once someone has secured an identity it’s almost impossible to change.
Dwight: Antagonist/Static- Dwight is an antagonist because he is one of the people who are cruel to Toby. Dwight is forcing Toby’s mother to stay with him, which diminishes Toby’s chances of getting a new life. Dwight physically and emotionally abuses Toby. He beats him, and he has no confidence in Toby’s future. Dwight always covers up the problems. He never pulls through with what he wants to strive for. He lies. Dwight has never onced fixed something, sure he has it look like it’s fixed, but he never makes it 100 percent. Dwight looks like he kills Champion. He does not have the guts to. He beats up Toby because he is coward. He is scared that Toby will gain some power and eventually stand up to him.
Rosemary: Antagonist/Static- Toby has been Rosemary’s puppet. All of Toby’s life has been based around his mothers actions. Rosemary always believes that Toby never had did anything wrong because she thinks she influenced Toby to make his decision. That it was her own fault. Rosemary does not allow Toby to expand and try new things. She loves to stick with what she always had stuck with. If we wait long enough, luck will come. I have explained a little bit of why she is also static. She jumps from man to man. Thinking the next one will be better than the next. It just turns out worse.
Arthur: Dynamic- Arthur is a dynamic character because of his social ways. He first hangs out with his old friends, than he sees who Toby hangs out with and tries to fit in with them. After Arthur and Toby fought each other. Arthur started to dislike than like Toby. He never seems to make up his mind. Does Arthur have an identity?
Toby- Protagonist
Toby is connected with every problem in the book. He strikes a pose of wanting power. He wants power but can’t obtain it.
Dwight- Antagonist
Dwight constantly puts Toby down just to feel better about himself. Dwight, like Toby, wants power. He tries to control Toby and his kids but fails in many ways.
Rosemary- Static Character
Rosemary’s almost nomadic ways cause Toby to change constantly. She does not change this throughout the book. She is always moving. Also, her lack of discipline does not change. This allows Toby to run free and do whatever he pleases.
Roy- Static Character
We do not learn much about Roy and he is in only a small part of the book. He doesn’t change because Tobias does not go into any extent of detail about him.
Kenneth- Static Character
Like Roy’s, Kenneth’s part in the book is also small. Throughout his section, he maintains the same combative, arguing attitude.
Norma- Dynamic Character
Norma has changed a lot in the story so far. When Toby first met her, he fell in love with a respectful girl. Norma slowly became more rebellious, however. She dated Bobby Crow which made Toby feel betrayed. Then, she moved out and marry Kenneth. Norma seems to never stop changing.
Pearl- Static Character (so far)
Pearl has not changed much so far. This is because of Dwight’s strict grip on her. I think that she might begin to change more as she gets older and less likely to listen to Dwight.
Skipper- Dynamic Character
Skipper undergoes the biggest changes. He begins with a polished exterior. He put on an act but was really weak on the inside. However, when he goes to Mexico and has his car ruined, he becomes a stronger person on the inside.
Toby - is the protagonist and a dynamic character in the book, he is the main character and the book is told from his point of view, he also goes through many different stages and changes.
Norma – is a dynamic character because she has changed a lot throughout the book. She starts out as a shy girl who Toby thinks is very beautiful and then starts to act out and do things that she knows will make Dwight angry or happy, and she goes out with bobby crow who she actually loves but then ends up marrying Kenneth for the wrong reasons, but so she can act out and make Dwight angry.
Dwight – is the antagonist because he is always the one putting Toby down and making his life harder than it should be.
Roy – is a static character in the book because for the little time that we read about him he does not do much except give Toby his chance to strike a pose which is a big part, but nothing else after that.
Skipper – is a dynamic character because he has a car that resembles himself and skipper/the car change dramatically throughout the reading.
Rosemary – is the antagonist and a static character in the book. She is an antagonist because she is making Toby’s life hard by switching from man to man and finally marrying a man that treats Toby badly. She is also a static character because her actions do not change throughout the book, she always chooses a man in her life that is a bad choice and ever one after that is just worse.
Pearl – is a dynamic character, we see her in the beginning when she is first mentioned how she and Toby fight with each other and do not get along, and then later in the reading, she starts to stand up for him when Dwight is showing no mercy on him, it is a small change, but a big one to Toby.
