HOW DOES THE AUTHOR CONVEY CHARACTER

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 447.

There are two basic methods to convey character: by tellingand by showing.

Tellingis achieved by direct commentary from the author. It interrupts the story to comment on the character's personality, thoughts and actions. Look at the example of telling in the extract from D.H. Lawrence “Sons and Lovers” in which the protagonist is described:

“Arthur Morel was growing up. He was a quick, careless, impulsive boy, a good deal like his father. He hated study, made a great moan if he had to work, and escaped as soon as possible to his sport again”.

Showingthe character the author steps aside and aloows the characters to show themselves what they do and say. The author is silent.

Dialogues in fiction can also help us to understand the character's personality. The dialogue may show the important information about the origin, education, occupation or social class of the character.

Action. We can learn a lot about a character by examining what he does in the course of the story (remember “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. Salinger).

Comparison with other characters. One of the main tasks of minor characters in the story is to provide contrast to then main character.

Setting. The time and place where the story unfolds gives the useful information about the characters.

Names. Occasionally the character's name may give the key to his/her personality. Thus, Emily Bronte's choice of Heathcliff as a name for the hero of her novel Wuthering Heights conveys the character's wild, rugged, almost primitive nature (Heath = wild, uncultivated land; cliff = high rocky land usually facing the sea).

Appearance.In fiction the way the character looks usually provides information about his/her personality. His clothes may indicate his social status. His/her appearance may be useful in guessing the character's age and the state of his/her emotional and physical health.

Now try to analyze the characters of your active text “The Last Leaf”.