Final answer:
A round character is revealed by showing various facets of their personality, background, and growth throughout the story. They should possess complex, realistic qualities that enable them to change and develop, contrasting with flat characters.
Step-by-step explanation:
To create a round character, an author should show multiple facets of the character's personality, behaviors, and interactions. A round character demonstrates a complex personality, much like a real person, with strengths, weaknesses, and a range of emotions. These characters are also known as dynamic characters because they tend to change or evolve over the course of a story.
Revealing Dimensions of a Round Character
Illustrating the three-dimensionality of a round character can be achieved by:
- Developing their back story to provide context for their actions.
- Showing their reactions to different situations to display their range of emotions.
- Highlighting changes they undergo in response to story events, which signals character growth or development.
- Contrasting them with flat characters, who remain unchanged, to emphasize the round character's complexity.
E.M. Forster, in his work Aspects of the Novel, proposed a test for roundness stating that a character should be capable of surprising the reader in a convincing way. Using a mix of both round and flat characters, as recommended by Forster, can help authors create a more immersive and believable narrative.