APPENDIX 3.4î CHARACTER CONSTRUCTION IN SAMPLE FILMS
There are three terms to my analysis (see Appendix 3.1: six
films from 1954), these are the initial presentation of the
character which can be discerned by observation of the
particular ways in which the character is first introduced to
the audience; the definition of the character, which entails
summarising the different kinds of information about the
character known to the audience by the end of the film; and
the narrative resolution of the character, which means lwhat
happens to her in the end’.
This appendix is organised as follows: tables detailing the
breakdown of presentation in each of the four character
groups, followed by tables detailing the breakdown of
definition in each of the four groups will be presented for
each of the three year-samples 45-46, 55-56, and 63-65. Since
there are a relatively small number of characters in groups 1
and 2 these groups will be given together, thus for each year
sample there will be three tables each in respect of the
presentation and of the definition of characters, entailing
eighteen tables in all. Finally there will be one table
showing the narrative resolution of each character in groups 1
and 2 in all the sample films.
Within the tables analysing the initial presentation of
characters the terms will be as follows: the appearance of the
character; the location of the character; the action and/or
speech by means of which the character presents herself to the
audience; and the introduction by another character.
Within the tables analysing the definition of characters
available to the audience by the end of the film the following
terms will be used: the class and/or race and/or nationality
of the character; her age and/or sexual status; and her
occupation and/or aims. Where a character's presentation or
definition involves several of the terms given here as
possibly alternative (and/or), the terms will be given in the
order detailed here and separated by a /. Fitting these terms
into a tabular form enabling comparisons inevitably involves
some abbreviations and a ,key' to these is given below.
Key to abbreviations used in the tables
Presentation: FT = Film Title
Name = Character's name or description as given
in lists of characters (appendix 3.2)
App = Appearance
Loc = Location
А/S = Action and/or Speech (in this order)
Oth = Introduction by another character
Definition: FT = Film Title
Name = Character's name or description as given
in lists of characters (appendix 3.2)
C∕R∕N= Class and/or Race and/or Nationality
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