Definition: A round character is a major character in a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it. Round characters tend to be more fully developed and described than flat, or minor characters.
If you think of the characters you most remember in fiction you've loved during your life, they will almost all be round characters. These are the characters who may have seemed as real to you as people you know in real life.
A number of elements in fiction reveal character, making the character round, including descriptions of a character, dialogue, a character's responses to the conflicts that arise in the plot, and a character's thoughts.
How do you go about creating round characters rather than flat ones? Creating truly believable characters takes time and thought, of course, so get started by answering these questions about your main character now.
Also Known As: Major Character, Main Character, Dynamic Characters
Examples: Heathcliff, Anna Karenina, and Raskolnikov are all characters in classic literature who could easily be considered round characters. We have a clear sense of their emotions, motivations, and histories as we read their stories.
