Final answer:
Authors use various strategies in characterization to engage readers with characters' lives and evoke reactions. Dynamic characters undergo significant change, while static characters serve specific functions. These techniques are crucial for investment in the story.
Step-by-step explanation:
Authors present characters in various ways to elicit different responses from the reader. Strategies used in characterization can include insights into a character's thoughts through a first-person or third-person point of view, detailed analyses, and sometimes asking readers to imagine characters' actions. Central figures or protagonists in a narrative often undergo significant development, becoming dynamic characters.
Conversely, static characters may serve specific narrative purposes with less development. The way an author introduces and unfolds a character's traits and actions is crucial to engaging the reader and encouraging them to care about what happens in the story. The interaction between characters and the plot also contributes significantly to a story's suspense and thematic depth.
For example, a protagonist may evolve, learn, and change throughout the story, impacting how they interact with other characters and how the plot progresses. Additionally, antagonists or challenges can force a character to adapt, deepening the reader's understanding and empathy for them. An author's choice to present characters with varying degrees of complexity is essential in constructing a compelling narrative.