I’m compiling an a-z list of literary characters. I want to illustrate it and make an alphabet book. Because this project combines three of my favorite things: Books, Illustration and Graphic Design. Any suggestions? I’m looking for mostly classic characters, book characters. I won’t use strictly movie or television characters, they need to have originated on the printed page.
She Thinks Too Much 
What do you have so far? Here are a handful of suggestions (I can come up with more if you need them).
A- Alice
D- Don Quixote
H- Harry Potter
I- Iago
O- Oliver Twist
Thanks Grace! I think I’ll probably be using Don Quixote. 🙂
Alice from Alice in Wonderland,Adrian Mole, Bertie Wooster, Brer Rabbit, Bertha Mason, Bilbo Baggins, Charlie of chocolate factory fame, Dracula, Eeyore, Fiyero, Dr Frankenstein, Gandalf, Captain Hook, Humbert Humbert, Harry Potter, Miss Havisham, Iago, Icarus, Dr Jekyll, James Bond, Kim from Rudyard Kipling’s novel of the same name, Sir Lancelot, Lyra Silvertongue, Matilda Wormwood, Mole, Mycroft Holmes, Professor Moriarty, Nancy from Oliver Twist, Oliver Twist, Ophelia, Phillip Marlowe, Pippi Longstocking, Peter Pan, Professor Quirrell, Rebecca de Winter, Romeo, Rumplestiltskin, Sherlock Holmes, Scrooge, Tom Sawyer, Toad of Toadhall, Uncle Tom, Venus, Viola, Dr Watson, Wendy, only X I can think of off the top of my head is professor X which is comic book but still…. Stanley Yelnats, Zaphod Breeblebox. Ta da!
Excellent suggestions, thank you Siobhan!
Hmm, I may have to use Rebecca de Winter…
If you’re looking for the names of lots of literary characters in one place, the standard places are less than helpful – dry, academic tosh only goes so far, and is mainly for purposes which don’t lend well to list-making. Try the Wold Newton pages. It’s a who’s who of all the major players in great literature seen through a pop-culture lens.
I have a feeling that I will find the World Newton pages very entertaining…reminds me that I should read more of Philip Jose Farmer’s books, I’ve only read the first of the River World series…
You’ll get the most out of the Wold Newton material if you go back to the original stories before either Tarzan Alive or Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life – some of the references are very obscure. 🙂
One of my favourites is Brer Rabbit (Enid Blyton). I also like Rumpole of the Bailey (John Mortimer), Holmes of course although I always found those stories a bit dry (heresy, I know!). More literary; I love Stephen Dedalus from Joyce.
Thanks for your suggestions!
I actually haven’t read any Joyce, will have to amend that one of these days.
Along with the other great suggestions already offered, I’ll add: Jane Eyre, Cathy and Heathcliffe, Poirot and Miss Marple, Marion, (from the Woman in white) who proceeded Mina from Dracula, Mina Harker, Sam Spade, Nick and Nora Charles (yes, they only appeared in one book, but they appeared in several films, and just about all married, fun-loving mystery couples are inspired by them.
I’ll have to stop now. So many fascinating characters through the ages. Good luck with the project. It sounds like a lot of fun.
Thanks for your suggestions! I’m definitely using Healthcliff for “H.”
I’ll be sure to post as the project progresses!
M – Maqroll (the Gaviero) from the Alvaro Mutis novellas. Some say he’s a modern-day Don Quixote. (BTW, you would file Don Quixote under Q, right? The Don part is a lot like Mr. would be in English.)
Yep, he’d be under Q. I’m thinking of using Dracula as my D.
And thanks for the suggestion of Maqroll! I’ve never read the novellas. Any suggestion of where I should start?
Scout? Gem? Atticus? Boo?
As for Maqroll, get The Adventures and Misadventures of Maqroll the Gaviero. All six(?) novellas are there. It’s one of the books I would take with me if I were going to be stranded on an island.
I guess I should reread To Kill a Mockingbird. 🙂
I’ll see if I can find that book! 🙂