Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ___________ Class: _________
Static and Dynamic Characterization
A static character is one that does not undergo important change in the course of the story, remaining
essentially the same at the end as he or she was at the beginning. The character does not undergo any
internal changes. Think of static characterization like plastic surgery. The character may change in looks,
but unless their personality is affected, the character is static.
A dynamic character is one that does undergo an important change in the course of the story. More
specifically, the changes that we are referring to as being "undergone" here are not changes in
circumstances, but changes in some sense within the character in question - changes in insight or
understanding (of circumstances, for instance), or changes in commitment, in values. Say a main
character goes through a life-altering experience, such as a race car driver getting into an accident. If the
driver's personality changes and he is no longer willing to take on the risk of driving a race car, the
character would be dynamic.
If a character inherits a million dollars from a rich aunt in the course of a story, this may result in the sort of
change in his personality, values, or in his general outlook on life that would make him count as a dynamic
character.
He might remain the same cheerful, humble, easy-going, out-going fellow he was before this fortunate turn of
events. Or he might remain the same bitter, cynical, resentful, suspicious, selfish person he had always been. In
either of these cases, we'd have an instance of static character.
Of course such a drastic change in one's circumstances (whether good fortune or bad) might motivate a change
in one's outlook on life. Only if it results in this sort of change, we are confronted with a dynamic character.
Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ___________ Class: _________
Is Fortunato from “The Cask of Amontillado” a Static or Dynamic Character?
Complete the following table using examples from the story “The Cask of Amontillado.” Then consider
if the changes that Fortunato goes through (or doesn’t go through) qualify him as either a static or
dynamic character.
ATTRIBUTE
Physical
Appearance
Feeling and
Emotions
Things That
He Says
Behaviors /
Things That
He Does
AT THE BEGINNING?
AT THE END?
WHAT CAUSED
THE CHANGE, IF ANY?
Name: ________________________________________________ Date: ___________ Class: _________
Is Montressor from “The Cask of Amontillado” a Static or Dynamic Character?
Complete the following table using examples from the story “The Cask of Amontillado.” Then consider
if the changes that Fortunato goes through (or doesn’t go through) qualify him as either a static or
dynamic character.
ATTRIBUTE
Physical
Appearance
Feeling and
Emotions
Things That
He Says
Behaviors /
Things That
He Does
AT THE BEGINNING?
AT THE END?
WHAT CAUSED
THE CHANGE, IF ANY?