Fictional characters who are universally known and recognized even by those who have not read the works in which they originally appeared have become modern myths. I once compiled a list of nearly a hundred such characters. In several works, Poul Anderson celebrates the archetypal detective who even appears recognizably but without being named in Anderson's "Time Patrol."
For Anderson fans, Nicholas van Rijn, at least, has a similar status although he has not passed into the popular consciousness like Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, the Time Traveler, the Invisible Man, the First Men In The Moon and many others.
8 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
And of course we get a glimpse of the Great Detective, his amanuensis, and Nicholas van Rijn in one or other of the Old Phoenix stories.
I agree Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, and possibly the Time Traveler and the Invisible Man has passed into popular mythology. But I'm not sure that was the case with the First Men on the Moon if you mean Wells story. But I think you meant Neil Armstrong?
Sean
Sean,
I was discussing only fictional characters and did mean Wells' novel. I think that people at least know the title? But of course such a list is subject to debate. To compile a definitive list, we would have to conduct a survey although certain characters, like Tarzan and Holmes, should definitely be on it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
That clarifies matters. I think more people are familiar at least with the dubious movie versions of Wells' THE WAR OF THE WORLDS. I agree about Sherlock Holmes and Tarzan. And perhaps Don Quixote and Sancho Panza should be included?
Sean
Sean,
Oh, yes. We can make a long list. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS is known but not any character in it.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!]
And Lemuel Gulliver, from Jonathan Swift's GULLIVER'S TRAVELS, should probably be included in such a list.
I don't think Wells created any truly MEMORABLE characters of the kind we have been compiling.
Sean
Sean,
Alice
Frankenstein
Dracula
Peter Pan
Superman
Batman
Rip Van Winkle
The Three Musketeers
The Man In The Iron Mask
The Count of Monte Cristo
James Bond
Doctor Who
There are more.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I agree with the examples you listed. And I might have added Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn (created by Mark Twain).
Sean
Sean,
I would add them as well but the list goes on: Mr. Spock as personifying a popular misconception of logic?
Paul.
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