This idea was dismissed in the 19th century when the petty bourgeois novels appeared. The narrative was claimed to be character-driven, that means characters were considered dominant over plot. Such an approach gained popularity due to development of psychology as well.
An author may use two ways to build an image of a character – direct (explicit) characterization and indirect (implicit) characterization. The literary author just gives the recipients information about a character. Such an approach may employ the narrator, another character or the .protagonist himself. Indirect approach presupposes more delicate way to introduce a character. Recipients are welcome to judge a character by themselves on the basis of its actions, thought progress, speech, behavior, appearance, and interaction with other characters.
It is difficult to overestimate the importance of characterization for the success of any literary writing. It is essential for any author to understand the role, function, and usage pattern of this literary device. Properly outlined characterization helps recipients comprehend the behavior and motives of a certain character. A proper use of this literary device enhances the understanding of events within a storyline. Dialogues are also of great importance in the process of character developing because they give recipients deeper insight into its inner world.
Thus, character as a literary phenomenon may be defined as an image of a human within a literary work. As a rule, each character possesses easily defined individuality which helps author illustrate both the historically conditioned type of behavior and his own moral and ethical views. Animals or even plants may also function as characters. Everybody remembers White Fang by Jack London. There is nothing surprising about it because such a choice of a character helps authors emphasize the identity of humans with animals or inanimate objects.