Minor characters are often flat characters simply because they aren't as important to the story as the main characters (so readers don't need to know a lot about them).
The opposite of a flat character is a round character, or a complex and lifelike character with a multi-faceted personality and background.
Some additional key details about flat characters: The important thing about flat characters is that they never transcend or break with the formula that defines them. Typically, flat characters can be easily and accurately described using a single word (like "bully") or one short sentence (like "A naive and idealistic schoolteacher with a fragile heart of gold"). What is a flat character? Here’s a quick and simple definition:Ī character is said to be "flat" if it is one-dimensional or lacking in complexity.