The Function of Character in Longer Fiction

If you ask English teachers why they wanted to teach English, chances are it has to do with how a teacher inspired them with a specific book. Even in our technologically driven age, there is something comforting about reading a good book to just pass the time in a meaningful way.

As we study and analyze these books, it’s important to remember that the original purpose of most novels was simply to entertain. Sometimes the works can be complex with strange uses of language, ideas, and lessons, but keep the emphasis on entertainment at the forefront as you read the two novels you selected.

Image note: The image to the right is a painting by August Renoir called Figures on the Beach. It was likely painted in 1890.

Characters and Characterization

After you have read both novels, we will start to analyze the complexity of the characters and their relationships. When we discuss character complexity, we don’t need to necessarily focus on only the protagonist. For The Awakening, Edna Pontellier might be the obvious starting point, but you could also consider characters who are foils to her such as Robert Lebrun, Madame Ratignolle, and Mademoiselle Reisz. The most important consideration to consider is whether or not the character has depth and shows conflicting traits.

Video Lesson

Watch the following video on Complexity of Character.

Practice Activity

Consider what you've just watched and think carefully about crafting thesis statements about complexity of character. Review the following statements.

Final Reflection

In this lesson, we began reading our first set of longer works. As with the other three units, characterization is a logical place to start and will provide the foundation for further analysis of the larger concepts that novels can provide such as universal themes, multiple interpretations, and literary sophistication.

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