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GCSE English Literature · key term
A character whose fundamental attitudes remain largely unchanged during a text, even if their emotions and circumstances change.
Used by AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas
Paper 2
A character whose central attitudes or values do not significantly change during a text, even if their emotions or circumstances change.
Revise: Mr BirlingChanging emotions do not equal changed values: Birling is largely a static character despite his movement from confidence to fear, relief and renewed panic.
A character whose underlying attitudes remain largely unchanged despite the events they experience.
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Paper 1, Paper 2
A character whose fundamental attitudes remain largely unchanged across a text.
Revise: Mr BirlingSheila and Eric still acknowledge the harm they caused; Birling focuses on escaping scandal. His mood changes, but his values do not. This makes him a largely static character, despite his emotional reactions during the investigation.
A character whose fundamental attitudes remain largely unchanged despite the events of the story.
A character whose fundamental attitudes remain largely unchanged as the story develops.
Paper 1
Revise: Mr BirlingBirling is therefore largely a static character. His confidence collapses under pressure and returns when he feels safe, but his priorities do not fundamentally change. Priestley distinguishes temporary fear from genuine moral learning.
A character whose fundamental attitudes remain substantially unchanged across a text, even if their emotions change.
A character whose central qualities remain largely unchanged through a narrative.
Component 2
A character whose fundamental attitudes remain largely unchanged during a text, even when their circumstances or emotions change.
Revise: Mr BirlingBirling is therefore largely a static character. His emotions move from satisfaction to anger, fear, relief and renewed panic, but his self-interested beliefs remain. Priestley uses that distinction to expose resistance to change rather than a successful moral transformation.
A character whose central attitudes remain largely unchanged across a text, even when their circumstances or emotions change.
A character whose essential qualities remain consistent throughout a story, even though their circumstances or relationships may change.
