“The Demon Lover” Elizabeth Bowen
Characters: Mrs. Kathleen Drover: (Protagonist) ~ Round/Static Concerned with her appearance Married with 3 kids Wears old jewelry Nervous twitch of the mouth Not overly panicked / tries to explain the happenings logically
Characters, continued . . . Young Kathleen: She’s passive (seems innocent and naïve) Even after the fiancé “DIED” she couldn’t attract other men She seems intimidated by her fiancé
Characters, continued . . . The SOLDIER (Antagonist ~ flat/static) Controlling ~ Presses her hand against the button Obsessed Mysterious – shadowy face / family barely knows him / creepy statements
Suspense . . . How does the author create it? 1) IMAGERY: The street is desolate The apartment is neglected / bruises on the wallpaper / smells of old fires Dusty table 2) FORESHADOWING: The FLASHBACK (a transition to an earlier event) hints to the reader that the soldier might come back . . . -”Presumed Dead” -”I shall be with you sooner or later”
Suspense . . . How does the author create it? 3) Mrs. Drover’s characterization: She seems uncomfortable She’s portrayed as fragile She’s vulnerable, isolated 4) The Soldier’s Characterization He’s mysterious . . . Can’t recall his face Obsessed
Pay attention to the different types of characterization in our next story, “The Beginning of Grief”!