Fictional characters often appear to readers as real people with authentic actions, thoughts and speech even though they are an author’s construct, intended to help a story to develop, to deepen and to come to life. Writer Robert DiYanni reasons in his book Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama that readers have to look into characters in order to find out more about “their function and significance in the story.” (54)
But what exactly is a character? The website Merriam-Webster Online defines character as “one of the persons of a drama or novel”, and “a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits.” Victoria Henderson, a student of the University of North Carolina, further points out within the Glossary of Literary Terms that “[c]haracters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood.”
According to DiYanni, characters can be identified as major and minor, static and dynamic (54). The major character is the dominating core of a story and is also known as protagonist “whose conflict with an antagonist may spark the story’s conflict.” (54) Minor characters are generally used to support and illuminate the more significant individuals within the story (54).
Table of Contents
1. Character
Objectives & Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to explore the functional role of literary characters by applying established theoretical frameworks to the short story "Gryphon" by Charles Baxter. It aims to analyze how authors construct character depth, classification, and development to enhance narrative complexity.
- Theoretical definitions of literary characterization.
- Distinctions between major/minor and static/dynamic characters.
- Character analysis of Mister Hibler and Miss Ferenczi.
- The psychological development of the narrator, Tommy.
- The impact of character traits on reader interpretation and narrative realism.
Excerpt from the Book
Character
Fictional characters often appear to readers as real people with authentic actions, thoughts and speech even though they are an author’s construct, intended to help a story to develop, to deepen and to come to life. Writer Robert DiYanni reasons in his book Literature: Approaches to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama that readers have to look into characters in order to find out more about “their function and significance in the story.” (54)
But what exactly is a character? The website Merriam-Webster Online defines character as “one of the persons of a drama or novel”, and “a person marked by notable or conspicuous traits.” Victoria Henderson, a student of the University of North Carolina, further points out within the Glossary of Literary Terms that “[c]haracters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood.”
According to DiYanni, characters can be identified as major and minor, static and dynamic (54). The major character is the dominating core of a story and is also known as protagonist “whose conflict with an antagonist may spark the story’s conflict.” (54) Minor characters are generally used to support and illuminate the more significant individuals within the story (54). David Madden, professor at Louisiana State University, further suggests in the Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia that “authors describe the more simple characters in novels with no more than a few phrases that identify the character’s most important traits. These characters have little capacity for personal growth.” Here, the reader can already refer to implemented changes in a character: a static character does not accomplish major changes throughout the story while a dynamic character, as written by Marilyn H. Stauffer, Instructor at the University of
Summary of Chapters
Character: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation by defining the role of characters in literature and distinguishing between various classifications such as major, minor, static, and dynamic, subsequently applying these definitions to analyze key figures in the short story "Gryphon".
Keywords
Character, Literature, Fiction, Robert DiYanni, Gryphon, Charles Baxter, Protagonist, Antagonist, Static Character, Dynamic Character, Flat Character, Round Character, Characterization, Narrative, Literary Elements
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper examines how literary characters function within a narrative by applying theoretical definitions to characters found in Charles Baxter’s short story "Gryphon".
Which theoretical frameworks are used in the analysis?
The author utilizes literary theories from experts such as Robert DiYanni, David Madden, and Marilyn H. Stauffer to classify character types.
What is the research goal of this work?
The goal is to demonstrate how different character classifications—such as flat, round, static, and dynamic—are implemented by an author to give a story depth and realism.
Which characters from "Gryphon" are specifically analyzed?
The analysis focuses on the regular teacher Mister Hibler, the substitute teacher Miss Ferenczi, and the narrator, Tommy.
What methodology does the author follow?
The author applies specific characterization techniques, such as evaluating physical appearance, action, speech, and consciousness, to interpret the roles of the selected characters.
How would you summarize the core argument regarding characters?
The argument posits that characters serve as the essential medium through which readers engage with a story, and that their development (or lack thereof) is crucial to the success of the narrative.
How is Mister Hibler classified in the study?
Mister Hibler is categorized as a minor, flat, and static character who serves primarily to contrast with the more complex protagonist.
Why is Miss Ferenczi considered the protagonist?
Miss Ferenczi is identified as the protagonist because she is the center of the story and exhibits round, eccentric traits that polarize the students and drive the plot forward.
In what way does the character of Tommy show growth?
Tommy is described as a dynamic character who transitions from an excited observer of the substitute teacher to an agitated defender of her truth after her dismissal.
What is the author's final conclusion about the story's characters?
The author concludes that the interplay between credible, well-defined characters makes the narrative versatile and brings the story to life for the reader.
- Quote paper
- Jane Vetter (Author), 2005, Application of literary elements: Characters on Charles Baxter’s 'Gryphon', Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/116456
