Author Topic: Character with no name  (Read 1218 times)

Offline MoSeS

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2380
  • Take two tablets and call me in the morning.
    • View Profile
Character with no name
« on: September 09, 2010, 03:33:04 PM »
What is this device called when an author uses a character but never gives the character a name.

For example, Fight Club.

I can't find other examples right now, but i know there are many others that have used this as well.

Sometimes supporting characters that have a large roll, but are simply "the man" or "boy", etc.

Offline Enjorous

  • Seriously?
  • ***
  • Posts: 12664
  • Prince of the Gutter since 2010
    • View Profile
Re: Character with no name
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2010, 07:39:19 PM »
I don't know what the literary term but Cormac McCarthy loves to do it
Kentucky Fried Shuriken - Finger Lickin' Death.
Quote from: horsehearted
Nah, women are just batshit crazy ALL the time!  :D
87.1% Dresden Pure rank: Nicodemus

Offline LizW65

  • Posty McPostington
  • ***
  • Posts: 2093
  • Better Red than dead...
    • View Profile
    • elizabethkwadsworth.com
Re: Character with no name
« Reply #2 on: September 10, 2010, 11:10:28 PM »
Here's what TV Tropes has to say on the subject:
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoNameGiven
"Make good art." -Neil Gaiman
"Or failing that, entertaining trash." -Me
http://www.elizabethkwadsworth.com