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Screenwriting

The old expression that actions speak louder than words is very true when it comes to character traits. You learn about people’s character by watching how they interact with the world. There’s an endless array of character traits that can be used to describe yourself or others, we’ve provided a selection of 90 character trait examples here.

Values
Some character traits show a person’s underlying values or beliefs:

Generosity
Integrity
Loyalty
Devotion
Loving
Kindness
Sincerity
Self-control
Peacefulness
Faithfulness
Patience
Determination
Persistence
Adventurous
Fairness
Cooperation
Tolerance
Optimism
Spirituality
Dark Side

No one is perfect and we all have a darker side. Some character traits that have negative connotations include:

Dishonesty, Disloyalty, Unkindness
Meanness
Rudeness
Disrespectfulness
Impatience
Greed
Abrasiveness
Pessimism
Cruelty
Unmerciful
Narcissism
Obnoxious
Malicious
Pettiness
Quarrelsome
Caustic
Selfishness
Unforgiving
Leadership

How about a leader or someone who likes to be in charge? We might look for the following character traits in a boss:

Dominance
Confidence
Persuasiveness
Ambitiousness
Bossy
Resourcefulness
Decisiveness
Charisma
Authority
Enthusiasm
Boldness
Proactive
Children

Then, there are the kids. Their characters may not be fully developed but there are some inherent traits that are associated with children and some qualities you want them to learn:

Playful
Zany
Active
Wild
Silliness
Affection
Funny
Rough
Talkative
Rowdy
Smart
Fidgety
Shy
Lively
Impatient
Stubborn

Character Traits in Fiction
In stories, novels and movies, there are often archetypes of characters. For instance, there might be a fearless hero, a cruel leader, or a helpless heroine who needs to be rescued.

The writer uses these classic traits to help you to identify what role each character play in the story. How often have you grown attached to characters in literature and movies? No doubt, certain character traits have appealed to you.

When describing a heroic main character, some of these character traits may apply:

Dauntless
Strong
Courageous
Reliable
Fearless
Daring
Tough
Brave

If someone is a romantic trying to woo their sweetheart, they may possess these character traits:

Charm
Wit
Sentimentality
Affection
Intensity
Charisma

When describing a story’s villain, it would be common to use these kinds of character traits:

Ugly
Evil
Cunning
Deception
Murderous
Immoral
Vengeful
Maniacal

Types of Character Analysis Essays
Before writing a character analysis piece, students must observe possible types of heroes to discuss. They include:

Protagonist – the central figures in any story. The plot tells about their lives and deeds. In “Buffy” series, a protagonist would be Buffy Summers herself while Angel(us) dominates in his personal TV show.

Antagonists (often defined as villains) – the opposites of heroes who tend to change during the entire story. Thus, their nature is usually more interesting to describe. Keep in mind that each personality you choose does not have to be a human being; it can be a force of nature, animal, not a living creature, etc. In our example, Faith Lehane is one of the antagonists who switches from light side to dark after killing a human and returns to light closer to the show’s culmination.

Major – these characters dominate the entire story. On the example of “Buffy,” we can say Scooby Gang with its five and more members represent the majors of the show.

Minor – these characters start in a couple of episodes or book chapters. Their role can be significant in the development of other figures and entire plot. In our example, we would pick someone like Amy Madison Witch or Vampire Darla who both have an influence on the main characters of both shows.

Dynamic and static characters are two opposites. The first group keeps changing throughout the story while static heroes remain the same. Willow Rosenberg, the Witch, evolves from a shy straight school girl to the world’s most powerful witch with a lesbian context; Harmony remains the same silly, naive blonde even once turned to a vampire.

How to Write Character Analysis in 8 Easy Steps
Stereotypical – we believe everyone knows what a stereotype is. Jonathan represents a member of this category by being a typical high school nerd who has no friends and keeps on studying all the time.

Foils – the role of these characters is to contrast with the majors throughout the story. Faith is the opposite of Buffy, Spike is the opposite of Angel, Draco Malfoy is the opposite of Harry Potter, etc.

Three-dimensional (round) personalities. These are people with double-nature, and multiple characters in their mind are all great examples of 3-dimensonal heroes. Have you watched the movie titled “Split” with the guy who had 23 or more personalities living inside of him? That’s what we mean!

Unlike round characters, there are one-dimensional (flat) ones who are boring to discuss and play an insignificant role in the story.