Characteristics:

• Combination of qualities or features that seperate a character from a group, person, or thing that makes them unique (yourdictionary.com) based on traits and abilities
• Responsible for the thoughts and actions of a poem, story or other literature text
• Own personality, attitude, and appearance (Henderson)
• Protagonist, antagonist, dynamic, static, flat, and round are used to describe characters

Henderson, Victoria. "All American: Glossary of Literary Terms." 14 June 2010. <http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm#c.>

"Character." Webster's New World Dictionary. 14 June 2010. Your Dictionary. <http://www.yourdictionary.com/character.>

Trevenen, Thomas. Character. 15 June 2010. <http://masconomet.org/teachers/trevenen/charactr.html.>

Resources about Character and (Early American) Literature

1. Baker, Lyman A. "Character Characterization." 2000. Critical Concept. 4 June 2007 < http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english251/cc-character.htm.>
The page provides a very descriptive definition of a character and characterization. A character can display personal aspects such as appearance or behavior and could be dynamic,changing throughout an entire story. The character can also be static who would be unchanging throughout an entire story. Writers spend much time in order to portray a character that is interesting and believable because it is the characters who tell or enact the action or plot of story. In the case of Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation," it is through the thoughts, behaviors, senses, and narrative of Bradford in which we learn of the New World's account. It also throug Bradford that we learn of other major characters in his journal, and he must complete an understanding of the characters in order for his readerr, in return, understand him and believe that such events occured. If he was not successfull in writing a plausable history of Plymouth Rock, then "Of Plymouth Plantation" would not be deemed as a significant source of understanding and learning of America's significant period and its history. The page is created for non-commercial educational use and the author is an English instructor at Kansas State University.

2. Saskatchewan school. “Character” Short Stories Menu 2/9/04 <http://www.saskschools.ca/curr_content/k9adapt/gr9/ss/characters.htm.>
According to Princeton, the definition of character is “an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story), ‘She is the main character in the novel’.” Stories from movies, plays and books are made up of character(s) that tell a story. The main purpose of the website is information sharing for students and parents. The website gives an outline of links related to their curriculum. Some links are lesson objective for the teacher and the students. The website posted a text that describes the term ‘character’. According to the person that composed the online text at the Saskatchewan school, the main character in a story is the protagonist, one “who experiences the main conflict or problem in the plot.” According to the writer of this text, “Characters can be examined and studied using the three A’s criteria: Appearance, Actions, Attitude.” I understand the literary term by reflecting back to stories I’ve read. I give credit to this website because it is a school, and the information they put out for students and parents is pertinent. Plus the lesson plans with the objectives are listed.

3. Henderson, Victoria. "All American: Glossary of Literary Terms." www.uncp.edu. University of North Carolina at Pembroke. 2 June 2007 <http://www.uncp.edu/home/canada/work/allam/general/glossary.htm#c.>
The main purpose of this website is to give the definitions of many literary terms. It also states why the terms are important and how they enhance literary works. The website defines the term character as a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. The website describes analyzing texts using the literary term as extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. An understanding of the term character helps understand the texts which allow the reader to become more intimate with the text. The website is a credible source stating who the author is to the information provided. The organization in which the author is associated with is given, University of North Carolina at Pembroke.


5. Houghton Mifflin Company. "Character." The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English L. Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. answers.com. 6 June 2007. <http://www.answers.com/topic/character>.
My source for this term is at answers.com. On this site it gives multiple definitions of character. It says that character is the qualities or features that distinguishes one person or group from another. When writing it is important that the author defines each character so that they are seen as an individual. Just like in real life everyone is different and to make your characters come to life one must make sure that they are as descriptive as possible.

6. “Glossary of Literary Terms.” Bedford/St. Martin’s. 15 June 2007 <http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/literature/bedlit/glossary_a.htm.>
This website shares research about literature through annotated links, authors’ biographies, and a glossary of terms. The glossary defines a character as “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.” Different types of characters are explained including protagonist, antagonist, static, dynamic, flat and round. The author has two major ways of presenting characters: showing and telling. With showing, the character talks and acts, letting readers develop their own opinions. With telling, the author intervenes to describe and evaluate the character. This description of character would classify Tom as the protagonist in Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Tom practices selflessness. He becomes a Christ figure, a radical role for any black during the time of slavery. Tom embodies all of the characteristics that would make slavery impossible if everyone upheld them. Harriet Beecher Stowe chooses to show us Tom’s heroic character through showing. The reader is able to develop their own thoughts about Tom. For the first time, people saw the human side of African Americans through Tom’s character. This website provides links and citations for its research.

