5. Character, The Test

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 4

Character, The Test

Good writers create characters that jump off the page, some living in our memories forever. This course explores two different ways to think about fictional characters:

1. how they resemble real people and

 2. how authors develop them as fictional people.

The most pleasurable part of reading fiction is the chance to meet people who make us privy to their inner lives and to revealing situations.

Characters and speech

But beware: words aren't always reliable indicators of truth. Like real people, characters may . . .

• Use words to conceal

• Say one thing but do another

• Not say what they mean

• Say more—or less—than they mean.

What do you know about the inspector, based on what he says?

1. he is a racist
2. he is white
3. he feels superior
4. he hates women

What can you conclude about Marian, based on what she says?

1. She is polite
2. She is educated
3. She has a temper
4. She is not very intelligent

What conclusions can you draw based on what Mrs Ericson says?
She means:

1. You must have messed up last time
2. The inspectors are fair
3. I'm sure race was not the issue
4. Nerves must have caused you to make mistakes

Characters and actions

Fiction focuses on critical moments in characters' lives, so we need to interpret how they respond to those

crises.

Where is the crisis in The Test?

Characters and actions

What do Marian and the inspector do?

• Is the action thoughtful or impulsive?

• Is the action appropriate?

• What motivation lies behind the action?

• Is the action influenced by the past?

Characters and appearance

How characters look also tells us something about them. When authors take time to describe someone's appearance or physical condition, there is usually a reason.

Characters and appearance

The meaning of a character's description will vary with context. A character with a . . .

* disheveled appearance may indicate a "disheveled" mind, a social misfit...or the opposite—one who values authenticity over appearance.

* heart problem may indicate someone who is selfish, untouched by emotion...or (as in Kate Chopin's story) troubled and unhappy.

Characters and background

Characters, like people, are shaped by their backgrounds—personal experiences that reflect the context of their lives. We take into account :

• Gender

• Race

• Family

• Socio-economic class

• Religion

Characters and what others say

Opinions of one character about another can be a valuable source of information. But what others say about someone must be carefully vetted. Are the opinions . . .

 

• From a trusted or unreliable source?

• Based on complete or only partial information?

• Objective or biased?

• Rational or emotional (perhaps resentment or blind devotion)?

Part 2: Characterisation

Characterization is the process of developing characters. An author considers several factors:

1 How should readers learn about characters?

2 How convincing should they be?

3 How fully developed should they be?

4 Should they change or grow over the course of the story?

Characterisation

How do readers learn about characters? The author can choose two basic methods:

Direct - Indirect

Characterisation: Direct

a narrator tells us directly about a character's internal and external make- up. The narrator may perch inside a character's mind, outside (close by), or both.

Characterisation: Indirect

No narrator. Readers access characters externally: we know them only from their words, actions or what other characters say about them. (e.g. in a play)

How do we get to know Marian?

1. directly
2. indirectly

Who is a dynamic character in The Test?

1. Marian
2. Mrs Ericson
3. the inspector
4. none of them