Literature - Characterization

the process by which a fictional character is portrayed and transformed throughout a story

développement du personnage

someone or something serving as the very typical example of a thing or person

archétype

the way in which a character's personality, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions are expressed through their speech and thoughts

voix

villainous character who strongly opposes another person or thing

antagoniste

the main character in a movie, book, etc. who lacks heroic qualities such as being morally good

anti-héros

the events that have happened to a character before their story in a book, movie, etc. begins

arrière-plan

the transformation or development of a fictional character over the course of a story

arc de personnage

a negative trait or quality of a fictional character that leads to their downfall or contributes to their struggles or conflicts throughout the story

tragédie personnelle

a negative trait or quality of a fictional character that leads to their downfall or contributes to their struggles or conflicts throughout the story

défaut de caractère

the way in which characters in a movie, book, etc. are created and represented by a writer

caractérisation

the main male character in a story, book, movie, etc., often known for his bravery and other great qualities

héros

the psychological struggle that takes place within a character's mind or emotions

conflit interne

the person who tells the story in a novel, poem, etc.

narrateur

a fictional character, especially one who plays a significant role in a story or narrative

personnage

the main character in a movie, novel, TV show, etc.

protagoniste

the main bad character in a movie, story, play, etc.

méchant

the attribution of human traits and feelings to objects, animals, or natural phenomena in art and literature

fausse analogie

the practice of attributing human qualities to objects or gods

anthropomorphisme

(of characters in a narrative) to speak directly to the audience or acknowledge that they are part of a fictional work

a character in a work of fiction who is thought to represent the author's personal beliefs, experiences, or opinions

surdoué de l'auteur

a character in a work of fiction who is used to help the audience understand and relate to the story

surdoué du public

a narrative technique in which the credibility and truthfulness of the narrator are called into question

narrateur peu fiable

a narrative technique in which the narrator is all-knowing and has access to the thoughts, feelings, and perspectives of all the characters in the story

narrateur omniscient

a fictional character, often portrayed as an angelic being, who represents a character's conscience or moral compass

ange de l'épaule

a fictional character, often portrayed as an unethical being, who represents a character's inner voice of temptation

diable sur l'épaule

the perspective from which the narrator tells a story

a person or an animal represented in a book, play, movie, etc.

personnage

a detailed explanation or description that clarifies the meaning or intent of a written work or discourse

exposition

the emotional atmosphere or feeling created by a piece of writing

ambiance

a sudden or significant decline in a character's status, power, or fortune

chute

the moment when previously hidden or unknown information is unveiled or disclosed to the reader or audience

révélation

an event or situation that creates a problem or obstacle for the protagonist or other characters in a story

complication

a feeling of release or relaxation that comes after a period of tension or suspense in a story

soulagement

a character in a story who undergoes significant internal changes and growth over the course of the narrative

personnage dynamique

a character in a story who is not highly developed, and typically has only one or two distinguishing traits or characteristics

personnage plat

a character in a story who contrasts with another character, typically the protagonist, in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character

personnage en miroir

a young, innocent, and naive character, often a young woman, in a story or play

ingénue

a complex and multidimensional character in a story, who often undergoes significant growth and change throughout the narrative

personnage complexe

a character in a work of fiction who remains the same from the beginning of the story to the end, without undergoing significant personal development or change

personnage statique

a stereotype or cliché character that is easily recognizable and often used in literature or other forms of media

personnage stéréotypé

a point of view in which the story is told from the perspective of a character using "I" or "we"

narration à la première personne

a point of view in which the story is told using "you" as the pronoun for the protagonist or narrator, making the reader or audience feel more involved in the story

narration à la deuxième personne

a mode of storytelling where the narrator refers to characters using pronouns like "he" and "she" and is not a character in the story

narration à la troisième personne

a person who is romantically or emotionally involved with another person, often a central character in a story or narrative

objectif amoureux

a close companion or assistant to the protagonist of a work of fiction, who provides support, advice, or comic relief

partenaire

a character who plays the role of a father, mentor, protector, or guide to a younger character

figure paternelle

a character, usually female, who functions as a nurturing or guiding influence over the other characters, often acting in a maternal role

figure maternelle

a character who serves as a trusted friend or advisor to the protagonist and with whom they share their innermost thoughts and feelings

confident

the second most important character after the protagonist, and often plays a key role in the story's development

deutéragoniste

a character who appears in a supporting role and has minimal impact on the story

personnage tertiaire

a character in literature who represents an idea or a concept beyond their literal meaning and functions as a symbol to convey deeper meanings and themes

personnage symbolique

the main female character in a story, book, film, etc., typically known for great qualities

héroïne

a wise and knowledgeable character who provides guidance or advice to the protagonist

sage

a performer or entertainer in a royal court or other setting who is known for their humorous or nonsensical performances

bouffon

a literary or dramatic character representing the ordinary individual, often placed in extraordinary circumstances and often used to evoke empathy in the audience

homme ordinaire

a fictional character archetype who, despite engaging in criminal activities, is sophisticated, charming, and often possesses a strong moral code that sets them apart from other criminals

voleur gentleman

a type of character archetype often used in storytelling, representing a wholesome and relatable male love interest who typically has a close connection to the protagonist

le garçon d'à côté

a character archetype that is often described as wholesome, down-to-earth, and relatable

fille d'à côté

a stock character often depicted as a sinister figure in literature and folklore who is usually the enemy of the hero

chevalier noir