Exercise: Character Study In this exercise we had to describe a scene to show the motivation of a character. I chose Eadric, a minor character in my WIP, because I didn't work out why he was behaving in a certain way. Having done this, I now understand him. I will try it with some other characters - it has helped a lot. (The action takes place a day or after the exercise on Emotion and Colour, below)
Eadric stood, staring down at the body. Anyone entering the room would have thought he was praying, but his mind was blank. For the first time in his life he didn't know what to do; what to think; what to believe.
He had spent his whole life serving this man; his earliest memory was of seeing a young child, not much younger than him, and being told that he must look after him. He had done his job well. He had studied the same books and practised with the same weapons. He had been punished for all misdemeanours, which was as it should be.
As they grew, he served his master and his master served those who were put over him; Byrhthelm, that great warrior, who in his turn served the King. The King, he supposed, answered only to God. He had polished helmets, mended clothes and cooked food. He had served his master in every way. He asked for no reward. If he had ever thought about the matter, he would have imagined that he would have gone first. He started to wonder what his lord would be doing now, if it was Eadric motionless there on the bed, but pushed the thought away, into a deep hidden place. He must decide what to do next.
He had not agreed when they had been sent to this god-forsaken place. His master could have achieved much more in honour and riches, if he had remained at court. But he had been given his instructions. It was all the fault of that woman, who needed protecting, and her brat. All their fault that his master was now dead.
He could hear him now, Byrhthelm's son, out in the hall, his voice raised in command. He had seen him, swaggering round the village as if he owned it. The fact that he probably did now, was irrelevant. He had arrived and Lord Toli had died. Logically, his old master was dead and he was now obliged to serve the new. The thought made him sick, but it was the only thing to do. It was his duty.
How to do it? He could tell Byrhtnoth disliked him. He wouldn't want an old man as his servant, but he didn't know how much Eadric could help him. Eadric must make himself indispensable, afraid to be let go. How?
He remembered the night before; it seemed a lifetime ago now. The boy had been told something about his family, but not everything. Eadric was the only man who knew everything and he would be very sparing in what he said. Then there was the sword. How could he have forgotten that? He could feel the power of it in the chest behind him. That must be hidden away. He would chose who would wield it, and when.
Mind made up, he took a last glance down at the husk on the bed. His master was gone. He must prepare for the next.
Eadric stood, staring down at the body. Anyone entering the room would have thought he was praying, but his mind was blank. For the first time in his life he didn't know what to do; what to think; what to believe.
He had spent his whole life serving this man; his earliest memory was of seeing a young child, not much younger than him, and being told that he must look after him. He had done his job well. He had studied the same books and practised with the same weapons. He had been punished for all misdemeanours, which was as it should be.
As they grew, he served his master and his master served those who were put over him; Byrhthelm, that great warrior, who in his turn served the King. The King, he supposed, answered only to God. He had polished helmets, mended clothes and cooked food. He had served his master in every way. He asked for no reward. If he had ever thought about the matter, he would have imagined that he would have gone first. He started to wonder what his lord would be doing now, if it was Eadric motionless there on the bed, but pushed the thought away, into a deep hidden place. He must decide what to do next.
He had not agreed when they had been sent to this god-forsaken place. His master could have achieved much more in honour and riches, if he had remained at court. But he had been given his instructions. It was all the fault of that woman, who needed protecting, and her brat. All their fault that his master was now dead.
He could hear him now, Byrhthelm's son, out in the hall, his voice raised in command. He had seen him, swaggering round the village as if he owned it. The fact that he probably did now, was irrelevant. He had arrived and Lord Toli had died. Logically, his old master was dead and he was now obliged to serve the new. The thought made him sick, but it was the only thing to do. It was his duty.
How to do it? He could tell Byrhtnoth disliked him. He wouldn't want an old man as his servant, but he didn't know how much Eadric could help him. Eadric must make himself indispensable, afraid to be let go. How?
He remembered the night before; it seemed a lifetime ago now. The boy had been told something about his family, but not everything. Eadric was the only man who knew everything and he would be very sparing in what he said. Then there was the sword. How could he have forgotten that? He could feel the power of it in the chest behind him. That must be hidden away. He would chose who would wield it, and when.
Mind made up, he took a last glance down at the husk on the bed. His master was gone. He must prepare for the next.