There are many ways to describe people, using physical, or emotional descriptives, or by their location or intellect. The following three extracts are from three books of very different natures, which all introduce a main character in their respective tails, using very different means.
Describing Miss Shepherd, an accidental lodger.
“Nearly six foot, she was a commanding figure, and would have been more so had she not been kitted out in greasy raincoat, orange skirt, Ben Hogan golfing-cap and carpet slippers.”
Alan Bennett – Writing Home
In his description of Miss Shepherd, Bennett concentrates on the physical apects of her appearance which make her stand out as unusual, an eccentric. Although the description is quite limited, covering just five points, you immediately have a mental picture of what this woman looks like.
She is the archetypal city centre bag lady, she will have dirty, untidy grey hair, be dressed in mismatched clothes and will walk with a shuffling, stooped gait.
Decribing Katz, a travelling companion.
“For the past three years he had devoted himself to rectitude and – I instantly saw now as he stooped out of the door of the plane, to growing a stomach. He had always been kind of fleshy, but now he brought to mind Orson Welles after a very bad night. He was limping a little and breathing harder than one ought to after a walk of 20 yards.”
Bill Bryson – A Walk in the Woods
In this description Bryson writes about meeting an old friend who he has not seen for some time, and who he will be spending the next few months with whilst they walk the Appalachian Trail together. The text concentrates on one aspect of his friends appearance, or rather changed appearance, the size of his stomach, and the consequential effect of that on their proposed activity.
Whilst virtually nothing is given about Katz physical appearance, the introduction of the character works because of the potential for disaster introduced by the one detail which is described.
Describing Robert Langdon, the novels main character.
“You’re a professor of religious iconology at Harvard University. You’ve written three books on symbology and - ”
Dan Brown – Angels and Demons
In introducing his lead character, by means of a telephone call from a person trying to solicit his help, Brown gives nothing away about his appearance, rather he concentrates on the qualifications of the character, providing in very few words the necessay information for the reader to appreciate the characters ability to fulfill his part in the story.
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I tend to think that many writers over do the physical descriptions - two paragraphs later I've forgotten what they wrote and formed my own impression. Conversation is good alternative so I guess I'm with Dan Brown on this one
ReplyDeletestrangely I found the Dan Brown one the least satisfying, when read in context it appeared to me to be a little "obvious"
ReplyDeleteMy personal plaudits go to Bill Bryson in this instance, the sense of impending disaster built by the description of Katz was, I thought, very different and very well executed.
I think also that all three need to be read incontext rather than in isolation as posted to be fully appreciated.