Allegory & Flat and Round Character

Friends, Literature is just like the ocean and different literary terms which have been come out of it are quite helpful to understand a particular piece of literature and Criticism as well.

There are some term highlighting the typical features of some writers, poet or poetess’ style of writing or group of writers and poets and such terms have been named accordingly.    

If we talk with reference to Chris Baldick’s Oxford Concise Dictionary of Literary Term and from A to Z then there are many term right from Absurd/Absurdism or Absurd Theater to Zeugma.

And as far as M. H. Abrams’ A Glossary of Literary Terms is concerned; it has from Absurd to Wit.

So Friends, let’s begin....

Literary terms are the different techniques, styles, approaches and treatment that writers, poet and poetess use in their pieces of literature concerning different genres. With the help of these different literary terms writers, poet and poetess highlight the intended picture or scenario through their piece of literature and make us to think about different structures of the society from that intended point of view.

There are many literary terms which have been come into existence from literature and have been placed unequally in the stream of literature and criticism.

·        Allegory:

Origin: At first the word ‘Allegory’ came from the Latin word ‘Allegoria’ in 1382.

Definition:

It is a story or visual image with a sound distinct meaning partially hidden behind its literal or visible meaning.

Allegory is a kind of figure of speech which describes the abstract ideas through characters, images, events, symbolically.

It is applied in prose, fiction or poetry to explain the intended abstract ideas effectively. Moreover, it is used to exemplify the truth or certain situations in a particular work.

Technique:

The principal technique of allegory is personification; whereby abstract qualities are given human shape- as in public Statues of Liberty or Justice.

An allegory may be conceived as a metaphor that is extended into a structured system.

In written narrative, allegory involves continues parallel between two (or more) levels of meaning in a story, so that its persons and events correspond to their equivalents in a system of ideas or chain of events external to the tale.

Function:

Writers/Poets make use of allegory in order to incorporate different structures or layers to their work. Allegory helps them to express their ideas or intended picture in an effective manner and it creates impression among the riders. Hence, it always stands for something different and broad rather than conventional ideology or thinking. The keen exploration and study of such masterpieces help us to understand the inner layers of the minds of the writers as far as society or globe is concerned.    

Examples:

Edmund Spenser’s Faerie Queen (1590) –

Master piece of Edmund Spenser known as moral and religious allegory. The Virtues, Vices, Truth, Wisdom, Goodness, Kindness, Race, wickedness, etc. have been presented through the characters like the Red Cross Knight, Lady Una and her parent and the Dragon.     

John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress (1678) –

One of the most acknowledged religious, spiritual and theological fiction in English Literature.

George Orwells’ Animal Farm (1945) –

It is an allegory that represents the greed, corruption, power and many more with the help of animals on the farm.

 ·        Flat and Round Character:

There are certain types of characters like Central or Major, Minor, Dynamic, Static, Flat, Round, Protagonist, Antagonist, Anti-Hero, Symbolic and so on……

 Origin:

A renowned British novelist E. M. Forster talks about the term ‘Flat and Round Character’ in his work ‘Aspects of Novels’ which was published in 1927.

 

Definition:

The Flat Character can be defined as the character that remains flat in throughout the course of work and does not change or create any kind of complication. E. M. Forster says, “the lack of complicities is the hallmark of Flat characters.”

Whereas in contrast to this, the Round Character can be defined as the Character that has complications, flexibility and it does not stick up with his temperament presented initially and keep changing it by surprising the readers. 

In short, the characters having certain depth or complicities and multifaceted features in personality deserve to be called as the Round Character.

 

Features of Flat Character:

Flat characters have to support the Main characters.

Flat characters have nothing to do with the progress, development or transformation.

Flat characters are stereotype in nature and presented in the same way.

Flat characters are typical and prefer to live life smoothly and without any complications.

Flat characters are important because they bring harmony, tranquility and wit.

 

Features of Round Character:

Most of the protagonists are the round characters.

Realistic and authentic in nature and hence it helps in making the work realistic.

Multidimensional Personality

Unanticipated and surprising Actions.

Perform Memorable Deeds.

 

Examples: Flat Character:

Gertrude in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1599)

Benvolio in William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet (1597)

Elizabeth Proctor in Arthur Miller The Crucible (1953)

Sykes in Charles Dickens’ Second Novel, Oliver Twist (1837)

 

Examples: Round Character:

Hamlet in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet (1599)

Elizabeth Bennett in Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice (1813)

Winston Smith in George Orwell’s 1984

Harry Potter in J. K. Rowling’s series Harry Potter (1997-2007)  

 Thank You !