Characterisation in Xitsonga prose narratives namely, folktales, myths and legends

This study aims at providing upcoming and aspiring prose narrative narrators with information and skills of creating meaningful characters who would be able to convey the messages intended by the prose narrator or story teller. The discussion is centred on well-known folktale characters, techniques of creating characters used by narrators, the different kinds of characters found in folktales, the introduction of characters into the course of action, the roles of characters, the attributes of characters and their significance and characters with or without supernatural powers, nameless and faceless characters in folktales. Examples from existing folktales have been used to assist aspiring narrators in realizing the need to have skills and relevant information on how to create meaningful characters. Summaries of certain folktales have been provided for reference purposes.Dr. J. Manyak