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Nar · 07-12-2002, 08:49 AM

Welcome, Anna! Character-driven draws out the character, as his/her nature is influencing the plot. It requires more thought from the author about who the character is, so characters tend to become more specific, complex, and compelling. Specific characters, those who couldn't be mistaken for anyone else, they're real, compelling. A story like that is interesting for readers, it draws them in and generally increases their identification with the character, because they know much more about him/her. Plot turns that aren't character-driven can add excitement, irony, drama and suspense. Oh no, not THIS! NOW! What will the protagonist DO?

Plot turns are good as long as there are not too many 'pure events' -- purely plot-driven material is exciting in a generic way, but it's difficult to care about characters who are only reacting and have nothing to do with the shape of the story. It's hard to know them, therefore hard to feel for them.

Let's take character and event in LotR. When the ring lands in Frodo's hand, --event-- how he copes with it, how quiet, determined and protective of his friends and country he is-- that's determined by his character, and that is how we first come to know him. Throughout FotR, Frodo meets a series of imposing larger than life characters, --from his point of view, events-- When Frodo reacts, his courtesy always comes through. He always has something to say --character. The interplay keeps things interesting. Think of how much more interesting Frodo's meeting with Galadriel becomes after he figures out her desires and the source of her power and makes his offer of the ring. Events: 'Come to the golden wood, meeting the grand and beautiful elf, looking in her mirroring basin' are overtaken by character: 'recognizing the ring of adamant, offering the one ring in recognition of her strength, age and wisdom, overthrowing her temptation by inviting it in.' Frodo flips the encounter backwards: Galadriel, guide and judge of all who enter her realm, becomes the quester, making her way through the temptation of ultimate power. Frodo, the quester, becomes Galadriel's guide through that test; she passes it, perhaps helped by the example of hobbit-nature Frodo provides her.

In real life, our lives are a mix of character driven elements like self-sabotage and love and aspiration and 'plot-driven' events like diseases, aging, earthquakes, economic meltdowns, wars, famines-- some of these 'interesting times' are human-influenced, thus not entirely 'acts-of-the-universe' but they're not derived from the actions of any ONE of us. We can relate to an interplay of event and character because that's most like our existence.

07-12-2002, 08:49 AM	#493
Nar Wight Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 228	Welcome, Anna! Character-driven draws out the character, as his/her nature is influencing the plot. It requires more thought from the author about who the character is, so characters tend to become more specific, complex, and compelling. Specific characters, those who couldn't be mistaken for anyone else, they're real, compelling. A story like that is interesting for readers, it draws them in and generally increases their identification with the character, because they know much more about him/her. Plot turns that aren't character-driven can add excitement, irony, drama and suspense. Oh no, not THIS! NOW! What will the protagonist DO? Plot turns are good as long as there are not too many 'pure events' -- purely plot-driven material is exciting in a generic way, but it's difficult to care about characters who are only reacting and have nothing to do with the shape of the story. It's hard to know them, therefore hard to feel for them. Let's take character and event in LotR. When the ring lands in Frodo's hand, --event-- how he copes with it, how quiet, determined and protective of his friends and country he is-- that's determined by his character, and that is how we first come to know him. Throughout FotR, Frodo meets a series of imposing larger than life characters, --from his point of view, events-- When Frodo reacts, his courtesy always comes through. He always has something to say --character. The interplay keeps things interesting. Think of how much more interesting Frodo's meeting with Galadriel becomes after he figures out her desires and the source of her power and makes his offer of the ring. Events: 'Come to the golden wood, meeting the grand and beautiful elf, looking in her mirroring basin' are overtaken by character: 'recognizing the ring of adamant, offering the one ring in recognition of her strength, age and wisdom, overthrowing her temptation by inviting it in.' Frodo flips the encounter backwards: Galadriel, guide and judge of all who enter her realm, becomes the quester, making her way through the temptation of ultimate power. Frodo, the quester, becomes Galadriel's guide through that test; she passes it, perhaps helped by the example of hobbit-nature Frodo provides her. In real life, our lives are a mix of character driven elements like self-sabotage and love and aspiration and 'plot-driven' events like diseases, aging, earthquakes, economic meltdowns, wars, famines-- some of these 'interesting times' are human-influenced, thus not entirely 'acts-of-the-universe' but they're not derived from the actions of any ONE of us. We can relate to an interplay of event and character because that's most like our existence.