Characterization in the Novels of Fanny Burney

Abstract

<p>The thesis examines Miss Burney's methods of characterization and the extent to which they succeed or fail. Cahpter One is mainly biographical. Chapter Two attempts to show where Miss Burney's originality lies and how she adapts her methods of characterization from earlier fiction or from the stage. Chapters Three and Four, which support the general scheme outlined in Chapter Two with detailed character studies, are devoted to selected characters from all her novels, though the emphasis is on Evelina and Cecilia. The analysis of character is broadly based on Forster's classification into flat and round and the thesis draws more attention to Miss Burney's debt to the stage than previous critics have chosen to do.</p>