7. Baker, Lyman A. “Character and Characterization.” 30 April 2000. 19 June 2007. < http://www.k-state.edu/english/baker/english251/cc-character.htm >.
Professor Baker gives reasons for the utilization of different character types in different stories on this informational page for Kansas State University’s website. He elaborates on the notion of “flat” and ‘static” characters, as well as tracing the idea’s origin to a specific date. He gives a rather simple, yet sufficient definition of character, stating that it is “a fictional individual within a larger imaginary situation.” As a supposed professor, it should be assumed that he knows of which he speaks, granting an element of credibility to the resource.

8. Lexico Publishing Group, LLC, Long Beach, CA: 2008.
www.dictionary.com
The dictionary.com Web site is used by people who are trying to easily find diefntions for words. The site combines several different dictionaries to make sure that people get the correct information they are looking for when searching. Because of all the information that is avaliable because of the different kinds of dicitionaries that it combines, I feel this is a credible site.
According to dictionary.com, Character in relation to literature means: a formal character sketch or descriptive analysis of a particular human virtue or vice as represented in a person or type.

9. “Characters.” Literary Terms. 5 June 2008. <http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/lit_term.html> This site provides basic definitions for literary terms. The entry for “character” defines “character” by explaining specific character types. This site is helpful because from it we can see how an author can build upon a basic idea to create a well-developed character. Edgar Allen Poe, for instance, creates characters, including narrators, by using a lot of mental or psychological traits. Thus, the reader knows the character as a thinking, feeling person. This site is a reliable one; it contains accurate information and is found through the City University of New York.

10. " Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 5 June 2008 <http://search.eb.com/eb/article-9125184>. This website is helpful because it gives both the definition of a flat and a round character. A flat character is one who doesn’t change throughout a story while a round character changes through out the story and undergoes many changes. This website is creditable because it is in the Encyclopedia.

11. Peha, Steve. “What Can You Say About A Book.” TEACHING THAT MAKES SENSE, 2003. 11 June 2008 <http://www.ttms.org/say_about_a_book/character_matters.htm>. This site looks at many aspects of character analysis. From physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and philosophical perspectives it describes in an easy to understand format how to dissect a character for analysis, or ways to focus on characters as you are actively reading.

12. Wheeler, Kip. "Literary Terms and Definitions: C." Dr. Wheeler's Website at Carson-Newman. 06 June 2008. Carson-Newman University. 12 Jun 2008 <http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_C.html>.
This source provide insight into many terms as they relate to literature. In his definition for character Dr. Wheeler says that it is: "Any representation of an individual being presented in a dramatic or narrative work through extended dramatic or verbal representation." He describes how one can interpret characters and he also discusses the different types of characters. I found this source helpful because theterm is described as it relates directly to literature. He also doesný only contribute character to works of fiction which I have seen many sites do. I feel that it is a credible source because a professor at a university, who has recieved his doctorate, wrote the page, and has also cited multiple books on which he based his information This website talks about characters and how to develop them. It mostly focuses on short stories but it tells the reader what sort of things to pay attention to. Specifically the article says to treat it as though you are meeting a person in real life, and to pay attention to all the nuances. The article says characters should have some sort of purpose or significance in the writing. This article did not help me with Anne Bradstreet but will help me when I read my novel for the next packet. This website is credible because it is copyrighted and it is a .org.
14. Literary Terms and Definitions. Wheeler, Dr.6 June 2008. Carson Newman College. 23 June 2008 < http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms_I.html This website is put on by Dr. Wheeler from Carson Newman College and is used for his online and on campus English classes. It has definitions for many words used in literature. It defines Character as “Any representation of an individual being presented in a dramatic or narrative work through extended dramatic or verbal representation”. It is useful because it has multiple definitions that can be used in our class. It is credible because it is an educational website that is frequently updated and that is used for college level courses.

15. "character." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2008.Merriam-Webster Online. 21 June 2008 <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/character> Merriam Webster describes character as one of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish an individual,a feature used to separate distinguishable things into categories;a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits,one of the persons of a drama or novel; anda short literary sketch of the qualities of a social type.

