Existence Definition of Terms

Roger B. Henkle divides characters into major character and minor characters. Major characters are those people or characters whom we observe most often in the novel, whose appearances are frequent 1977:97. Whereas the minor characters, being generally less complex, or less intense, and drawn in shallower relief, present what is often only one side of the experience 1977:97. In Richard Gill’s book states that “characterisation is the way in which a character is created 1995:127”. Whereas M. J. Murphy, he explained nine ways in which an author attempts to make the characters understandable and come alive: a. Personal description The author can describe a person’s appearance and clothes, such as: the telling details, the face, skin, and eyes. b. Character as seen by another Instead of describing a character directly the author can describe him through the eyes and opinions of another. c. Speech The author can give us an insight into the character of one of the persons in the book through what that person says. Whenever a person speaks, whenever he is in conversation with another, whenever he puts forward an opinion, he is giving us some clue to his character. d. Past life By letting the reader learn something about a person’s past life the author can give us a clue to events that have helped to shape a person’s character. This can be done by direct comment by the author, though the person’s thoughts, through his conversation or through the medium of another person. e. Conversation of others The author can also give us clue to a person’s character through the conversations of other people and the things they say about him. People do talk about other people and the things they say often give as a clue to the character of the person spoken about. f. Reactions The author can also give us a clue to a person’s character by letting us know how that person reacts to various situations and events. g. Direct comment The author can describe or comment on a person’s character directly. h. Thoughts The author can give us direct knowledge of what a person is thinking about. In this respect he is able to do what we cannot do in real life. He can tell us what different people are thinking. In the novel we accept this. The reader then is in a privileged position; he has, as it were, a secret listening device plugged in to the inmost thoughts of a person in a novel. i. Mannerisms The author can describe a person’s mannerisms, habits or idiosyncrasies which may also tell us something about his character 1972:161-173.