Round vs Flat Characters: Differences and Features

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Key Takeaways – Round vs Flat Characters

• It is important to know the difference between round vs flat characters to create better stories.
• Round characters are complex and change over time, like real people.
• Flat characters are simple, don’t change much, and support the main story.
• Round characters make stories engaging by growing and facing challenges.
• Flat characters add to the story by being straightforward and consistent.
• Examples of round characters include Elizabeth Bennet and Harry Potter.
• Examples of flat characters include Mr. Collins and Count Dracula.

Introduction to Round vs Flat Characters

There has always been some confusion over “flat vs round characters.” It is essential to know their difference because it helps writers compose the best books. When we read a story or watch a movie, we meet different kinds of characters.

Some characters feel like real-life people. They have many sides to their personalities; they change, and they surprise us. We call them “round characters.” Then, some characters are simple and do not change much. They are easy to understand and stay pretty much the same from the beginning to the end. These are “flat characters.”

That also helps make stories more enjoyable for the readers. Writing and publishing for an author is significant. This is why the distinction between round vs flat characters is essential to understand. So, in this blog, we will explain the round vs flat characters differences and also their features.

What is a Character in a Book?

Have you ever read a book and thought of a character deeply? Before authors publish a book, they write it down. Moreover, it is an extensive process that needs due attention. When you start to read a book, you meet lots of different “people” along the way. These “people” are called characters, and they are also one of the most exciting parts of a story.

The book writing or book publishing process is not easy as you have to understand everything before you actually get into it. Authors carefully create characters to make the story in the book interesting for the readers. They develop characters such as:

• Brave Hero
• Funny Friend
• Scary Villain

These are all characters, and they make the story exciting and fun.

The Heart of the Story

Characters in a book are the heart of the story. They can be anyone, such as:

• The main hero who saves the day
• Sidekick who always has a joke
• Villain causing all the trouble

In addition, characters can also be animals, magical creatures, or even talking toys! They are the ones who

• Take action
• Make decisions
• Make us feel all sorts of emotions

Types of Characters

• Protagonist or Main Character
• Foil character
• Morally grey character
• Round character
• Flat character
• Static character

Why Characters Matter?

Characters are important because they help us connect with the story. We might see a bit of ourselves in a brave hero, or we might learn something from their adventures and also their mistakes. Characters can make us laugh, cry, or even think about the world in a new way. Moreover, they bring the story to life, making it more than just words on a page.

How do Characters grow?

In many stories, characters grow and change. Firstly, they learn new things; secondly, they face their fears; or thirdly, they change their minds about something important. This growth is what makes us root for them, feel proud of them, or even get frustrated with them sometimes. It is this journey that keeps us eagerly turning the pages to see what happens next.

What is a Round Character?

When it comes to round vs flat characters, round characters typically emerge as the more dominant ones in a story. Essentially, a round character is like a friend you know very well or can imagine as one. Similarly to your friends, they have many layers to their personality. Furthermore, numerous events happen to them in the story, including the:

• Go through changes
• Learn new things
• Sometimes surprise

They are not always easy to figure out because they have complex feelings and thoughts. Round characters have a past that:

• Shapes who they are
• Dreams that they chase
• Problems that they solve

This makes them engaging and also feel natural. Moreover, they grow and change over time, just as how people in real life evolve and experience new things. Consequently, these characters make stories rich and tempting because they feel like real people with meaningful journeys.

What is a Flat Character?

Authors who write a book often use round vs flat characters to create a dynamic narrative. Flat characters pay homage and support to round characters. These characters are the ones who are pretty easy to understand right from the start. In addition, flat characters do not change much or surprise us. They have as low as one trait or two at max. They are just simple and straightforward. Similarly, this is also the reason why most romance novels do not have flat characters. However, they are critical in fiction.

Flat characters can be:

• Funny best friend
• The strict teacher
• The helpful store clerk

The purpose of these characters is to support the story or the main characters in some way. Opposed to round characters, they do not:

• Have an extensive past story
• Have a complicated background
• Change much during the story

However, that is not much of a problem. They help move the story along and also make the story feel more natural. Even though they are simple, flat characters are still an important part of any book whether it is a fiction or nonfiction book.

Round vs Flat Characters: Definition

It is crucial to understand round vs flat characters. This can enhance your appreciation of literature as a reader and help you create better characters as a writer. Below, you can find both of their detailed definition.

Round Character Definition

A round character, as mentioned, is a person you get to know really well. This is due to having multiple parts to their personality. They are the ones in stories who feel real because they:

• Have complex feelings
• Have thoughts
• Change just like real people do

Here are some key things that make round characters stand out:

Change and Grow

Just as we learn from mistakes or become better because of our experiences, round characters change over time as well. Over the course of the story, they may:

• Learn something new
• Change their mind about something important
• Overcome a big challenge

Have Depth

Round characters have:

• Backstories
• Dreams
• Fears
• Goals

All of this makes them complex. They are not just plainly good or bad; they have reasons for what they do, which can sometimes be surprising.

