speech, her actions, her environment, and her effect on other people,
and at the same time is delineated directly through comments made upon
her by the author and by other figures in the story, through analysis
of her thoughts and her emotions, through expository statements of her
traits, and through occasional descriptions of her. In all of these
ways does Thackeray exert himself to give the world assurance of a
woman.

It would, however, be extremely difficult to imagine Becky Sharp
divorced from her environment of London high society. She is a part of
her setting, and her setting is a part of her. We have just noticed,
in the case of that queer room of the Boffins', how the mere
representation of setting may contribute to the delineation of
character. But setting is important in many other ways; and it is to a
special consideration of that element of narrative that we must next
turn our attention.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What combination of traits makes a character worth knowing?

2. Distinguish between the method of allegory and the method of
caricature.

3. Imagine a fictitious person; and, after you have become
sufficiently acquainted with this imaginary character, write eight
distinct themes, in each of which the selfsame figure is projected
in accordance with a different method of delineation:--1. By
Exposition, 2. By Description, 3. By Psychological Analysis, 4. By
Reports from Other Characters, 5. By Speech, 6. By Action, 7. By
Effect on Other Characters, and 8. By Environment.

SUGGESTED READING

BLISS PERRY: "A Study of Prose Fiction"--Chapter V, on "The
Characters."

Read at greater length those passages of famous fiction from which
have been selected the illustrative quotations cited in this chapter.

CHAPTER VI

SETTING

Evolution of Background in the History of Painting--The First
Stage--The Second Stage--The Third Stage--Similar Evolution of
Setting in the History of Fiction: The First Stage--The Second
Stage--The Third Stage: 1. Setting as an Aid to Action--2. Setting as
an Aid to Characterization--Emotional Harmony in Setting--The
Pathetic Fallacy--Emotional Contrast in Setting--Irony in
Setting--Artistic and Philosophical Employment--1. Setting as a Motive
toward Action--2. Setting as an Influence on Character--Setting as
the Hero of the Narrative--Uses of the Weather--Romantic and
Realistic Settings--A Romantic Setting by Edgar Allan Poe--A