A cognitive linguistic approach to the analysis of fantasy text characters

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Bohdan Khmelnitsky National University

A cognitive linguistic approach to the analysis of fantasy text characters

Dmytro Pavkin

Cherkasy, Ukraine

Abstract

M. Pavkin. A cognitive linguistic approach to the analysis of fantasy text characters. This article aims to suggest a procedure of analyzing fantasy text characters focusing on their evaluative component. The said procedure is based on the methodology of cognitive linguistics, namely the basic frames theory. Basic frames are schematic mental structures that form the backbone of our informational system. The frames consist of propositional schemas containing static and dynamic characteristics of a character under scrutiny.

The empirical data of the research are represented by descriptions of characters in a series prototypical for fantasy genre - legendarium by J. R.R. Tolkien which includes the novels The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. In his books, the writer created not only an alternative universe with its geography and mythology but also versatile characters who belong to different “races” - Elves, Men, Hobbits, Dwarves, Ents, and Orcs. The race affiliation of a protagonist exposes his/her peculiar traits of character, worldview, and way of life making it easier for the writer to describe them. So analyzing the evaluation of characters one should take into consideration both common features shared by all representatives of a race portraying it as a homogeneous entity - eidos (a holistic non-segmented image) and unique individual features of the protagonist - logos (an image where its constituents are singled out).

Consequently, the evaluation of a character may be mathematically represented as a summary coefficient equal to the ratio of logical and eidetic coefficients. The former is calculated as the ratio of positive and negative propositions describing the personal qualities of a protagonist, the latter is the ratio of positive and negative propositions describing the race to which the character belongs. The article contains a detailed analysis of the six races of Tolkien's legendarium and two representatives of each race which enabled to outline their generalized portraits and determine summary evaluations which makes it clear that some characters are “better” and some are “worse” than average representatives of their race.

Key words: basic frame, character, eidetic aspect of description, evaluation coefficient, fantasy genre, logical aspect of description, propositional schema.

Анотація

Д. М. Павкін. Лінгвокогнітивний підхід до аналізу персонажів текстів жанру фентезі. У статті запропоновано процедуру аналізу оцінного складника образів персонажів текстів жанру фентезі. Ця процедура передбачає використання методологічного доробку когнітивної лінгвістики, зокрема теорії базисних фреймів. Останні є ментальними структурами, які утворюють скелет інформаційної системи мислення людини. Фрейми складаються з пропозиційних схем, які містять статичні й динамічні характеристики досліджуваних персонажів.

Аналізований жанр репрезентовано текстами трьох романів Дж. Р. Р. Толкієна (“Сильмарилліон”, “Хоббіт” та “Володар перснів”). У своєму легендаріумі письменник не лише створив вторинний всесвіт зі своєю географією та міфологією, а й наповнив його різноманітними антропоморфними істотами, які належать до шести “рас” - ельфів, людей, хоббітів, гномів, ентів та орків.

Відповідно, аналізуючи оцінний компонент персонажу, треба враховувати не лише його персональні характеристики (логічний ракурс опису), а й риси, світогляд і переконання, притаманні всій расі (ейдетичний ракурс опису). Ми пропонуємо обчислювати загальну оцінку кожного образу у вигляді підсумкового коефіцієнта, який дорівнює частці логічного та ейдетичного коефіцієнтів. Перший виводиться зі співвідношення позитивних і негативних оцінок особистих характеристик персонажів, другий - зі співвідношення позитивних і негативних оцінок характеристик раси загалом. Стаття містить детальний аналіз оцінного компоненту шести рас легендаріуму та двох представників кожної з них. У результаті було реконструйовано узагальнені портрети рас і персонажів та визначено їхню підсумкову оцінку. Як засвідчив аналіз, окремі персонажі можуть бути “кращими” або “гіршими”, ніж пересічний представник відповідної раси.

Ключові слова: базисний фрейм, ейдетичний ракурс зображення, жанр фентезі, логічний ракурс зображення, оцінний коефіцієнт, персонаж, пропозиційна схема.

Аннотация

Д. М. Павкин. Лингвокогнитивный подход к анализу персонажей текстов жанра фэнтези.

В данной статье предлагается процедура анализа оценочной составляющей образов персонажей текстов в жанре фэнтези. Эта процедура основана на использовании методологического аппарата когнитивной лингвистики, в частности теории базисних фреймов - ментальних структур, образующих скелет информационной системы мышления человека. Фреймы состоят из пропозициональных схем, под которые подводятся статические и динамические характеристики исследуемых персонажей. Анализируемый жанр представлен текстами трёх романов Дж. Р. Р. Толкиена (“Сильмариллион”, “Хоббит” и “Властелин колец”). В своем легендариуме писатель не только создал вторичный мир со своей географией и мифологией, но и населил его разнообразными антропоморфными существами, принадлежащими шести “расам” - эльфам, людям, хоббитам, гномам, энтам и оркам. Соответственно, при анализе оценочного компонента персонажа необходимо учитывать не только его персональные характеристики (логический ракурс описания), а и черты, мировоззрение и убеждения, свойственные всей расе (эйдетический ракурс описания). Мы предлагаем рассчитывать общую оценку персонажа в виде итогового коэффициента, равного частному логического и эйдетического коэффициентов. Первый выводится из соотношения положительных и отрицательных оценок личных характеристик персонажей, второй - из соотношения положительных и отрицательных оценок характеристик расы в целом. Статья содержит детальный анализ оценочного компонента шести рас легендариума и двух представителей каждой из них. В результате были реконструированы обобщенные портреты рас и персонажей и определена их итоговая оценка. Как показал анализ, отдельные персонажи могут быть “лучше” или “хуже” среднестатистического представителя соответствующей расы.

Ключевые слова: базисный фрейм, жанр фэнтези, логический ракурс описания, оценочный коэффициент, персонаж, пропозициональная схема, эйдетический ракурс описания.

Introduction

The system of literary images, notably characters, is a hallmark of fiction texts (Barthes, 1989; Valgina, 2003 et al). Such images are to be analyzed considering their evaluation since the latter is called to manifest the author's attitude to the described events and to convey his / her ideological message to the reader. It is especially true of Tolkien's novels the characters of which have been continuously studied by scholars. Hitherto their research has been mostly carried out within the framework of literature studies (Gopman, 1992; Tihomirova, 2003; Sytnyk, 2009; Safonova, 2016; Fontenot, 2019) while a linguistic approach did not commend itself to the academia unless it was focused on the spatial image Tolkien created in his novels (Pavkin 2002).

This article aims to suggest a procedure of cognitive linguistic analysis of literary text characters, namely those of fantasy texts represented by Tolkien's legendarium which includes The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and The Lord of the Rings. Such analysis focuses on the evaluative component of the characters crucial for this literary genre.

The topicality of the present paper is stipulated by the methodology used in it. Here methods of cognitive linguistics are applied to analyze fiction texts which is the approach practiced by cognitive poetics (Tsur, 1992; Freeman, 2002; Vorobiova, 2004).

The object of the study is the characters of novels by Tolkien. The subject matter of this article is the evaluative component of these characters. The empirical data of the research are represented by 1748 character descriptions that contain propositions. The descriptions are obtained through continuous sampling from the three novels (The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings) which constitute Tolkien's legendarium.

Methodology

To analyze the features of the characters propositional and frame modeling was applied having basic frames conception of Zhabotynska as its foundation (Zhabotinskaja, 2010). The scholar argues that the informational system of a human is structured with a mental network consisting of propositional schemas which reveal major types of relations between an object and its features or between several objects. The schemas are grouped into frames called basic since they expose most general principles conditioning categorization and arrangement of information about the surrounding world.

In the article, the propositions describing characters of the legendarium and their features were presented with the number of propositions indicated in brackets. First, the descriptions of races were offered, and then two of their representatives were analyzed. Propositions were grouped according to positive (+), negative (-) or neutral (0) assessment they possess in the novels. As often as not the assessment is conditioned by the context the latter being a concrete situation, a twist of the plot or the value system pertaining to the novels (Pavkin, 2004, p. 113). For instance, stamina of the Elves who represent the Good is assessed positively: the hobbits began to find it hard to keep up with the swift tireless feet of the Elf (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 223), while the corresponding feature of the evil Orcs is assessed negatively since they use it to pursue and slay other creatures: Orcs will often pursue foes for many leagues into the plain (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 351). Quantitative analysis of the descriptions based on identifying the most frequent features of the characters allowed to draw conclusions as to the typical nature of those features. Such conclusions are presented as the “generalized portrait” of a race or a protagonist containing their most frequently used (and thus quintessential) characteristics.

The novelty of the methodological approach forwarded in the article lies in the application of mathematical calculations to expose the summary evaluation of the characters. This was done in recognition of their twofold nature - both as an individual and a representative of a “race”. Using the terms introduced by Losev (Losev, 1990) I called these aspects of characterizing a protagonist “logical” and “eidetic”. Each race of Tolkien's universe (Elves, Men, Hobbits, Dwarves, Ents, and Orcs) manifests some common features shared by all its representatives and portraying it as a homogeneous entity - eidos (a holistic non-segmented image). Coincidently, being the representative of a certain race every character possesses some unique individual features - logos (an image where its constituents are singled out). Thus, the general evaluation of a character was presented as a summary coefficient equal to the ratio of logical and eidetic coefficients. The former represents the ratio of positive and negative propositions (neutral propositions are disregarded) describing the personal qualities of a protagonist, the latter is the ratio of positive and negative propositions describing the race to which the protagonist belongs. For instance, the logical coefficient of Legolas the Elf equals +49 (98 positive propositions divided by 2 negative ones). The eidetic coefficient of the Elves is +6.1 (86 divided by 14). Thus, his summary coefficient is +49: +6.1 = +8.

Results and discussion

Having its roots in mythology and folklore, fantasy is often defined as a fairy tale for adults full of miraculous events and incredible adventures in time and space that do not fit into our perception of the real world, but always have a happy end (Fantasy). In fantasy texts “the fictitious past when the events of the plot unraveled is displayed to the reader as if it were the real present” (Lotman, 1992, p. 235). As story-tellers in Mallorca put it starting their tales, “it happened and it didn't” (see Turaeva, 1999, p. 19). Batsevych calls such texts “reframing” ones (Batsevych, 1999, p. 29) since they ruin a conventional - for the reader - image of the world.

Tolkien is rightly considered to be the founder of fantasy. His works, sometimes said to be “outside literary tradition” (Shippey, 1997, p. 145), are nevertheless universally recognized to be prototypical for this genre (Pavkin, 2011) establishing a canon and blazing a trail for the next generations of writers to follow. In his novels, he depicted Fairy Land - a whole secondary world of Arda whose history is carried through Three Ages from the moment of its creation till the Dominion of Men. Then “the mythological (unhistorical) development is substituted by real History epitomized by men and their deeds” (Gakov, 1995, p. 557) which spells an end to the magic in Fairy Land. In the course of this “demagication”, Fairy Land comes through a series of transformations and its regions change their shape and features including terrain, buildings, flora, and fauna. No less peculiar are the characters that inhabit Tolkien's Arda.

Conventionally, “a character” is any person or creature depicted in a fiction text (Lotman, 1998, p. 139). As Barthes argues (Barthes, 1989, p. 138), a character possesses two types of features. Descriptive features help to gauge his/her disposition, emotional condition, and mental state. Informative features allow to identify people in time and space. Being seemingly minute and of little import (like an indication of the character's age) the latter act as catalysts creating an illusion of authenticity of the events thus enrooting imaginary into real.

According to Lotman, a character's profile is a paradigm composed by a set of differential and integral parameters (Lotman, 1998, p. 52). The former amount to a set of binary oppositions which counterpose it to other characters. The latter take into account group(s) of characters it belongs to. Thus, a character is holistic only as an abstraction, “on the top level”. On the lower ones, it ramifies into a number of independent substructures. They may not necessarily contradict each other yet such architecture of the character presupposes that whatever it does is predictable and unexpected at the same time (ibid, p. 63). This is true even in case the author consciously tries to make a character clear-cut and unequivocal as an antithesis to “permanent volatility of life” (ibid, p. 66). These considerations are relevant to the analysis of characters featuring in Tolkien's legendarium.

Tolkien succeeded in creating not only alternative geography and mythology but also versatile and many-faceted characters. The protagonists of Tolkien's novels belong to different peoples which the author calls “races”. Each of these differs from the others not only physically; Tolkien's world displays linguistic and cultural polyphony (White, 2002, pp. 300-301). Races manifest peculiar traits of character, worldview, and way of life making it easier for the writer to describe them. As Lewis remarked, “much that in a realistic work would be done by `character delineation' is here done simply by making the character an elf, a dwarf, or a hobbit. The imagined beings have their insides on the outside; they are visible souls” (Lewis, 2018).

Sometimes Tolkien's characters are branded unbelievably good or inveterately evil, yet this opinion seems far-fetched. Firstly, most positive characters sport some weaknesses: goodly Men succumb to the dreadful lure of the Ring, Elves and Dwarves have problems overcoming age-long enmity towards each other. Moreover, a number of these may come to hatch evil plots. Secondly, some characters are hard to definitely refer to positive or negative. For instance, The Silmarillion, among other things, describes the fortunes of Feanor the Elf, who pursues the Dark Lord Morgoth trying to avenge his father, whom Morgoth murdered, and recapture Silmarils, the jewels that Morgoth stole. Yet the terrible Oath that he swore to bind himself and his sons to the cause leads to kinslaying and treachery which eventually ruin his House and place the Silmarils out of his kin's reach. In The Lord of the Rings Boromir, the son of the Steward of Gondor, urged by a laudable and noble desire to save his country attempts to seize the Ring from Frodo threatening to end the latter's Quest in disaster. Yet he repents and atones for his guilt defending to the last Frodo's kin and friends against overwhelming odds. Smeagol / Gollum, another character present in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, “switches sides” several times and finally captures the Ring only to destroy it in the Fire of Doom which Frodo would never have done by himself. In Tolkien's novels precious and magical artifacts, one of which is evil incarnate (the Ring) and the others are totally untainted and blessed (the Silmarils), often serve a kind of a touchstone helping to gauge the nature and intentions of each protagonist since anyone who comes into contact with them reacts differently and this reaction is very often determined by the race a character belongs to.

As the analyzed data show, features characters possess correspond to predicates of propositional schemas that belong to two basic frames.

Propositional schemas of the action frame inform about what the characters do.

The thing frame is represented by five propositional schemas. Predicates of the quantity schema (SOMEBODY is THAT MUCH-quantity) inform about the number of characters belonging to a certain race. Predicates of the quality schema (SOMEBODY is SUCH-quality) contain information about the age and size of characters, their physical and spiritual/mental characteristics as well as the sound they produce. Predicates of the mode of existence schema (SOMEBODY exists SO-mode) convey the physical, financial and psychic state of the characters. Predicates of the location schema (SOMEBODY is THERE-location) inform about the place where a character lives. I found it necessary to expand the conventional list of schemas (Zhabotinskaja, 2010) with a new, evaluation schema (SOMEBODY is SUCH-evaluation), related to four types of evaluation. The emotive evaluation contains general approval or disapproval of a character expressed by the notions GOOD :: BAD. Aesthetic evaluation is represented by the scale BEAUTIFUL :: UGLY. Mode evaluation assesses a protagonist through the feelings (s)he evokes. Only positively connoted notions were identified in the analyzed data, such as CHARMING, FUNNY, AMAZING, MYSTERIOUS, UNFATHOMABLE. Utility evaluation which is based on a person's activity aimed at changing the environment in the analyzed data is represented exclusively by negatively assessed notions LITTLE KNOWN, HELPLESS, DANGEROUS.

Further follows the detailed analysis of the features the characters of Tolkien's legendarium display in the novels.

Elves [227 propositions]

/+/ [196]: spiritual/mental characteristics [100]: wise [14]: the wisdom of the Eldar (Tolkien, 1977, p. 105); create beautiful things [11]: invented their magic and their cunning craft, in the making of beautiful and marvellous things (Tolkien, 1993, p. 166); have wide and precious knowledge [9]: Great became their knowledge and their skill; yet even greater was their thirst for more knowledge, and in many things they soon surpassed their teachers (Tolkien, 1977, p. 60); love the sea and always feel longing for it [9]: In water they had great delight, and those that came at last to the western shores were enamoured of the sea (Tolkien, 1977, p. 53); love the stars [8]: they have ever loved the starlight (Tolkien, 1977, p. 48); love nature [8]: They were lovers of the green earth (Tolkien, 1981, p. 519); kind, not cruel [8]: we had not the heart to keep him ever in dungeons under the earth, where he would fall back into his old black thoughts (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 268); skilled in magic [6]: Elf-minstrels, who can make the things of which they sing appear before the eyes of those that listen (Tolkien, 1981, p. 421); verbally adept creatures delighting in languages [6]: the Eldar were beyond all other peoples skilled in tongues (Tolkien 1977, p. 141); amiable [4]: Many Elves and many of their friends (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 257); fond of traveling [4]: they wandered in the great forests (Tolkien, 1993, p. 166); hospitable [3]: If ever you are our guests at home, we will treat you better (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 91); cheerful [3]: as merry as children (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 238); helpful [2]: The Elvenking is my friend, and he has succoured the people of the Lake in their need, though they had no claim but friendship on him (Tolkien, 1993, p. 264); generous [2]: And they brought to Numenor many gifts: birds of song, and fragrant flowers, and herbs of great virtue (Tolkien, 1977, p. 263); able to read thoughts [1]: For they did not move or speak with mouth, looking from mind to mind (Tolkien, 1981, p. 325); forgiving [1]: There long shall ye abide and yearn for your bodies, and find little pity though all whom ye have slain should entreat for you (Tolkien, 1977, p. 88); know the tongue of birds [1]: The Elvenking had received news from his own messengers and from the birds that loved his folk (Tolkien, 1993, p. 253); physical characteristics [39]: immortal [11]: the Elves die not till the world dies (Tolkien, 1977, p. 42); strong [7]: the might of the Elves was still great in those days (Tolkien, 1977, p. 294); have a wholesome influence on other creatures and the environment in general [6]: The dwarves then noticed that they had come to the edge of a ring where elf-fires had been. <...>it seemed that some good magic lingered in such spots, which the spiders did not like (Tolkien, 1993, p. 164); able to hide easily [5]: Elves (even more than hobbits) could walk when they wished without sound or footfall (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 90); quick [3]: Still elves are light-footed, their going was swift (Tolkien, 1993, p. 254); enduring [3]: the hobbits began to find it hard to keep up with the swift tireless feet of the Elf (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 223); keen-eyed [3]: You have the keen eyes of your fair kindred, Legolas (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 131); do not age physically [1]: they themselves change little (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 404); actions [18]: work skillfully as smiths [9]: In Eregion the craftsmen of the Gwaith-i-Mirdain, the People of the Jewel-smiths, surpassed in cunning all that have ever wrought (Tolkien, 1977, p. 286); fight evil [5]: And here in Rivendell there live still some of his chief foes: the Elven-wise, lords of the Eldar from beyond the furthest seas. They do not fear the Ringwraiths, for those who have dwelt in the Blessed Realm live at once in both worlds, and against both the Seen and the Unseen they have great power (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 235); sail skillfully [4]: most of all they sailed in their swift ships on the waters of the Bay of Elvenhome (Tolkien, 1977, p. 61); sound [15]: have wonderful voices and sing beautifully [15]: the sound of voices so various and so beautiful (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 91); aesthetic evaluation [9]: beautiful in appearance [9]: They were a race high and beautiful the older Children of the world: fairest of the children of the world (Tolkien, 1981, p. 519); age [6]: ancient and ageless [6]: so old and young (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 96); emotive evaluation [5]: magnificent [5]: like kings, terrible and splendid (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 238); mode evaluation [3]: mysterious, unfathomable [3]: Go not to the Elves for counsel, _ for they will say both no and yes (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 93); psychic state [1]: simultaneously sad and merry [1]: and so gay and sad, as it were (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 96);

/-/ [31]: spiritual / mental characteristics [16]: distrustful [7]: If they have a fault it is distrust of strangers (Tolkien, 1993, p. 166); aren't interested in other races [4]: The Elves have their own labours and their own sorrows, and they are little concerned with the ways of hobbits, or of any other creatures upon earth (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 94); eventually get tired of living [3]: And those that endure in Middle-earth and come not to Mandos shall grow weary of the world as with a great burden, and shall wane, and become as shadows of regret (Tolkien, 1977, p. 88); dislike dwarves [2]: for they did not love dwarves (Tolkien, 1993, p. 167); psychic state [10]: sad [10]: their love of the Earth and all the world is more single and more poignant therefore, and as the years lengthen ever more sorrowful (Tolkien, 1977, p. 42); actions [2]: slay their kindred [2]: Ye have spilled the blood of your kindred unrighteously and have stained the land of Aman (Tolkien, 1977, p. 88); quantity [2]: few in number [2]: the Firstborn decrease (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 257); utility evaluation [1]: dangerous: were more dangerous (Tolkien, 1993, p. 166).

As the analyzed data show, 86% propositions have a positive assessment and 14% - negative. The eidetic coefficient of the Elves' evaluation is +6.1. They are depicted as wise, magnificent and beautiful creatures who delight in the sea, stars, and nature in general. They enjoy singing and making poetry, but at the same time are mighty warriors fighting evil wherever they see it. The Elves have a wholesome influence on their environment including other creatures and races, yet they are not interested in the latter. Their immortality and ever growing burden of years fill them with sorrow.

Legolas the Elf [122 propositions]

/+/ [119]: spiritual/mental characteristics [57]: loves nature [12]: Legolas took a deep breath, like one that drinks a great draught after long thirst in barren places. 'Ah! the green smell!' he said. 'It is better than much sleep (Tolkien, 1987, p. 26); amiable [7]: with this Dwarf, my friend, I came with the Lord Aragorn. But now we wish to see our friends (Tolkien, 1981, p. 182); likes to sing [7]: Legolas lay still, looking up at the sun and sky with steady eyes, and singing softly to himself (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 168); loyal [6]: 'My heart bids me go on,' said Legolas. 'But we must hold together. I will follow your counsel.' (Tolkien, 1987, p. 28); fearless [5]: there was not a heart among them that did not quail, unless it were the heart of Legolas of the Elves (Tolkien, 1981, p. 70); loves the sea [4]: I will pass the wide waters lonely sailing. Long are the waves on the Last Shore falling, Sweet are the voices in the Lost Isle calling (Tolkien, 1981, p. 289); cheerful [4]: The storm had troubled him little, and he alone of the Company remained still light of heart (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 305); has wide knowledge [2]: Legolas told them tales of Lothlorien that the Elves of Mirkwood still kept in their hearts, of sunlight and starlight upon the meadows by the Great River before the world was grey (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 353); loves stars [2]: The heart of Legolas was running under the stars of a summer night in some northern glade (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 398); loves animals [2]: But Legolas asked them to take off saddle and rein. `I need them not,' he said, and leaped lightly up, and to their wonder Arod was tame and willing beneath him, moving here and there with but a spoken word: such was the elvish way with all good beasts. (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 42); is able to prophesy the future [2]: `Yet seldom do they fail of their seed, ' said Legolas. `And that will lie in the dust and rot to spring up again in times and places unlooked-for. The deeds of Men will outlast us, Gimli.' (Tolkien, 1981, p. 182); is fond of languages [1]: It is a fair song in our woodland tongue; but this is how it runs in the Westron Speech (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 353); kind [1]: The thought of those merry young folk driven like cattle burns my heart (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 27); wise [1]: Few can foresee whither their road will lead them, till they come to its end (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 95); chivalrous [1]: `Legolas is right, ' said Aragorn quietly. `We may not shoot an old man so, at unawares and unchallenged, whatever fear or doubt be on us (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 96); physical characteristics [37]: keen-eyed [14]: `You have the keen eyes of your fair kindred, Legolas, ' he said; `and they can tell a sparrow from a finch a league off (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 131); doesn't need sleep [6]: and he could sleep, if sleep it could be called by Men, resting his mind in the strange paths of elvish dreams, even as he walked open-eyed in the light of this world (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 31); light-footed [5]: With that he sprang forth nimbly, and then Frodo noticed as if for the first time, though he had long known it, that the Elf had no boots, but wore only light shoes and his feet made little imprint in the snow (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 305); has a wholesome influence on other creatures and the environment in general [5]: But Arod, the horse of Rohan, refused the way, and he stood sweating and trembling in a fear that was grievous to see. Then Legolas laid his hands on his eyes and sang some words that went soft in the gloom, until he suffered himself to be led (Tolkien, 1981, p. 70); enduring [4]: Only Legolas still stepped as lightly as ever, his feet hardly seeming to press the grass, leaving no footprints as he passed; but in the waybread of the Elves he found all the sustenance that he needed (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 31); quick [3]: Then swift as a runner over firm sand he shot away, and quickly overtaking the toiling men, with a wave of his hand he passed them, and sped into the distance (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 306); actions [11]: shoots well with a bow [9]: `Praised be the bow of Galadriel, and the hand and eye of Legolas!' said Gimli, as he munched a wafer of lembas. `That was a mighty shot in the dark, my friend!' (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 404); travels much [2]: `we wandered in ages long ago, ' said Legolas (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 352); age [5]: ancient [5]: `It is old, very old, ' said the Elf. `So old that almost I feel young again, as I have not felt since 1 journeyed with you children' (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 94); aesthetic evaluation [4]: beautiful in appearance [4]: for Legolas was _ fair of \ face beyond the measure of Men (Tolkien, 1981, p. 181); mode evaluation [2]: mysterious, unfathomable [2]: There was also a strange Elf clad in green and brown (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 253); emotive evaluation [2]: magnificent [2]: His head was dark, crowned with sharp white stars that glittered in the black pools of the sky behind (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 403); sound [1]: has a wonderful voice: In a soft voice hardly to be heard amid the rustle of the leaves above them he began (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 353);

/-/ [3]: utility evaluation [2]: dangerous [2]: Legolas is dangerous (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 103); spiritual/mental characteristics [1]: hot-tempered: `I am an Elf and a kinsman here,' said Legolas, becoming angry in his turn (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 362).

As the analysis reveals, the image of Legolas possesses many features typical of his race in general - he is an ancient, beautiful, and mysterious Elf who adores nature, stars, and the sea. He is a good singer and an excellent shot with keen eyes, a tireless traveler and a loyal friend. Yet sometimes he can lose his temper and become angry. Positive and negative propositions describing him number 98% and 2% respectively making the logical coefficient of Legolas' evaluation equal +49. His summary coefficient equals +8 (+49: +6.1) which turned out to be higher than his race's eidetic coefficient. Evidently, Legolas is “a better protagonist” than an average Elf.

Finrod Felagund the Elf [27 propositions]

/+/ [26]: spiritual/mental characteristics [17]: loyal [4]: Finrod the faithful (Tolkien, 1977, p. 61); wise [4]: Wisdom was in the words of the Elven-king (Tolkien, 1977, p. 141); is able to prophesy the future [2]: he knew that the oath he had sworn was come upon him for his death, as long before he had foretold to Galadriel (Tolkien, 1977, p. 169); loves music [2]: he took up a rude harp which Beor had laid aside, and he played music upon it such as the ears of Men had not heard (Tolkien, 1977, p. 140); kind [2]: Long Felagund watched them, and love for them stirred in his heart (Tolkien, 1977, p. 140); helpful [1]: between Cirdan and Finrod there was friendship and alliance (Tolkien, 1977, p. 120); chivalrous [1]: Then Finrod was greatly troubled, but he was silent, for he could not defend himself, save by bringing charges against the other princes of the Noldor (Tolkien, 1977, p. 129); is able to read minds of others [1]: Felagund discovered also that he could read in the minds of Men such thoughts as they wished to reveal in speech (Tolkien, 1977, p. 141); physical characteristics [3]: strong, powerful [3]: For Felagund strove with Sauron in songs of power, and the power of the King was very great (Tolkien, 1977, p. 171); actions [2]: travels much [2]: he had great love of wandering and he came even into Ossiriand (Tolkien, 1977, p. 124); financial state [2]: wealthy [2]: Finrod had brought more treasures out of Tirion than any other of the princes of the Noldor (Tolkien, 1977, p. 114); aesthetic evaluation [2]: beautiful in appearance [2]: King Finrod Felagund, fairest and most beloved of the house of Finwe (Tolkien, 1977, p. 174);

/-/ [1]: spiritual/mental characteristics [1]: too proud: I should find at least a few to follow me, and should not go hence as a beggar (Tolkien, 1977, p. 170).

The analyzed data describe Finrod Felagund is a powerful, wise, and very rich king of Elves who is loyal to his cause and can sometimes prophesy the future. Positive propositions (96%) greatly dominate over the negative (4%). The logical coefficient of Finrod's evaluation is +24. The summary coefficient of his image equals +4 (+24: +6.1), lower than is symptomatic of his race, which makes him “a worse character” than an average Elf.

Men [214 propositions]

/+/ [151]: spiritual/mental characteristics [77]: amiable [13]: Yet many of the Edain had delight in the friendship of the Elves, and dwelt among them for so long as they had leave (Tolkien, 1977, p. 47); loyal [12]: they are true-hearted (4, 33); valiant [10]: true and valiant (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 28); lettered and having deep knowledge [9]: And the loremasters among them learned also the High Eldarin tongue of the Blessed Realm, in which much story and song was preserved from the beginning of the world; and they made letters and scrolls and books, and wrote in them many things of wisdom and wonder in the high tide of their realm (Tolkien, 1977, p. 262); wise [7]: their sons increased in wisdom (Tolkien, 1977, p. 149); independent [5]: but we desire only to be free, and to live as we have lived, keeping our own, and serving no foreign lord, good or evil (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 35); love animals and are able to understand their language [5]: These people are kindly to beasts (Tolkien, 1981, p. 35); were believed to understand the languages of beasts and birds (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 161); intelligent [4]: they were eager of mind (Tolkien, 1977, p. 148); kind, not cruel [3]: bold but not cruel (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 33);helpful [3]: they rode to our aid and destroyed our enemies that had seized our northern provinces (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 287); hospitable [2]: We welcomed guests kindly in the better days (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 35); have retentive memory [2]: long in memory (Tolkien, 1977, p. 148); emotional [2]: quick to anger and to laughter (Tolkien, 1977, p. 148); physical characteristics [28]: mighty warriors [23]: tall men and fair women, valiant both alike, golden-haired, bright-eyed, and strong (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 287); keen-eyed and quick-eared [4]: They were believed to have strange powers of sight and hearing (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 161); enduring [1]: The servants of Morgoth pursued them with hatred, and their ways were long and hard (Tolkien, 1977, p. 259); actions [15]: sail skillfully [8]: Above all arts they nourished shipbuilding and sea-craft, and they became mariners whose like shall never be again since the world was diminished; and voyaging upon the wide seas was the chief feat and adventure of their hardy men (Tolkien, 1977, p. 262); fight evil [7]: Men of Westernesse: they were . foes of the Dark Lord (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 157); emotive evaluation [15]: magnificent [15]: Therefore they grew wise and glorious, and in all things more like to the Firstborn than any other of the kindreds of Men (Tolkien, 1977, p. 261); size [8]: tall [8]: and they were tall, taller than the tallest of the sons of Middle-earth (Tolkien, 1977, p. 261); mode evaluation [3]: mysterious, unfathomable [3]: I didn't know that any of the Big People were like that (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 233); financial state [3]: wealthy [3]: and they drank and they feasted and they clad themselves in silver and gold (Tolkien, 1977, p. 267); aesthetic evaluation [2]: beautiful in appearance [2]: They were. fair of. face (Tolkien, 1981, p. 507);

/-/ [63]: spiritual/mental characteristics [55]: fear death [12]: But the fear of death grew ever darker upon them, and they delayed it by all means that they could; and they began to build great houses for their dead, while their wise men laboured unceasingly to discover if they might the secret of recalling life (Tolkien, 1977, p. 266); too proud [7]: They are proud and wilful; they were called the King's Men, and they grew proud and were estranged from the Eldar and the Valar (Tolkien, 1977, p. 252); greedy [7]: But those that lived turned the more eagerly to pleasure and revelry, desiring ever more goods and more riches (Tolkien, 1977, p. 266); fickle, wayward [6]: Men, being set amid the turmoils of the powers of the world, would stray often, and would not use their gifts in harmony (Tolkien, 1977, p. 42); cruel [5]: with spilling of blood and torment and great wickedness, men made sacrifice to Melkor (Tolkien, 1977, p. 273); easily seduced by evil [5]: Men came into the world in the time of the Shadow of Morgoth, and they fell swiftly under his dominion; for he sent his emissaries among them, and they listened to his evil and cunning words, and they worshipped the Darkness (Tolkien, 1977, p. 259); distrustful [5]: Men now fear and misdoubt the Elves (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 288); overconfident [4]: Yet even so it was Gondor that brought about its own decay, falling by degrees into dotage, and thinking that the Enemy was asleep, who was only banished not destroyed (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 286); stubborn [2]: and some grew wilful (Tolkien, 1977, p. 265); evil [2]: a darkness lay upon the hearts of Men (Tolkien, 1977, p. 141); psychic state [4]: sad [4]: it is laden with the sadness of Mortal Men (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 112); physical characteristics [2]: have weaker health than other races [2]: But Men were more frail, more easily slain by weapon or mischance, and less easily healed; subject to sickness and many ills (Tolkien, 1977, p. 104); actions [1]: rebel against gods: And the Numenoreans began to murmur, at first in their hearts, and then in open words, against the doom of Men (Tolkien, 1977, p. 264); aesthetic evaluation [1]: ugly in appearance: These Men were short and broad, long and strong in the arm; their skins were swart or sallow, and their hair was dark as were their eyes (Tolkien, 1977, p. 151).

As the analysis demonstrates, positively and negatively charged propositions number 71% and 29% respectively. The eidetic coefficient of the Men's evaluation is +2.5. They are portrayed as loyal friends always ready to lend a helping hand and mighty warriors fighting evil. Men are magnificent and independent people skillful in the art of sea-faring. But there is a negative side to them: they are too proud, fickle, greedy, and cruel race, easily swayed by evil and living in the constant fear of death.

Aragorn the Man [162 proposition]

/+/ [144]: spiritual/mental characteristics [50]: loyal [14]: I cannot desert my friends while hope remains (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 40); helpful [6]: `He cannot stand alone! ' cried Aragorn suddenly and ran back along the bridge. `Elendil! ' he shouted. I am with you, Gandalf! ' (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 345); amiable [5]: A day draws near that I have looked for in all the years of my manhood, and when it comes I would have my friends beside me. ' (Tolkien, 1981, p. 306); stouthearted [5]: In that hour I looked on Aragorn and thought how great and terrible a Lord he might have become in the strength of his will, had he taken the Ring to himself (Tolkien, 1981, p. 186); just [4]: the mercy and justice of the King (Tolkien, 1981, p. 305); has wide knowledge [4]: He knew many histories and legends of long ago, of Elves and Men and the good and evil deeds of the Elder Days (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 203); prudent [4]: `When have I been hasty or unwary, who have waited and prepared for so many long years?' said Aragorn (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 200); has retentive memory [2]: `The heirs of Elendil do not forget all things past, ' said Strider (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 214); sympathizing [2]: he gave you only understanding and pity (Tolkien, 1981, p. 299); hospitable [1]: `Well, father, what can we do for you? ' said Aragorn, leaping to his feet. `Come and be warm, if you are cold!' (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 45); courageous [1]: Then Aragorn halted and went to look what it might be. `Does he feel no fear? ' muttered the Dwarf (Tolkien, 1981, p. 71); kind [1]: he has a golden heart (Tolkien, 1981, p. 302); wise [1]: wisdom sat upon his brow (Tolkien, 1981, p. 304); physical characteristics [28]: mighty warrior [15]: Aragorn smote to the ground the captain that stood in his path, and the rest fled in terror of his wrath (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 346); quick-eared [6]: I have quick ears, ' he went on (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 175); enduring [5]: For I have not slept in such a bed as this, since I rode from Dunharrow, nor eaten since the dark before dawn. ' (Tolkien, 1981, p. 178); keen-eyed [2]: 'Yes, ' said Strider, whose keener sight left him in no doubt (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 200); emotive evaluation [17]: magnificent [17]: high and glad of face, kingly, lord of Men (Tolkien, 1981, p. 304); actions [17]: travels much [9]: But I may say that I know all the lands between the Shire and the Misty Mountains, for I have wandered over them for many years (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 177); heals the sick [6]: and he has the healing hands (Tolkien, 1981, p. 302); fights evil [2]: that the hour had come at last when the heir of Elendil should come forth and strive with Sauron for the mastery (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 384); age [12]: long liver [12]: I shall have life far longer than other men (Tolkien, 1981, p. 308); size [9]: tall [9]: a Man, lean, dark, tall (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 182); mode evaluation [7]: mysterious, unfathomable [7]: Only he does not altogether like mysterious vagabonds of my sort (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 176); aesthetic evaluation [4]: beautiful in appearance [3]: a young lord tall and fair (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 367);

/-/ [18]: spiritual/mental characteristics [8]: too proud [8]: `It is not clear to me that the will of Theoden, even though he be lord of the Mark, should prevail over the will of Aragorn son of Arathorn' (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 115); utility evaluation [7]: dangerous [7]: And Aragorn is dangerous (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 103); psychic state [3]: sad [3]: And may I sleep deep, and forget for a while my grief! I am weary in body and in heart (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 373).

In the analyzed examples, Aragon is portrayed as a magnificent and unfathomable Man, a stout-hearted and loyal friend who, as a mighty warrior, is always ready to come to the rescue in the fight against the evil. Yet sometimes his pride masters him causing Aragorn to become a dangerous adversary to face. Positive and negative propositions describing him number 89% and 11% respectively thus the logical coefficient of Aragorn's evaluation equals +8.1. Dividing it by eidetic coefficient of the race (+2.5) we determine his summary coefficient as +3.24, higher than the eidetic one, making him “a better Man” than average.

Eomer the Man [37 propositions]

/+/ [28]: spiritual/mental characteristics [16]: wise [3]: If Eomer had not defied Wormtongue's voice speaking with your mouth (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 126); loyal [3]: `I owe much to Eomer, ' said Theoden. `Faithful heart may have forward tongue ' (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 126); amiable [3]: And Eomer answered: `Since the day when you rose before me out of the green grass of the downs 1 have loved you, and that love shall not fail' (Tolkien, 1981, p. 306); helpful [2]: You may go; and what is more, I will lend you horses (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 41); emotional [2]: And then wonder took him, and a great joy; and he cast his sword up in the sunlight and sang as he caught it (Tolkien, 1981, p. 150); quick to learn [1]: I spoke only as do all men in my land, and I would gladly learn better (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 40); chivalrous [1]: Loth am I to begin a battle of one hundred against three (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 41); courageous [1]: Valour in arms is yours, and you win high honour thereby (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 185); physical characteristics [8]: mighty warrior [8]:

South strode Eomer and men fled before his face (Tolkien, 1981, p. 150); size [2 ]: tall [2]: Then one rode forward, a tall man, taller than all the rest (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 34); emotive evaluation [2]: magnificent [2]: and all there assembled rose and drank to the new king, crying: `Hail, Eomer, King of the Mark! ' (Tolkien, 1981, p. 315);

/-/ [9]: spiritual/mental characteristics [9]: hot-tempered [4]: his fury had betrayed him (Tolkien, 1981, p. 148); distrustful [3]: `Now we feel the peril that we were warned of Have we ridden forth to victory, only to stand at last amazed by an old liar with honey on his forked tongue? ' (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 185); too proud [2]: Eomer's eyes blazed, and the Men of Rohan murmured angrily, and closed in. `I would cut off your head, beard and all, Master Dwarf, if it stood but a little higher from the ground' said Eomer (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 35).

In the novels, Eomer is a wise and emotional Man, a loyal friend and a mighty warrior. Among his shortcomings are his hot temper, excessive pride, and distrust of strangers. His positive characteristics (76%) are thrice as numerous as the negative ones (24%), so his evaluation's logical coefficient equals +3.2. His summary coefficient is +1.28 which is lower than the eidetic coefficient of his race (+2.5) testifying to the fact than he is “worse” than an average Man.

Dwarves [158 propositions]

/+/ [104]: actions [48]: work skillfully as smiths and masons [35]: Dwarves are said to be cunning folk with stone; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel (Tolkien, 1987b, p. 141); travel seeking for job [6]: traveling and labouring and trading about the lands (Tolkien, 1981, p. 512); trade [5]: all things that they desired they could obtain in traffic (Tolkien, 1987a, p. 331); teach smith craft [2]: Fathers would beg us to take their sons as apprentices, and pay us handsomely (Tolkien, 1993, p. 22); spiritual / mental characteristics [36]: valiant [10]: the halls of Khazad-dum were too deep and strong and filled with a people too numerous and valiant for Sauron to conquer from without (Tolkien, 1981, p. 439); friendly to other races [9]: But the Naugrim gave their friendship more readily to the Noldor in after days than to any others of Elves and Men (Tolkien, 1977, p. 92); resistant to evil [5]: the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows (Tolkien, 1977, p. 288); quick to learn [4]: the Dwarves were swift to learn (Tolkien, 1977, p. 92); loyal [3]: fast in friendship (Tolkien, 1977, p. 246); have broad knowledge about the world [3]: for they have many strange tales and beliefs concerning themselves and their fate in the world (Tolkien, 1981, p. 439); hate Orcs [2]: they hated the Orcs (Tolkien, 1977, p. 204); physical characteristics [10]: enduring [10]: and they suffer toil and hunger and hurt of body more hardily than all other speaking peoples (Tolkien, 1977, p. 44); financial state [8]: wealthy [8]: To the treasure of my people no man has a claim (Tolkien, 1993, p. 263); age [2]: long livers [2]: and they live long, far beyond the span of Men (Tolkien, 1977, p. 44);

/-/ [54]: spiritual / mental characteristics [50]: secretive [19]: the Dwarves were secret (Tolkien, 1977, p. 113); greedy [11]: The only power over them that the Rings wielded was to inflame their hearts with a greed of gold and precious things (Tolkien, 1981, p. 446); hot-tempered and revengeful [6]: and there is no knowing what a dwarf will not dare and do for revenge or the recovery of his own (Tolkien, 1993, p. 199); don't appreciate living creatures [6]: They will love first the things made by their own hands, rather than things that live by their own life (Tolkien, 1977, p. 45); hostile [3]: fast in enmity (Tolkien, 1977, p. 95); jealous [2]: Dwarves take only one wife or husband each in their lives, and are jealous, as in all matters of their rights (Tolkien, 1981, p. 449); don't like Elves and Men [2]: they hated the Eldar no less, and the Exiles most of all (Tolkien, 1977, p. 204); Men of old lusted after their wealth and the work of their hands, and there has been enmity between the races (Tolkien, 1981, p. 512); stubborn [1]: stubborn (Tolkien, 1977, p. 44); quantity [3]: few in number [3]: It is because of the fewness of women among them that the kind of the Dwarves increases slowly (Tolkien, 1981, p. 449); aesthetic evaluation [1]: unlovely in appearance: unloveliness of the Naugrim (Tolkien, 1977, p. 113).

As we can surmise from the analysis, 66% have a positive assessment and 34% - negative. The eidetic coefficient of the Dwarves' evaluation is +1.94. Their typical portrait describes them as unparalleled smiths, valiant and enduring warriors able to resist evil. At the same time, they are secretive, greedy, hot-tempered, and revengeful.