The author viewed human nature from all sides

What we value most in N's works is his brilliant/vivid style/ refined treatment of characters/ deep insight into human nature/ powers of psychological analysis/ fine sense of humor/ humanism and optimism/belief in human nature, etc.

The author gained his popularity as a short-story writer/playwright/essayist.

N's manner of writing is characterized by the sincerity of intonation and spontaneity of presentation

N's numerous novels have conquered the world by their intricate and absorbing plots.

The author manages to hold the reader's undivided attention from start to finish.

His success should be attributed to the fact that...

The author portrays the man against his social background class/ middle class and its responsibilities towards society.

Economy of expressive means and simplicity are typical of N.

The author's accuracy is most convincing.

The author possessed a keen and observant eye and in his best works he ridiculed

Philistinism, narrow-mindedness, hypocrisy, egotism, utilitarian approach to art, etc.

N's work is marred by cynicism and disbelief in human nature.

N. was a prolific writer.

N. is an incomparable story-teller. He writes with lucidity and almost ostentatious simplicity.

PRESENTING THE SUMMARY OF THE TEXT

At (in) the beginning of the text the author describes (depicts, dwells on, touches upon, explains, introduces, mentions, characterizes, analyses, comments on, points out, reveals), etc.

The extract opens with...

The matter stood like this (stood thus).

The action (scene) is laid in.

The opening scene shows (reveals)...

Then (after that, further (on), next) the author passes on to... (goes on from to, goes on to say that..., gives a detailed (thorough) description (analysis, etc.) of..., digresses from the subject, etc.

This is what followed next.

As the story unfolds (as the action develops) we obtain further information about the characters.

From (in) the next paragraph we learn that...

Here the extract reaches its culminating point (climax).

In conclusion the author describes (touches upon, etc.)

The author concludes with the description (explanation, mentioning the fact that...)

The extract (story, text) ends with...

To finish with, the author describes...

At the end of the extract (story, text) the author draws the 'conclusion that... (comes to the conclusion that...)

At the end of the story (extract, text) the author sums it all up by saying that.., etc. The concluding words are...

OTHER PATTERNS

The extract is permeated with deep concern and sympathy towards...

The extract can be subdivided into... logically complete parts.

The extract is practically wholly a narrative (a dialogue, a description), mostly a dialogue and partially a narrative, mostly a description and partially a dialogue, etc.

The general atmosphere (tone, slant) of the extract is...

As the action develops (unfolds) the general atmosphere changes.

The choice of words, syntactical patterns, some expressive means and stylistic devices help the author to create this atmosphere, to enhance the effect of gloom (dramatic tension, irony, to express his sympathetic /scornful, ironical/ attitude to the characters, to show the misery /wretchedness, blissful happiness, etc./ of the main characters, to accentuate tense relations between the characters, to make the description more vivid, to make the narration and characters more creditable and true-to-life.)

The author's sympathy lies with...

The writer depicts his characters through their speech, actions, feelings, attitude towards

each other, etc.

There are also some instances of direct characterization in the text.

The speech of the characters is (unemotional, (inexpressive, etc.

As far as my attitude to the characters is concerned I want to say (to stress, to underline the fact that...), 1 think, 1 consider, I'm sure that, there is no doubt (no denying) that...

I am on the side of...

I sympathize with..., 1 fully support and understand...

My attitude to this character can't be expressed in a couple of words, because it is a very complex character. On the one hand, he seems to me..., on the other hand, I think that...

The author’s treatment of his characters seems to me brilliant (superb, perfect, unsurpassed, poor, /un/convincing, true-to-life, realistic), etc.

The author lets the reader form his notion (opinion, judgment) of the characters by himself.

To my mind (in my opinion) the message (main idea) of the extract is the following...

It seems to me that by this extract (story) the author wanted to convey to the reader the following message (ideas, thoughts):...

I fully /dis/agree with the author in that...

As far as my evaluation of the text is concerned 1 want to say that (it seems to me that..., I found the text interesting, not very interesting, gripping/thrilling, entertaining, merely amusing, sparkling with brilliant humor and wit, thought-provocative, too far-fetched and not very true-to-life, dull, boring, slow-moving),etc

The ideas expressed by the author are very close to me because...

His ideas concerning... are still important, vital and urgent.

In this extract the author touches upon the most burning problems of mankind, the eternal problems.

DESCRIBING THE CHARACTERS

Virtuous characteristics:

Amiable

Good-natured

Kind

Kind-hearted

Communicative

Sociable

Discreet

Generous

Considerate

Attentive

Thoughtful

Earnest

Calm

Quiet

Self-possessed

Honest

Just

Patient

Sympathetic

Cordial

Witty

Benevolent

Scrupulous

Devoted

Loyal

Courageous

Persevering

Sweet

Gentle

Proud

Evil characteristics:

Ill-natured

Unkind

Hard-hearted

Reserved

Unsociable

Hostile

Haughty

Arrogant

Indiscreet

Unscrupulous

Greedy

Tactless

Insincere

Hypocritical

False

Vulgar

Double-faced

Indifferent

Dishonest

Cruel

Intolerant

Conceited

Self-willed

Presumptuous

Deceitful

Harsh

Sulky

Sullen

Obstinate

Coarse

Rude

Vain

Impertinent

Revengeful

Willful

Capricious

ADJECTIVES APPLIED TO LITERARY CHARACTERS