Welcome to Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art,

Theoretical Studies in Literature and Art ›› 2021, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (3): 97-103.

• Western Literary Theory • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Fictional Characters from the Perspective of Possible Worlds Theory

Qiu Bei   

  1. School of Foreign Languages, Shenzhen Technology University
  • Online:2021-05-25 Published:2021-05-11
  • About author:Qiu Bei, Ph.D., is an associate professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Shenzhen Technology University, with research focus on narratology.
  • Supported by:
    Humanity and Social Sciences Youth Foundation of Ministry of Education (18YJC752024)

Abstract: According to the possible worlds theory, there are three types of alethic logics, i.e. necessity, possibility and impossibility.  Literary works can then be seen as a specific possible world: fictional narrative world, while characters are its inhabitants. Taking into consideration the accessible relation of the fictional characters with the human beings in the real worlds, we divide the fictional characters into plausible characters, physically impossible characters and logically impossible characters. These three types of characters cover all the character types in fictional works. Possible worlds theory provides a new research scale and theoretical framework for categorizing character types as well as for constructing a theory of characters.

Key words: possible worlds theory, types of characters, implausible characters, physically impossible characters, logically impossible characters