From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Characterisation is the process of conveying information about characters in
narrative or dramatic works of art or everyday conversation.
Characters may be presented by means of description, through their
actions, speech, or thoughts.
Character
development
A well-developed character is one that has been
thoroughly characterised, with many traits shown in the narrative. The better the
audience knows the character, the better the character development.
Thorough characterisation makes characters well-rounded and
complex. This allows for a sense of realism. As an example, according to F.R.
Leavis, Leo
Tolstoy was the creator of some of the most complex and
psychologically believable characters in fiction. In contrast, an
underdeveloped character is considered flat or stereotypical.
Character development is very important in
character-driven literature, where stories focus
not on events, but on individual personalities. Classic examples
include War and
Peace or David Copperfield. In a
tragedy, the central
character generally remains fixed with whatever character flaw
(hamartia) seals
his fate; in a comedy the
central characters typically undergo some kind of epiphany
(sudden realization) whereupon they adjust their erratic beliefs
and practices, and avert a tragic fate. Historically, stories and
plays focusing on characters became common as part of the 19th
century Romantic movement, and character-driven literature rapidly
supplanted more plot-driven literature that
typically utilizes easily identifiable archetypes rather than proper character
development.
See also
External
links
Wikis
Search
