6 CHAPTER 2
REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
In this chapter the writer would like to describe the theories of related studies. The writer divides this chapter in five subchapters. They are: theoretical review,
review of related studies, criticism, and theoretical framework. In the theoretical review, the writer discusses the theories of literature. Meanwhile in the review of
related studies, the writer describes the studies, which are related with the discussion. The criticism part will explain about the criticism of the novel and the author of A
Painted House.
2.1. Theoretical Review
In this part, the writer would like to present some related theories that the writer adopted in this thesis. They are theory of character, theory of characterization, and
theory of setting. There are many theories related to literature because literature consists of many
elements whether it is intrinsic and extrinsic elements. The reader has to observe the novel entirely in order to understand the author’s messages. The other elements of the
novel determine the readers’ understanding, for example, the readers have to look at the theme, plot, character, setting, point of view, tone, and atmosphere Stanton, 1965:
1230. All of these elements are the essence of a novel as literary works. Stanton’s theory explains the elements of a novel. The readers should know all
the element of the novel in order to understand the content of the novel. Theme, plot,
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character, setting, point of view, tone, and atmosphere are the elements which influence novel as literary works.
The writer uses this theory to analyze and answer the problems in this thesis. The writer should know all the elements of the novel before analyzing and answering
three problems in the thesis. In order to understand more about the novel the writer explains some theories
in detail, which help the writer to analyse the novels. The next subchapters explain and
describe the theories mentioned.
2.1.1 Theory of Character
Character as one of the intrinsic elements of literature plays an important role in the novel. Analysing character is more difficult than analysing other elements
because we have to analyse it based on the author’s way to explain the characters. Character is an imagined person who emerges in the novel and every character is
unique, it means that every character is different from others Abrams, 1981: 20.
The progress of a character in the novel is divided into “flat character” and “round character” Abrams, 1971: 21. “Flat character” means that the author only
describes this character without specification, in other words the author does not explain it in details and without significant progress. Usually the writer describes the
character in “a single phrase or single sentence.” This type of character does not make any significant progress in the novel. It means that the character gives little
contribution in the novel.
