The prosopography as a rhetorical or literary figure consists of the description of the physical features (stature, factions, among others) of either people or animals, accentuating their details. More recently, this term is also used to refer to historical chronologies and the study of biographies.
Etymologically, prosopography derives from the Greek prosôpôn-graphia ((προσπων-γραφα). In turn prosôpôn (πρφοσ- ρω, that is to say to look) derives from proshoraô which literally means 'face', 'that which is seen'.
For its part, graphia means description. From there two meanings were derived: the facial characteristics of a person and the individual external / material characteristics of men and animals.
characteristics
The prosopography is among one of the rhetorical devices in the description. When it comes to describing people or animals, other resources include ethopeia, portraiture, self-portrait, and caricature.
Thus, while prosopography focuses on those external characteristics of the character such as the particularities of his face or gestures, the ethopeia describes his psychological and moral characteristics. This includes their strengths, weaknesses, and the way they act under the circumstances.
On the other hand, in the portrait prosopography and the etopeia are combined. It therefore means that both physical and psychological attributes are detailed. If the character or narrator describes himself, then he is a self-portrait.
Finally, the cartoon is found. In this type of description, the most prominent features of the characters are distorted, frequently using hyperbole (exaggeration) to satirize and criticize.
Examples of prosopography with people and animals
Below are several examples. All of them are excerpts from the work Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, by JK Rowling.
Persons
He was tall, thin, and very old, judging by his silver hair and beard, so long that he could fasten it with his belt. He wore a long tunic, a purple cape that swept the ground, and high-heeled boots with buckles. His blue eyes were clear, bright, and sparkled behind half-moon glasses. He had a very long and crooked nose, as if it had ever been broken. The man's name was Albus Dumbledore.
-He was a big and plump man, almost without a neck, although with a huge mustache…
-Mrs. Dursley was slim, blonde and had a neck almost twice as long as usual…
-A gigantic man appeared in the doorway. His face was practically hidden by a long tangle of hair and a scruffy beard, but his eyes could be seen, gleaming like black beetles under that fur…
-The gnome was a head shorter than Harry. He had a dark, intelligent face, a pointed beard and, Harry could see, very long toes and feet…
Madame Malkin was a plump, smiling witch, dressed in mauve.
Professor Quirrell, in his absurd turban, was conversing with a professor with greasy black hair, a hooked nose, and sallow skin.
"Then the teacher came, Mrs. Hooch." She was short, with gray hair and yellow eyes like a hawk's.
-She was a very pretty woman. She had dark red hair and her eyes… Her eyes are just like mine, Harry thought, moving a little closer to the mirror. Bright green, exactly the same shape, but then he noticed that she was crying, smiling, and crying at the same time.
The tall, thin, black-haired man beside her put his arm around her shoulders. She wore glasses and her hair was very messy. And it went stiff on the back of her neck, just like Harry.
Animals
-It was a horrible sight. He was over ten feet tall and had stone-gray skin, a massive misshapen body, and a small bald head. It had short legs, thick like tree trunks, and squat, misshapen feet. The smell it gave off was incredible. He carried a large wooden cane that he dragged on the ground, because his arms were very long.
"Filch had a cat named Mrs. Norris, a skinny, dusty creature with bulging lantern-like eyes, just like Filch's."
References
- Verboven, K.; Carlier, M. and Dumolyn, J. (2007). A Short Manual to the Art of Prosopography. In KSB Keats-Rohan (editor), Prosopography Approaches and Applications. A Handbook, pp. 35-69. University of Oxford.
- Prosopography, (s / f). In literary figures. Retrieved on October 3, 2017, from figuraliterarias.org.
- Onieva Morales, JL (2014). Superior writing course. Madrid: Editorial Verbum.
- Antón Garrido, A, and Bermejo García; S. (2014). Communication area. Spanish language and Literature. Madrid: Editex.
- Bolaños Calvo, B. (2002). Written communication. San José, Costa Rica: EUNED.