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).
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Names of theotechny
2.1 Benjamin (Ben) 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 Names with 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 Rom
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 Littleton
6.5 Jack’s Tattoo
6.6 Literal meaning of names
7 Conclusion
Research Objectives & Themes
This paper aims to analyze how the names of characters and organizations in the television series LOST are used as deliberate narrative devices. By exploring the connections between these names and their cultural, biblical, literary, or linguistic origins, the study investigates how creators Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams embedded specific clues about character personality, history, and future development within the nomenclature of the show.
- Onomastics as a tool for character definition and foreshadowing.
- Biblical and mythological references in character naming (theotechny).
- Connections to famous philosophers, scientists, and historical figures.
- Literary allusions and role models influencing narrative arcs.
- The use of anagrams and linguistic wordplay as hidden story codes.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Benjamin (Ben) Linus
Meaning “son” or “fortunate” (Smith 1903: 146), Benjamin is a son of Jacob in the Bible as well as in the Qur’an (Internet: Baby 1 / LostFan). His last name Linus relates to the holy Linus, who was the first successor to Peter, the first bishop of Rome (Internet: Baby 2).
Benjamin being the son of Jacob perfectly fits to the story. Jacob is a kind of direct supervisor of Ben in LOST and whatever Jacob says Ben is willing to do without questioning it. This behavior reminds one of an obedient son acting as his father wants him to. In series six Ben kills Jacob, so concerning to the meaning of his name, he should be the one replacing him as the head of the island’s community, but, as the last season hasn’t been completely shown yet, we cannot be sure, whether this is actually going to happen. However, it would be very elucidating, if the story actually developed this way, but most probably this is not going to happen, as Ben does not belong to the “candidates”.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of onomastics as a discipline and establishes the hypothesis that names in LOST are intentionally chosen to reflect character arcs.
2 Names of theotechny: Examines characters with biblical or mythological names and links them to the overarching power dynamics and religious themes on the island.
3 Famous names: Explores how the show utilizes names of renowned philosophers and scientists to hint at character roles and ideological struggles.
4 Names with reference to literature: Analyzes how literary figures and their narrative traits serve as role models for the characters in the series.
5 Anagrams: Discusses the use of linguistic manipulation and anagrams in character and company names to provide hidden backstory information.
6 Mixed patterns: Investigates unconventional naming patterns, including real-world geographical references and symbolic wordplay.
7 Conclusion: Summarizes the findings and confirms that naming is a vital, intentional instrument in the storytelling of LOST.
Keywords
Onomastics, LOST, Character Naming, Theotechny, Literary References, Anagrams, Philosophical Allusions, Television Narrative, Character Development, Symbolic Meaning, Benjamin Linus, Jacob, Damon Lindelof, Etymology, Fiction Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
The paper focuses on the field of onomastics—the study of names—and specifically applies it to the fictional characters and organizations in the television series LOST to uncover intentional narrative clues.
What are the central thematic areas covered in the analysis?
The work explores themes of biblical and mythological influence (theotechny), references to historical philosophers and scientists, literary parallels, and stylistic devices like anagrams and hidden wordplay.
What is the main research question?
The research seeks to determine whether the names of the inhabitants of the island were chosen incidentally or if they carry special, calculated meanings regarding the characters' roles, pasts, and future plot developments.
Which scientific method is applied?
The author uses a qualitative, analytical approach rooted in literary onomastics, cross-referencing character traits with historical, biblical, literary, and linguistic data sources.
What content is presented in the main chapters?
The main sections categorize characters by the origin of their names, providing detailed breakdowns of how each name serves as a "text" that carries information about the character’s behavior and destiny.
How would you characterize this work with keywords?
Key characteristics include onomastics, television narrative analysis, character development, symbolic naming, and the intersection of fiction with historical and literary theory.
How does the author connect the name 'Linus' to character behavior?
The author suggests that besides the religious reference to St. Linus, the name spoken slowly sounds like "lying us," which serves as a thematic marker for Ben's deceitful nature throughout the series.
What is the significance of the anagram 'Mittelos Bioscience'?
The author identifies that the letters can be rearranged to form "Lost Time," serving as a subtle clue regarding the character Juliet Burke’s limited time on the island.
How does the author interpret Jack's tattoo?
Jack’s tattoo, featuring Chinese characters from a poem by Mao Tse-tung, is interpreted as a dual reference to the crash of Oceanic 815 and the central existential question of the show: who truly masters life and death on the island.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding the significance of names in LOST?
The author concludes that names in LOST act as a crucial, deliberate part of the "package deal" of character building, creating tension and allowing viewers to speculate on plot points based on historical or literary allusions.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Stefan Langenbach (Autor:in), 2010, What’s in a name? Naming in the T.V.-series LOST, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/155523
