How would you interpret - "Literary Character"

[Miss Marple]

My son has been invited to apply the Honors College and one of the components for application is to write an essay about 2 literary characters he would like to have to dinner and why.

 

He would like to write about Hume and Descarte. However, they were real people and IMO may not be acceptable. He thought it would be fun to contrast their ideas because they are so opposite (he's really enjoying his philosophy course this year).

 

My impression is that the essay is to be over fictional characters, but my lack of expertise in college applications leads me to check with those who have gone before :001_smile:

 

Any thoughts?

[Janet in Toronto]

I, too, would assume that `literary character`means a fictional character and would encourage him to go that route rather than Hume-Descartes.

[Brigid in NC]

I would agree that "literary characters" would be from novels or plays (or even epic poems). Based on your son's philosophy choices, I'm sure he will be able to choose two clever and engaging fictional characters. Good luck! Take care. ~Brigid

[HollyinNNV]

If they wanted real people, might they have phrased the prompt-"historical figures" or "people from history." I think the term literary signifies someone fictional.

JMHO,

Holly

[Janet in WA]

Agreeing with everyone else. If they wanted him to write about a real person, they would probably have used the term "literary figure", not "literary character".