16. "character." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009. Your Dictionary. 5 June 2009. <www.yourdictionary.com/character>.
The main point of this website was to clearly and concisely define the literary term ‘character’. It listed 17 different definitions for the word, which made it extremely easy for me to adapt it to both of the texts that I was reading for this deadline. It ultimately defined ‘character’ as a distinctive mark or the pattern of behavior or personality found in an individual or group. This would be considered a credible website because it listed several different forms of the definition, along with synonyms, usage examples, and quotes all related to the word. The website also provides links to other websites that provide further research of the word. 19. “New book on character study helps motivate readers.” Reading Today 22.5 (April-May 2005): 37(1). General OneFile. Gale. Mesa Community College. 12 June 2009 <http://find.galegroup.com.ezp.mc.maricopa.edu/itx/start.do?prodId=ITOF>. This website explains the literary term character. It explains how authors use characters differently and how to teach children to make meaning of characters. The author believes characters are put into the story to help make meaning of the literature. There are different types of characters such as fleshed out, flat, dynamic, and static. It is necessary to be able to determine the different types of characters in literature in order to be able to understand the story and the traits of the actual character. Almost everything that is written has some sort of character in it. This resource was found on the Mesa Community College Library website therefore it is a credible website. An author of the work is also included.

20. "Character (arts)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 19 Jun 2009, 12:52 UTC. 19 Jun 2009 <http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Character_(arts)&oldid=297352481>. The main purpose of this site is to provide a free encyclopedia. The article describes the various forms of character within fiction and media. It also cites examples. I found the introduction the most helpful because it defined the difference between ‘character’ and ‘characterization.’ ‘Characterization’ is the process of imitating human traits in a character. ‘Character’ is simply a person or persona. A character does not have to be human, or even a physical presence. It may be human, animal, a myth, supernatural, or even the personification of an abstraction. Characters are also able to split, in some cases, into more than one character. Melville’s protagonist in Typee almost has two characters, Tom and Tommo. The narrator of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart appears mad, but he also contains a Romantic contrast as he elaborates a detailed plan that now leads into another at the reader’s expense. I think my readings show how the Romantics integrated the "good and bad sides" of a person as part of an organic whole. So, for Romantics (as with other eras) art imitated life and/or ideals about life. This website is credible because it is hosted by WikiPedia, which uses frequent editing, peer review, citations, and links to other credible sources.


21. Wildavsky, Aaron. “On Character.” American Political Science Review 87.n1 (March 1993): 228(2). Academic OneFile. Gale. Mesa Community College. 19 June 2009 http://find.galegroup.com.ezp.mc.maricopa.edu/itx/start.do?prodId=AONE. The purpose of this website was to explain the meaning of good character. Good character consists of empathy and self-control. Good character is what we all want in our family members and partners. It describes the different places we see characters and how they affect others. The author also expresses concern on improving character. The author helps readers understand how characters function and how they can be found in literature by defining empathy and self-control. If readers understand these two terns it is easier to find characters in stories. Understanding this term makes it easier for me to determine the different characters in the stories I read. This resource was found on the Mesa Community College library website therefore it was found on a credible website.

22. "Character Meaning and Definition." Find the famous quotes you need, ThinkExist.com Quotations. 26 June 2009 <http://thinkexist.com/dictionary/meaning/character/>.
The purpose of this site is to give multiple definitions of the term character in both verb and noun forms. The definition that best fits the texts I read was “The peculiar quality, or the sum of qualities, by which a person or a thing is distinguished from others; the stamp impressed by nature, education, or habit; that which a person or thing really is; nature; disposition”. When analyzing a text one should look for characteristics that set it apart from other literary periods. For Puritanism it would be its excessive emphasis on the bible for education and structure to live by. Understanding this term helped me understand the texts I read and recognize their unique attributes. This site is credible because it is a dictionary that is in partnership with Webster’s Dictionary.

23. “Character.” Encarta. Microsoft. Web. 25 Jun 2009. http://encarta.msn.com/dictionary_/character.html
The Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia has several definitions of the word character. Charater can be defined as "distinctive qualities that make someone distinctive", "a person portrayed in a book", or "someone with an unusual or eccentric personality". All of these definitions apply to literature. In order to write a good story, an author has to come up with interesting characters of different personality types. Characters can represent real life stereotypes or just be a creative invention of the author. Dynamic characters give a story depth, while static characters can make it boring.

24. Trevenen, Thomas. Character. 15 June 2010. <http://masconomet.org/teachers/trevenen/charactr.html.>
This website includes the character traits in which characters are known for. An example would be protagonist. The website provides a few sentences describing what the protagonist does in the story. Within the sentences it also gives an example of stories that include protagonist. The website is credible, since it is a site for english teachers as well as for students.

"Mickey Mouse." Fastcharacters.com, 1999. 13 June 2010. <http://www.fastcharacters.com/tag/famous/..>


Definition Links:
Character

Your Dictionary

Character Roles

Types of Characters

Representative Authors & Texts

Harriet Jacobs