Feel Real

In addition to the traits mentioned above, these characters also have detailed personalities and experiences. They feel like someone you may know in real life because they are relatable. In addition, this makes it easy to get attached to them or to think for them as the story moves forward.

In simple terms, round characters are the ones who bring the

• Drama
• Action
• Emotion

This is because of their detailed and complex traits. They are the ones who keep you hooked.

Flat Character Definition

In contrast to round characters, a flat character in a story is pretty straightforward. They are easy to understand and do not really change throughout the story.

Here are the main points about flat characters:

Simple and Straightforward

Flat characters are not complicated. They have one or two main traits that define them, and that is about it.

Do not Change Much

As opposed to round characters who grow and learn, flat characters stay the same from the beginning to the end of the story. They have a specific role to play, and they also stick to it alone.

Support the Story

Flat characters are important because they help move the story along. They can be:

• Friends
• Family
• Enemies

Apart from this, they can also add:

• Humor
• Challenges
• Comfort

All of these make the story feel fuller.

Round vs Flat Characters: Examples

The impact of round vs flat characters in stories is remarkable. Here are some of the most profound examples of round and flat characters.

Round Character Examples

Elizabeth Bennet from “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Elizabeth is a bright and funny girl from the book “Pride and Prejudice.” She has lots of different feelings and ideas, and she changes a lot in the story. She learns about herself and how to understand others better.

Harry Potter from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Harry is a young wizard who is brave and kind. He faces many adventures and challenges as he grows up. We see his feelings and thoughts change as he learns more about his:

• Family
• Friends
• Enemies

Hamlet from the Hamlet Play by William Shakespeare

Hamlet is a prince who deals with a lot of tough questions and problems. In the play, he:

• Thinks deeply about life
• Makes big decisions
• Changes a lot during the play

He shows many different emotions and sides of his personality.

Flat Character Examples

Mr. Collins from “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen

Mr. Collins is always the same. He is not very smart and talks too much about how great he is. We don’t see him change or learn much about him other than he’s very proud.

Count Dracula from “Dracula” by Bram Stoker

Count Dracula is a scary vampire. He does not change much in the story; we only know him as the villain. Although he is mysterious, we do not see different sides to his character.

Crabbe and Goyle from the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling

Crabbe and Goyle are the followers of Draco Malfoy. They do not have their own stories or change throughout the series. With that, they are known for being tough and not very smart, and that is about it.

What is a Round Character in a Story?

In a story, a round character is someone who feels like the main character or an important friend. They play a big role in the story. In addition, these characters make the story interesting and move it forward. Round characters are the stars of the show who bring depth and excitement to the story.

Round characters are important because they are at the heart of the story. They grow and change with every event. This helps the readers:

• Think
• Feel strong emotions such as happy or sad
• Understand the story

Their journeys and changes often highlight the main messages or lessons of the story. This includes:

• The importance of bravery
• Friendship
• Being true to oneself

It makes the story interesting to read when you see how these characters:

• Tackle problems
• Make tough choices
• Develop

We may even see a bit of ourselves in them. Their experiences can teach us something valuable or give us a new way to look at the world. In short, round characters make the story more prosperous and more accurate. In addition, they also keep us hooked until the very end.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between flat and round characters?

Flat characters are simple and do not change much; they are like straight lines in a story. However, round characters are more like circles; they have many sides and grow or change in ways that can even surprise us as we read.

What is a flat character example?

Crabbe and Goyle are simple characters, showing up in all the books without changing much. Even though they’re always around as Draco Malfoy’s buddies, we don’t really get to know them deeply. Despite being well-known to readers, there’s not much we learn about who they really are beyond just being Draco’s sidekicks.

What is a round character example?

Harry Potter is a character who grows and changes through many books. Step by step, we find out about his feelings, who he is, and his past. As we learn more about his family and where he comes from, we understand how deeply it shapes him as a person.

Is Hermione a round or flat character?

In “Harry Potter,” the main characters, Harry, Ron, and Hermione, are well-developed. They come with detailed pasts, things they love, and unique traits that make them stand out. As the story goes on, all three of them change and grow, ending up as very different people by the last book.

Conclusion

To wrap it up, it is crucial for anyone who writes or reads books to know the difference between round vs flat characters. Round characters in a story change and grow from their experiences. Flat characters, on the other hand, are simpler and do not change much. However, they are as vital as round characters. They help the story along and show us how the main characters change.

If you want to write books or eBooks that have special characters, then Authors Breeze can help you a lot. With a team of professional writers, they can help your readers turn every page with as much enthusiasm as one can imagine.