1 Intro
2 Names of theotechny
2.1 Benjamin Linus
2.2 James (Sawyer) Ford
2.3 Jacob
2.4 Desmond and Penelope
2.5 Dharma
2.6 Christian Shephard
3 Famous names
3.1 Henry Gale
3.2 Daniel Faraday
3.3 Desmond David Hume
3.4 Danielle Rousseau
3.5 Further references
4 Reference to literature
4.1 The adventures of Tom Sawyer
4.2 The Wizard of Oz
4.3 Lord of the flies
4.4 Addendum
5 Anagrams
5.1 Ethan Rome
5.2 Mittelos Bioscience
5.3 Herarat Aviation
5.3.1 Amelia Earhart
5.3.2 A variation earth
5.4 Further Anagrams
6 Mixed patterns
6.1 Gale Island
6.2 Linus
6.3 Sayid Jarrah
6.4 Claire Littelton
6.5 Jack’s Tattoo
6.6 Literal meaning of names
7 Conclusion
Until the ninth century it was not likely to have a first and a last name, but by that time things started to change. In Venice the indication of surnames began in this time period, France (10th/11th century) and the German-speaking area (12th century) followed this example (Kohlheim 1996: 1280), so the common practice of naming changed and thenceforth people were called by both, forename and surname. This giving of names led to the science of onomastics – representing a separate discipline (Wittkowski 1995: 289) -, whose purpose basically is "die Geschichte und den Gebrauch eines Namens zu klären und mögliche Schlüsse daraus zu ziehen" (Hansack 2004: 51), as the character of naming had caused people to think about the meaning of personal names for centuries (Eichler 1995: 2). Such name-interpreting can also take the role of a poetic device and by this means as literary onomastic (Hansack 2004: 51) function as a link between linguistic and literary studies bearing on "the study of the way names function in fiction" (Ashley 1989: 198). The following term paper will take up this and consequently concentrate on the names of the characters in the TV series LOST. This idea came up after reading an article by Matthew Gilbert, who quoted Damon Lindelof - one of the makers of LOST - mentioning that not one name of the island’s inhabitants was chosen incidentally but that every single name had a special meaning concerning the storyline (Gilbert 2005). Lindelof and co-producer J. J. Abrahams used "names that gesture outward from the series" in a way that "name[s] assists [the] definition of character[s], suggesting clues of […] personality" and are an "entrance to that what [they] represent[s]; direction; past, current or future position" (Rowden 2000: 115) and therefore played "the name game quite shrewdly" (Gilbert 2005).
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction.
- Names of theotechny.
- Benjamin (Ben) Linus
- Jacob.
- James (Sawyer) Ford
- Desmond and Penelope
- Dharma
- Christian Shephard
- Famous names
- Henry Gale..
- Daniel Faraday.
- Desmond David Hume
- Danielle Rousseau
- Further references.
- Names with reference to literature......
- The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
- The Wizard of Oz
- Lord of the Flies
- Addendum
- Anagrams
- Ethan Rom
- Mittelos Bioscience
- Herarat Aviation
- Amelia Earhart
- A variation earth..
- Further Anagrams .
- Mixed patterns
- Gale Island.
- Linus.
- Sayid Jarrah
- Claire Littleton...
- Jack's Tattoo....
- Literal meaning of names
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper analyzes the names of the characters in the TV series LOST, exploring how their names function as a literary device within the narrative. The paper examines how the creators of LOST, Damon Lindelof and J. J. Abrahams, used names to suggest clues about character personality, past experiences, and future destinies. Key themes include:- The role of names in character development and storytelling.
- The use of names as a device to foreshadow events and plot points.
- The connection between names and the characters' relationships with the island and its mysteries.
- The importance of exploring the meaning of names within the context of the series' overarching themes and mythology.
- The relationship between names and the characters' identities and destinies.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Introduction: This chapter provides a brief overview of the history of naming practices and the discipline of onomastics. It introduces the concept of literary onomastics and explains the focus of the term paper on the names of the characters in the TV series LOST.
- Names of theotechny: This chapter examines the names of several key characters in the series, specifically those connected to the island's supernatural elements and the mythology surrounding them. It explores how the names of these characters, such as Ben Linus, Jacob, and Christian Shephard, relate to their roles in the narrative and the island's secrets.
- Famous names: This chapter analyzes names that are directly connected to historical figures or events, such as Henry Gale, Daniel Faraday, Desmond David Hume, and Danielle Rousseau. It explores how these names function as a reference point and foreshadow potential themes or plot developments.
- Names with reference to literature: This chapter discusses how the names of characters are inspired by literary works, such as "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer," "The Wizard of Oz," and "Lord of the Flies." It examines how these references add layers of meaning to the characters and their interactions.
- Anagrams: This chapter focuses on anagrams present within the names of characters and locations. It explores how these anagrams reveal hidden meanings, foreshadow events, or provide connections to other characters or concepts in the series. This section includes specific examples of anagrams like "Ethan Rom," "Mittelos Bioscience," and "Herarat Aviation."
- Mixed patterns: This chapter examines a range of different naming techniques used in the series. It explores how the names of characters, locations, and objects can have multiple layers of meaning and contribute to the overall narrative. This section discusses names such as "Gale Island," "Linus," "Sayid Jarrah," and "Claire Littleton," examining their connections to the characters' identities and the island's mysteries.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This term paper explores key themes in onomastics within the context of the TV series LOST, focusing on the use of names as a narrative device. It examines the relationship between character names and their individual identities, the island's mythology, and overarching themes. The paper analyzes various naming patterns, including names of theotechny, references to famous individuals and literary works, anagrams, and other mixed patterns. By examining these connections, the paper aims to understand how the creators of LOST used names to enrich the narrative and contribute to the overall impact of the series.- Quote paper
- Stefan Langenbach (Author), 2010, What’s in a name? Naming in the T.V.-series LOST, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/155523
