Characterisation in The Loaded Dog CHARACTER CHARACTERISATION EFFECT A methodical character If it wasn’t for Dave’s ingenuity, the story Dave ‘schemes were elaborate.’ We also see him as wouldn’t have even happened! It was somewhat of an inventor. He is his idea to blow the waterhole up and resourceful and imaginative. readers realise how resourceful you need to be to live off the land. He puts theories into practice We visualise Andy carefully and Andy Page ‘Dave’s if they were practicable, or bore the systematically making this extra-large blame for the failure…if they weren’t.’ bomb, using his knowledge and logic to Andy is methodical about his tasks; he ensure formidable bomb” is made “the is handy and inventive. precisely. He is the least adventurous and most We can almost sense the danger that will Jim Bently cynical. interested in their come because of Jim’s aloofness and ‘wasn’t damned silliness.’ He seems to be indifference to their scheme. He’s more judgemental and unresponsiveness to their plan and would probably be cranky at being caught up in the chaos! He’s deeply loved for his He begins and controls the frenzied Tommy and his foolishness.” He action. He is a blessing and a curse! is described many times as having a There’s positive and negative aspects to silly grin” and as an dog ownership, and Lawson highlights “broad, pup.” We imagine a these. His descriptions make Tommy “overgrown happy, silly dog who, despite his size, immediately likeable and so readers are still acts like a naughty, energetic invested in the story, as animals often puppy. pull on audiences’ heart strings. They are described in more negative, These dogs contrast effectively against Other Dogs sinister terms: thievish, Tommy; they are unlikeable and so the “spidery, coldblooded” and also reader is not too upset when the “yapping, yelping small fry.” The final dog is mongrel bully-dog is blown up by the characterised as a yellow cartridge. The demon dog is nicely “vicious mongrel”. He’s painted as a villain: juxtaposed against the happy-go-lucky sneaking fighting, thieving retriever. “skulking, canine, whom neighbours had tried for years to shoot or poison.”
Characterisation in The Loaded Dog CHARACTER CHARACTERISATION EFFECT Dave A methodical character ‘schemes were elaborate.’ We also see him as somewhat of an inventor. He is resourceful and imaginative. If it wasn’t for Dave’s ingenuity, the story wouldn’t have even happened! It was his idea to blow the waterhole up and readers realise how resourceful you need to be to live off the land. Andy Page He puts ‘Dave’s theories into practice if they were practicable, or bore the blame for the failure…if they weren’t.’ Andy is methodical about his tasks; he is handy and inventive. We visualise Andy carefully and systematically making this extra-large bomb, using his knowledge and logic to ensure “the formidable bomb” is made precisely. Jim Bently He is the least adventurous and most cynical. ‘wasn’t interested in their damned silliness.’ He seems to be more judgemental and We can almost sense the danger that will come because of Jim’s aloofness and indifference to their scheme. He’s unresponsiveness to their plan and would probably be cranky at being caught up in the chaos! Tommy He’s deeply loved for his and his foolishness.” He is described many times as having a “broad, silly grin” and as an “overgrown pup.” We imagine a happy, silly dog who, despite his size, still acts like a naughty, energetic puppy. He begins and controls the frenzied action. He is a blessing and a curse! There’s positive and negative aspects to dog ownership, and Lawson highlights these. His descriptions make Tommy immediately likeable and so readers are invested in the story, as animals often pull on audiences’ heart strings. Other Dogs They are described in more negative, sinister terms: “spidery, thievish, coldblooded” and also “yapping, yelping small fry.” The final dog is characterised as a “vicious yellow mongrel”. He’s painted as a villain: “skulking, sneaking fighting, thieving canine, whom neighbours had tried for years to shoot or poison.” These dogs contrast effectively against Tommy; they are unlikeable and so the reader is not too upset when the mongrel bully-dog is blown up by the cartridge. The demon dog is nicely juxtaposed against the happy-go-lucky retriever.