4 Moreover, characters in a story can be classified as major and minor
characters Koesnosoebroto, 1988. The major characters are the most essential characters in a story. On the other hand, the minor characters are less essential
than the major ones because they only appear in a certain part of a story. According to E.M. Forster, fictional characters can also be divided into
two types, namely “flat” and “round” characters as cited in Abrams and Harpham, 2009, p. 43. The former is described as the characters whose
characteristic does not have much detail. They usually have only one personality and thus can be described in a single phrase or sentence. The latter is more
complicated in temperament and motivation. In addition to round characters, they are presented with characteristics which are not immediately noticeable, and
therefore they are difficult to be described in a single sentence. In addition, Arp and Johnson 2012 state that characters can be classified into two types, “static”
and “dynamic” or “developing” characters p. 106. The static characters remain the same from the beginning until the end of the story. Meanwhile, the dynamic
characters experience some changes in character, personality, or attitude.
2. Theory of Characterization
Theory of characterization is applied in this study. It is used in order to know how the author portrays his or her characters in a story. The following are
several definitions of characterization. According to Abcarian Klotz 1998, characterization is a method which
aims to make the characters in literary works alive for the readers. Furthermore, Murphy 1972 in Understanding Unseen states that characterization is “the ways
5 in which the author attempts to make his characters understandable to and come
alive for his readers” p. 61. It means that the characterization is a technique that the author uses to describe the characters in literary works so that they seem lively
and can be understood by the readers. As proposed by Murphy 1972, the following ways show how the author
describes his or her characters in literary works. a.
Personal description A character can be portrayed through the way he or she looks like or the way
he or she wears clothes, for instance, the author directly shows the shape of their body, their skin, their face, and their clothing.
b. Character as seen by another
The author can also represent his or her character from the point of view of other characters. From the other characters’ point of view, the readers can get
the description of the character’s personality or appearance. c.
Speech The author can also represent the personality of his or her character through
the way he or she speaks, the way he or she gives an idea, or the way he or she is talking with another characters.
d. Past life
The author helps the readers to discover the character’s personality from his or her past life.
6 e.
Conversation of others The readers can also determine the character’s personality from the
conversation between the characters in the story and from what other characters say about him or her.
f. Reactions
The personality of the character can also be seen through the way he or she gives a response to an event or situation happening to him or her.
g. Direct comment
The author directly gives his or her opinion of what kind of person his or her character is
. h.
Thoughts The readers can have an insight of the character’s personality in a literary
work through what is on the character’s mind. i.
Mannerism The character’s personality can also be seen through his or her action.
3. Theory of Conflict
