tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16518767.post3283060741175490400..comments2024-03-10T17:40:19.660+00:00Comments on Part Five: Active and Passive Characters in LiteratureSteph/venhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04426600866018393167noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16518767.post-30416898781989586252012-05-08T14:59:08.579+01:002012-05-08T14:59:08.579+01:00Yes. Writing words in a "look how clever I a...Yes. Writing words in a "look how clever I am and how big my book is" way is just annoying and ruins the pace. Writing words because they add to some aspect of the story (not necessarily the plot, as I argued above) is good; and I would argue that deliberately slowing the pace is, at times, a literary technique and so a justifiable move.<br /><br />I suppose it's like music in films. If you notice it and have to ask why it's there then it has failed.Cap'n Ricnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16518767.post-30612187747417108562012-05-08T14:47:04.630+01:002012-05-08T14:47:04.630+01:00There's a value in using some words to paint a...There's a value in using <i>some</i> words to paint a picture, yes. And, in honesty, that section in LotR isn't too bad, although it is definitely the weakest part of the novel.<br /><br />But there is also very definitely a question of pacing to consider, and too many modern authors (especially fantasy authors) seem to have forgotten this. And, of course, very few modern fantasies (in fact, virtually none) are as well-written as LotR.Steph/venhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04426600866018393167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16518767.post-80077673774567774322012-05-08T10:40:05.357+01:002012-05-08T10:40:05.357+01:00Hmm...
do you not think that there is some inheren...Hmm...<br />do you not think that there is some inherent value in words being used to paint a picture rather than necessarily advancing the plot through the characters? The passages in The Two Towers, I would contend, are a beautiful and brilliantly-written picture and portrayal of the world that they're journeying through. It's important that you get a sense of the bleakness and difficulty of their journey because it affects them and their relationship and choices later on, whereas saying "they went through a swamp - it was bleak and difficult" doesn't quite do the same.Cap'n Ricnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16518767.post-14779352119489976142012-05-07T18:47:13.636+01:002012-05-07T18:47:13.636+01:00Interesting points!!!Interesting points!!!Kezziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15705356707599121605noreply@blogger.com