On Throwing Characters Under the Wheels of Plot

[anicalewis]

Usually, I prefer character-centered books to plot-centered ones. I like it best when both elements are strong - as in, say, The Hunger Games - but if I had to choose (and, you know, sometimes you do), I'd generally go with characters.

Although.

Reading the *sniffle* last-ever Redwall book, The Sable Quean, followed immediately with Treasure

Comments

[toastedcheese]

It's interesting to fit, say, The Iliad in this grid - full of political intrigue and fairly complex skirmishes, but also full of serious pathos and angst when people from either side die.

This weird juxtaposition is shown by Homer's verbal formula when a death occurs - first he describes how awesome the attack was and the exact trajectory with which the spear goes through the guy's body, with various fluids spurting out, and then he takes a moment to reflect on how the poor guy will never go back home to the farm and see his wife and kids. It's pretty messed up.

Basically for Homer war is both heroic and awful at the same time, and only his Greek Stoicism allows him to feel both ways at once. Figuring out how to express that warfare is both exciting and really really terrible is much trickier with our modern sensibilities, so usually people choose one side or the other.

[angeladegroot]

I'd never given this any thought before - thanks for the interesting post. I know it will be circulating in my subconscious as I read now.

[anicalewis]

Glad you like it!