“Characters are the soul of a literary work,” this saying is indeed true! But how can we effectively “dissect” the soul, personality, and actions of a character to truly understand the message the author wants to convey?
1. From “Dissecting” to “Understanding”
“Analysis” is to “dissect” an object, separating each part to understand its meaning, characteristics, and relationship to the whole. In literature, analyzing an object can be a character, plot, imagery, or any other element that contributes to the uniqueness of the work.
To “dissect” a character, we first need to grasp the main aspects:
1.1. Introducing the Character: “Who?”
- Name, origin, family, occupation, social status of the character.
- Appearance, beauty, flaws, demeanor, posture…
- List the prominent features of the character, their typical sayings, and actions.
Example:
The character Chi Pheo in the work “Chi Pheo” by writer Nam Cao is a poor farmer, driven to a life of crime by society. He is “thin, dark, with sunken eyes, looking like two dead mice” (excerpt from the work).
1.2. Describing Personality: “What kind of person?”
- List the good and bad qualities, strengths, and weaknesses of the character.
- Analyze the motivations and reasons behind the character’s actions.
- Relate personality traits to the social context, living conditions, and meaning of the work.
Example:
Chi Pheo is a gentle and honest farmer, but driven to a life of crime by society. He becomes aggressive, brutal, always carrying profound pain within him.
1.3. Actions: “What do they do?”
- List the character’s actions in each stage and specific situation.
- Analyze the meaning, purpose, and motives of each action.
- Connect actions with the character’s personality, psychology, and development.
Example:
Chi Pheo’s act of murder is not due to inherent cruelty, but is an expression of despair, of the pain of being abandoned by society.
1.4. Comments and Evaluation: “What is the significance?”
- Evaluate the role and meaning of the character in relation to the work.
- Relate the character to real life, and the lessons learned from the character.
- Assess the impact of the character on the reader.
Example:
Chi Pheo is a tragic character, realistically and deeply reflecting the miserable situation of Vietnamese farmers in feudal society.
2. “Dissecting” Characters Through the Expert’s Lens
“Character analysis in literature is an art,” shares literary researcher Nguyen Van A. He believes that “characters need to be viewed holistically, not just focusing on appearance or personality, but also analyzing actions, psychology, and the character’s relationship with the social context.”
3. “Dissecting” Characters Through the Reader’s Eyes
Frequently asked questions:
- How to analyze characters effectively?
- What points should be noted when analyzing characters?
- How to write an engaging character analysis?
Suggestions:
- Read the work carefully, noting the prominent features of the character.
- Analyze the character’s actions, psychology, and personality.
- Relate the character to the social context and meaning of the work.
- Always remember that analysis is not description, but the discovery and explanation of the character’s meaning within the context of the work.
Conclusion:
Analyzing a subject in literature not only helps you understand the work better, but also helps you develop your reasoning, analytical, and expressive skills. Try applying these tips to “dissect” the characters in your favorite literary works!
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You can also refer to articles on poem analysis skills, text analysis skills, and presentation skills on our website.
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