The Rhetoric of Character in Children's Literature

by Nikolajeva, Maria

• ISBN13: 9780810848863
• ISBN10: 0810848864
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Scarecrow Press

Summary

Through a variety of critical perspectives, Nikolajeva ponders the art of characterization, uncovering the essential differences between story (what we are told) and discourse (how we are told), and carefully distinguishing between how these are employed in children's fiction and in general fiction.

Author Biography

Maria Nikolajeva is a professor of comparative literature at Stockholm University in Sweden and an associate professor of comparative literature at Abo Akademi University in Finland, where she teaches children's literature and literary theory

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	p. v
Introduction: Why a Theory of Character?	p. vii
Ontology and Typology of Character
Approaches to Literary Characters	p. 3
From Hero to Character	p. 26
In Search of the Protagonist	p. 49
Collective Character	p. 67
From Collective Character to Intersubjectivity	p. 88
Secondary Characters and Character Constellations	p. 110
Complexity and Development	p. 128
Epistemology of Character	p. 153
Character and Plot	p. 159
Authorial Discourse: Description and Narration	p. 182
Authorial Discourse: Actions and Events	p. 198
Figural Discourse: Speech Acts	p. 223
Figural Discourse: Internal Representation	p. 241
Implicit Characterization	p. 268
Conclusion: Returning to the Text	p. 282
Bibliography	p. 285
Name Index	p. 306
Title Index	p. 309
Character Index	p. 315
Subject Index	p. 323
About the Author	p. 332
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