Oct. 5th, 2009 12:14 pm (local) It's not only a question of knowledege but of perception too, especially in the Btvsverse: for example how does Giles think of Spike. Is he simply Spike or is there always the noun "vampire" in the way he thinks about him? How does Spike think about Giles (or Riley, or Xander, or Buffy...)? How does he identify them? What's the dominant point in his perception of the person? In fact you can show how a character's POV progresses about another character by going slowly, for example, from "it" to "he" and from the use of the noun (vampire, human, Watcher...) to the use of the surname.
This is very hard technique to pull off successfully. Because you have to be consistent and stay in that character's pov throughout. You also have to make sure that you are not slipping it in places that are inappropriate. (such as my example above.)
If you aren't consistent, you confuse the reader and take them out of the story. Which is what happened here.
Also, you have to know what type of pov that you are using. Is it third person close? (in which case yes, Giles would call Spike an it) or is it third person distant? (he would not call Spike an it.)
Then, add to this a third layer - would Giles at this stage call Spike an it or a vampire? And can you use something other than the reference to demonstrate that in a consistent manner?
It's like my example above regarding the fireman.
Dave would not refer to himself as a fireman.
Joey might, even if she knew Dave, because he is acting as a fireman in that capacity.
Rule1: When in doubt? Always use personal pronouns and the character's name.
When it is done effectively - you don't notice it. If it is not effective - you do. That's the trick.
Example:
Willow said, "Hello, Spike."
Giles glanced at Willow then looked at the vampire and rolled his eyes. The vampire walked past Willow and sat on the top of the counter swinging its feet. 'Spike', Giles thought, dismissively, turning his back on the vampire and going back to work. 'Another vampire that I wish Buffy staked ages ago.'
no subject
shadowkat67 (170.28.222.2) wrote:
Oct. 5th, 2009 12:14 pm (local)
It's not only a question of knowledege but of perception too, especially in the Btvsverse: for example how does Giles think of Spike. Is he simply Spike or is there always the noun "vampire" in the way he thinks about him? How does Spike think about Giles (or Riley, or Xander, or Buffy...)? How does he identify them? What's the dominant point in his perception of the person? In fact you can show how a character's POV progresses about another character by going slowly, for example, from "it" to "he" and from the use of the noun (vampire, human, Watcher...) to the use of the surname.
This is very hard technique to pull off successfully.
Because you have to be consistent and stay in that character's pov throughout. You also have to make sure that you are not slipping it in places that are inappropriate. (such as my example above.)
If you aren't consistent, you confuse the reader and take them out of the story. Which is what happened here.
Also, you have to know what type of pov that you are using. Is it third person close? (in which case yes, Giles would call Spike an it) or is it third person distant? (he would not call Spike an it.)
Then, add to this a third layer - would Giles at this stage call Spike an it or a vampire? And can you use something other than the reference to demonstrate that in a consistent manner?
It's like my example above regarding the fireman.
Dave would not refer to himself as a fireman.
Joey might, even if she knew Dave, because he is acting as a fireman in that capacity.
Rule1: When in doubt? Always use personal pronouns and the character's name.
When it is done effectively - you don't notice it. If it is not effective - you do. That's the trick.
Example:
Willow said, "Hello, Spike."
Giles glanced at Willow then looked at the vampire and rolled his eyes. The vampire walked past Willow and sat on the top of the counter swinging its feet. 'Spike', Giles thought, dismissively, turning his back on the vampire and going back to work. 'Another vampire that I wish Buffy staked ages ago.'