《英语短篇小说选读》讲义(第八周) (2)

Reasons for division Roles in a fiction
Types of character
features
Protagonist Antagonist
major or central opponent against whom the protagonist struggles Complex multidimensional, the capacity to grow and change.
Close Reading:
on a warm afternoon; in the garden

put up the marquee move the piano iron Laurie’s coat receive florist’s lilies
flags for the sandwiches write down the names
Today’s Agenda
—Students presentation
—chapter 3 character
—discussioby 55Laney69 - Creative Commons Attribution License https:///photos/42875184@N08
Story 5 Discussion
About the story
Katherine Mansfield was born into a socially prominent family in Wellington, New Zealand. Her father was a banker. The luxurious setting of the story is based on Mansfield's childhood home.
Story 5 Discussion
Plot summary
The family is preparing to host a garden party—Laura is in charge—lilies are delivered without Laura’s approval—Jose tests the piano—Mr. Scott has died—party is a success— leftovers to the late man—apologize
Characterization through action is the most important and adequate method of revealing characters. It is helpful to examine the motive of a character.
Factors to be considered:
• The term protagonist and antagonist do not imply moral judgments. • Many protagonists embody a complex mixture of both positive and negative qualities.
• Any individual in a literary work. • Factors to be considered: 1. A character is usually but not always a human being. 2. It must have some recognizable human qualities. (resemblance to real people)
Story 5 Discussion
About the author
Katherine Mansfield (1888 –1923) was a prominent modernist writer of short fiction who was born and brought up in colonial New Zealand. When she was 19, Mansfield left New Zealand and settled in the United Kingdom, where she became a friend of modernist writers such as D.H. Lawrence and Virginia Woolf. In 1917 she was diagnosed with tuberculosis, which led to her death at the age of 34.
Minor role, a single trait Develop or change as the story progresses Remain the same
characteristics
Round character
Flat character development Dynamic character Static character
made cream cheese & lemon-curd
receive cream puffs
Story 5 Discussion
Close Reading:
Characters
Mrs. Sheridan: Mr. Sheridan's wife and mother of Laura, Laurie, Meg, and, Jose. She is in charge of the household on a daily-basis. The workers: who put up a marquee in the garden Mr. Sheridan: Mrs. Sheridan's husband and father of Laura, Laurie, Meg, and, Jose. On the day of the party, he goes to work but joins the party later that evening. Kitty Maitland: a friend of Laura and a party guest Sadie, a female house servant
Types of character
protagonist Round character Dynamic character antagonist Flat character Static character
III. characterization
• How do you know a person’s characteristics in your life? • How many ways do we have to analyze the characterization in a fiction?
• Santiago in The Old Man and The Sea
• Harry Potter
Alice in Alice’s Adventure In Wonderland
Buck in The Call of the Wild
I. Definition of Character
Instructor: Esther Lv
21st October, 2014
Week 8
Photo by Zitona - Creative Commons Attribution License /photos/zitona
Created with Haiku Deck
By action
A given character is revealed by what that character does.
The idea that one’s behavior is a logical and even necessary extension of one’s psychology and personality is widely shared.
Summary of chapter 3
• Definition of character: the fictional representation of a person. • Types of character: Protagonist and antagonist; round and flat; dynamic and static. • Characterization: By telling: by the author (comments) By showing: dialogue and action.
Story 5 Discussion
Close Reading:
When and where was the party scheduled? Describe all the activities of the preparation during the morning.
Story 5 Discussion
A Question to think about:
• What is the relationship between plot and character? 1. Character is the most significant agent of plot. 2. Without character, there would be no plot and, hence, no story.
Created with Haiku Deck
Chapter Three Character & characterization
Contents
Definition of character The different types of character characterization
Two methods
Characterization by showing (dramatic)
Through dialogue
Through the author’s comment
Through action
Characterization by the author
• In the most customary form of telling, the author interrupts the narrative and reveals directly, through a series of editorial comments on the nature and personality of the characters, including, the thoughts and feelings that enter and pass through the character’s minds.
Indirect Characterization: Showing By dialogues
Factors need to be taken into account: a. the identity of the speaker; b. the occasion; c. what is being said; d. the identity of the persons to whom the speaker is addressing; e. the speaker’s tone of voice, stress, dialect and vocabulary.
Factors to be considered:
• Round characters have more depth and require more attention. • Major characters in fiction are usually round characters. • Flat characters tend to stay the same throughout a story, but round characters often change.