Map your Hero/ine: A proposed framework for character mapping

Abstract

This thesis uses a critical analysis of past academic research on fictional characters to develop a set of questions which could be used to delineate heroes and heroines of novels and their adaptations. These questions are tested using a mini-pilot with two characters from The Queen’s Gambit novel (1983) and Netflix show adaptation (2020). A discussion is employed to assess the effectiveness of the questions and point out revisions so that the questions can be tested using a larger pilot in a future project. The discussion is guided by the literature review on past theory regarding fictional characters as well as a reflection on the effectiveness of the mini-pilot. The current research concludes that the questions can form the basis of a large database which can inform multiple research projects in the future.