Kenneth – is a static character because when we had the short reading about him, he was the same throughout, he was a jerk and got on everybody’s nerves.
Toby is the protagonist and the dynamic character because of all the change he undergoes. Many other characters and situations define who he is as a friend, student, son, and person.
As much as Toby is the protagonist in his memoir, I feel Rosemary is as well. The transformation from Florida to the West Coast wasn’t only dreamt about from Toby, but his mother too. Change was desired from Rosemary. She is also a flat character. We learn that she has problems dealing with men and why she has them (her past). We learn that she has a great deal of love towards Toby and she performs some risky actions to show it (going out with Gil).
Dwight – static, antagonist. Static character: From the start of the section “A Whole New Deal,” Dwight does not change who he is. Toby quickly realizes that Dwight has a rude humor, a drinking problem when he needs help thinking, and a man that tries to be the best. Antagonist: His personality and his actions help characterize Toby. Toby becomes more independent, he starts saying the truth, and he figures out more about himself with the indirect help of Dwight. Toby wouldn’t have written the transcripts, resulting in a miraculous discovery of who Toby is and also having alone time with Champion to take another look outside of himself.
Pearl – static. She is just a sidekick when she and Toby sing in the car. More sides are revealed of Toby when Pearl sings with Toby—letting down his guard and singing in times of loneliness and trouble.
There are many characters in the book that further help define who Toby is and why he does certain actions, such as Taylor and Silver. Taylor and Silver are flat characters: The two boys were Toby’s best friends while living in West Seattle. Toby performed many actions with the boys to gain power in the sense that people below them were scared, frustrated, or upset.
Arthur – dynamic. When Arthur is first discussed in the book, he is described as a sissy. Soon later, he beats up Toby, so there are many personalities of Arthur that we learn as we progress through the book. Arthur doesn’t define Toby how other characters do.
Champion – static. We learn that Toby is afraid of dogs because of Champ, but then has love for them (an animal lover from the beginning of the book), and he has a special moment with Champ that helps Toby see himself from a different perspective.
Nice work everybody...
I think we have the big characters down; however, I would encourage you again to include the pages were they are defined as characters or undergo a transformation.
Also, now what about some of the more minor characters that make up the book:
Example: Gil
Good luck and keep up the good work,
AK
Toby- He is the protagonist in the story. The story is based on his life and throughout the book, no matter what he does I always find myself rooting for him.
Rosemary- She is Toby's mother, and she is a round character in the story. It seems like you can always count on her to be there for Toby and to act a certain way. However she has grown throughout the book. Like at the end of the last section, she is finally gaining some independence and leaving Dwight. So this change might also make he a dynamic character.
Dwight- In my opinion Dwight is one of the main antagonists in the story. He causes most of the problems in Toby's life, and I think I speak for everyone in the class when I say he is the most hated character in the book! He is the person who I never root for, and I am always hoping he will be trumped by other characters in the book.
Arthur- He is Toby's friend and he is a static character. We never really learn much about him, but we do gain more information on him as he and Toby start to drift apart. H e can also be flat because he has been known to help and assist Toby through rough patches.
Pearl- Pearl is a lot like Toby. She seems to be trying to find her identity too. Towards the end we see her start too, and she ends up leaving Dwight's side, and start to disagree with him as most people do. So she is probably a static character in the book, however he relationship with Toby changes drastically, so maybe shes a dynamic character too!
Norma- She is similiar to Pearl with the type of character she is. However instead of growing as a character she almost seems to just give up and take the only way she sees to get out.
Skipper- Skipper would be a static character because he doesn't seem to go through any big changes.
Champion- Champion is Toby's dog and he would be a flat character, because he helps Toby find himself and he is there for him.
Toby- Protagonist- Dynamic Character
Dwight- Antagonist- Static Character (But I think that he could also maybe be a dynamic Character
Rosemary- Static Character
Roy- Static Character
Norma- Static Character
Arthur- Static Character
Skipper- Static Character
Pearl- Static Character (but she does change a little bit so she could be a dynamic character)
Champion- Static character
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