Round character的意思

"Round character" is a term used in literature and literary criticism to describe a character who is complex and multifaceted, with a rich inner life and a range of motivations, thoughts, and feelings. Such characters are often developed through detailed descriptions, interactions with other characters, and introspective moments that reveal their inner conflicts and growth over the course of the story.

Round characters are contrasted with "flat characters," who are less complex and are often defined by a single trait or function in the story. Flat characters can still serve important roles in a narrative, but they do not undergo significant development or possess the same depth as round characters.

The concept of round and flat characters was introduced by the literary critic E.M. Forster in his book "Aspects of the Novel" (1927). Forster argued that round characters are more interesting and believable because they resemble real people in their complexity and unpredictability. He also suggested that the most memorable characters are those who are both round and have some significant aspect of their personality that changes or is revealed over the course of the story, which he called "round characters with a spine."