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work who are interpreted by the readers as being endowed with moral, dispositional and emotional qualities that are expressed in what they say the
dialogue, and what they do the action. Therefore, the character is usually easily analyzed from the dialogue or action.
2. Kind of Character
Based on the amount of attention given to the characters, Henkle 1977: 88 divides the characters into major and secondary or minor characters. He also
considers a major character as a protagonist. Major characters are characters observed most often in the novel and whose appearance are frequent 1977: 90-
92. By understanding them, the readers will understand the focal experiences of the novel. Henkle points out that the effectiveness of most novels depend upon the
ability of the major characters to express and dramatize the human issues of the book. On the other hand, the secondary or minor characters are characters that
perform more limited functions. They are generally less complex, or less intense, and drawn in shallower relief, present what is often only one side of the
experience 1977: 97 Abrams 1993: 24 classifies a character into two types: flat character and
round character. A flat character is a single idea and is presented in outline and without much individualizing detail. It means that flat character has dominant
traits and has no desires motivation or conflict. The round character has many dominant traits and complex desire,
motivation and conflict. Therefore, a round character tends to change from the PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
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beginning of the story until the end of the story tends to be complex. Thus, round character is difficult to describe. Round character can also called as developing
characters. Foster 1947: 47 describes the advantages of flat character and round
character. Flat characters are easily known by the readers’ emotionally eyes, not by the visual eyes. Emotionally eyes means, it can be described by using the
feeling. The reader can also easily remember the characters because they do not change.
On the other hand, round characters cannot be identified directly and quickly because there are some life aspects that influence them to develop.
Because of those aspects, the readers cannot easily memorize the characters as in the flat characters.
In addition, Perrine 1947: 48 divides character into two parts. The main character, who appears more often in the story than other characters. It appears
from the beginning to the end of the story. Furthermore, the content of the story is focused on the main character. The minor character appears in certain
circumstances and times. His role is less important than the main character because the total rules and focus are on the main character.
2.1.2.2 Theories of Characterization 1.
Definition of Characterization
According to Rohrberger and Woods 1971: 20, characterization is a process where the author creates a character that must be credible. They also add
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that characters have particular personalities and physical attributes that distinguish them from other characters. Another opinion comes from Holman and Harmon
1968: 81 characterization is the way to create of imaginary person, so they exist for the reader as life like. Therefore, the author always point out what the
character is, how he lives, what he likes and dislikes. Those traits are called character while the technique to make the traits known as characterization.
2. Ways of analyzing Character
Rohrberger and Woods 1971: 20 write two ways of characterization. First the author described the character directly. He or she simply writes the
physical appearance, or moral attributes of the character. The last, the author can describe the character dramatically. The author describes the character through the
way he or she behaves and speaks. Abrams in his book A Glossary of Literary Terms writes that there are two
different methods in characterizing the person in narrative, which are showing or dramatic method and telling method 1981: 21. In showing, the author only
writes about the characters speak and act. Furthermore, in the novel, the author gives the description, and often evaluation about the motives and dispositional
qualities of the characters. According to Murphy 1972: 161-173 there are nine ways used by the
author to make his or her characters understandable for the readers. They are: PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI
