DRAMATIZATION OF CHARACTER IN SELECTED NIGERIAN SHORT STORIES

Abstract

Characterization in the short story endears the short story genre more to the conventions of the stage because of its dramatization of character. By paying strict attention to the manipulation of action and dialogue, the short story writer creates dramatic characters who illuminate setting, promote the plot and ultimately realize the theme of the story. This principle and practice places great importance on characterization in the short story, thus making it an element of high utility in the creative endeavour of the writer as well as a vital aspect of illustration of incident. The relationship between the character and incident in the short story is quite an intricate one as it can be difficult to separate a character from an incident, and an incident from a character. This paper examines the dramatization of character in selected Nigerian short stories with a view to analyzing and assessing the efficacy of the Nigerian practitioners of the art.

Key words: Dramatization, art, short stories, Nigeria