characterandcharacterization：人物与人物塑造.doc

characterandcharacterization：人物与人物塑造.doc

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CharacterandCharacterization

Characterizationranksamongthemostpowerfulelementsofliterature.Charactersattractus;wecanidentifywithcharactersinastory.Conversely,charactercanrepelus;wecandislikeacharactersomuchthatwestillfeelamagnetismtowhatthecharacterexperiences.Charactersandcharacterizationcompelustoturnthepagesofastoryanddiscoverwhathappens.Characters,particularlytheprotagonistdrivetheplot.Thinkaboutyourfavoritestoriesandhowyoureactedtothecharacters.Duringthelastseveralyears,HarryPotterandhisfriends,teachers,othergoodcharactersandbadcharactersattractedinnumerablereaders.Frodoandthefellowshipoftheringhaveattractedreadersformorethanhalfacentury,andtherecentLordoftheRingsfilmscontinuedtoattractpeople.Characters,thepersonsinastory,poem,orplay,andthecharacterizationcreatedbyanauthordriveustoreadabouttheirlivesandconnect,evaluate,andjudgethem.

Characterizationistheprocessofcreatingacharacter.Theauthorrevealsthecharactertousthroughcharacterization,includingthecharacter’sphysicalappearanceandpersonality.Whenthewriterdoesthejobwell,wecanseeandhearthecharacter,andatleastinourimaginationthecharacterbecomesreal.

Generallytherearesixwaysanauthorrevealsacharactertothereader.Thesesixwaysaresubjecttotwoprocesses:

indirectanddirectcharacterization.

Directcharacterizationoccurswhenawriterdirectlytellsareaderdirectlyaboutacharacter’sappearanceorpersonality.Thewritertellsusdirectlywhatkindofpersonthecharacterisinthestory.

Indirectcharacterizationoftenleavestheimpressionandjudgmentofacharactertothereaderandhisimagination.Thewritergivesusinformationaboutacharacter,butwemustputthecluestogetherandformourownopinions.Generally,therearefivewaysforawritertoprovideindirectcharacterization.

1.Thewriterletsushearthecharacterspeak.Fromthespeechpatternanddelivery（dialogue）ofthecharacterwecanlearnmuchcharacterization.Thinkaboutthewordsthecharacterusesindialogueandhowthedialogueisdelivered.

2.Thewritercandescribehowthecharacterlooksanddresses.Althoughthewriterisgivingthisinformation,wemuststilltaketheinformationanddecideforourselveswhatittellsusaboutthecharacter.Wecreatethecharacterinourimagination.

3.Thewritermayrevealcharacterizationbylettingthereaderlistentothecharacter’sinnerthoughtsandfeelings;sometimesthisisaccomplishedwithinteriormonologue.Thismethodcanrevealmuchaboutacharacterbecausewearebasicallyhearing/seeinghow（andwhat）hethinksandfeels.Thewriterprovidesuswithalookattheinnerperson.

4.Thewriteroftenprovidescharacterizationbyrevealingwhatotherpeopleinthestorythinkorsayaboutthecharacter.Wecanformimpressions,opinions,andjudgmentsaboutacharacterbywatchingtheinteractionbetweenthecharacterandotherpersonsinthestory.

5.Thewritercanalsoshowwhatthecharacterdoes–howthecharacteracts.Howacharacteractscanrevealmuchabouthisdispositionandhelpsusunderstandwhatmotivateshisbehavior.

Inawell-writtenshortstory,novella,ornovel,awriterwillusemany,ifnotall,oftheabovemethodsofindirectcharacterization.Whenreadingastory,remainawareofthecharactersandtheircharacterization.Whatisthewritertellingusaboutthecharactersandthehumancondition?

Amongthemostimportantaspectsofknowingacharacteristounderstandthemotivationsofacharacter–thepsychological,intellectual,andphysicalmotivations.Whydoesacharactersaywhathesays?

Whydoesacharactermakethechoiceshemakesandhowdoeshereactwiththeconsequencesofhisdecisions?

Isthemotivationrationalorirrational?

Doesthecharacterusereasonoremotionwhenmakingdecisions?

Areboth,reasonandemotionused?

Oftenmotivationsofcharactersinvolvetheirfearsandconflicts.Howdoesacharacterfacefear?

Howdoesacharacterconfrontandresolveconflict?

Isthecharacter’sconflictalwaysresolved?

Additionaltermsusedwithcharacterizationincludedynamic,static,round,andflat.Adynamiccharacterchangesduringthestory.Wecanfeelandunderstandthechangesastheyoccur.Adynamiccharacterusuallyconfrontsconflicts–internalorexternal–forcingchangesinthecharacterization.Astaticcharacterdoesnotchangeorchangesinsignificantly.Generally,aflatcharacterhasonlyoneortwotraitsandcanbedescribedinfewwords.Aflatcharacterhasnodepthandisdifficultforustoreactwithoragainst.Hejustseemstobethere.Conversely,aroundcharacterhasseveraltraitsordimensionstohispersonalityandcharacterization.Muchlikearealperson,thetraitsofaroundcharactercancontradictoneanother.Inotherwords,wefeelandcometoknowthecharacterasarealperson,withallofthecomplexitiesthatweseeinourfamilyandfriends.

Thefollowingtablehelpstoillustratetheaboveconceptsofcharacterization

Character

Dynamic

Static

Round

Consideredthebesttypeofcharacterdevelopment.Usuallytheprotagonist.

Developmentisconsideredwell-done.Oftenfoundinprotagonistsinbooksforyoungerchildren.

Flat

Characterscannotbedynamicandflat,becauseinaflatcharacterwedonotknowenoughaboutthemforthemtorecognizeachange.Ifaflatcharacterseemstochange,itisusuallyduetopoorwriting.

Inverysimplebooks,orinfairytales,theprotagonistmaybeflatandstatic.Alsoappropriateforminorcharactersinotherbooks.

Twoimportanttermstounderstandwithliteratureandcharacterizationareprotagonistandantagonist.Theprotagonististhecentralcharacter（person,animal,orpersonifiedobject）intheplot'sconflict;theprotagonististhecharacterwhodrivestheplot–makestheplothappen.Animportantwaytheprotagonistdrivestheplotisthroughconflict,usuallysuppliedbytheantagonist.Theantagonististheforceinconflictwiththeprotagonist.Itmaybesociety,nature,orfate,aswellasanotherperson.Itcanalsobetheprotagonist'sownself,ifheorshehasaninternalconflict.Toooftenreadersthinkoftheprotagonistasthe“goodguy”andtheantagonistbecomesthe“badguy.”Thisisnotnecessarilytruewithfictionordrama.Aclassicexampleoftheprotagonistnotbeinga“goodguy”isPoe’sshortstory,TheCaskofAmontillado.

Whenyoureadforschoolorforyourownenjoyment,thinkaboutthecharactersinthestory.Whataretheyabout?

Howwouldyoudescribetheirpersonality?

Whydotheydowhattheydo?

Whatdoesitmeanforyouandhowyoulookatlife?

Inthebestliteratureanddrama,thecharactersmakeitworkandmakeitworthyourtimetoread.