According to Edward Morgan Forster, an English novelist, short story writer, essayist and librettist.In his famous book,Aspects of the Novel, Forster defined two basic types of characters, their qualities, functions, and importance for the development of the novel: flat characters and round characters. A round character is a major character in a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it. However, a flat character is a minor character in a work of fiction who does not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story. According to Edward Morgan Forster, an English novelist, short story writer, essayist and librettist. His famous book, Aspects of the Novel, Forster defined two basic types of characters, their qualities, functions, and importance for the development of the novel. flat characters and round characters. A round character is a major character in a work of fiction who encounters conflict and is changed by it. However, a flat character is a minor character in a work of fiction who does not undergo substantial change or growth in the course of a story.