THE REPRESENTATION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL STATES THROUGH CHARACTER PORTRAITURE IN ENGLISH FICTION

This article examines literary portrait as a linguistic and artistic means of representing characters in English literary texts. It discusses the main components of portrait description, the language resources used in its construction, and its contribution to characterization. Particular attention is given to the representation of physical appearance, facial expressions, gestures, posture, and clothing. The article also considers the relationship between outward appearance and psychological interpretation, emphasizing the role of context and narrative perspective. A descriptive and analytical approach is adopted to explain how portrait details guide readers’ perceptions and contribute to the development of a character’s image. The discussion suggests that literary portrait functions as a flexible textual resource whose meaning emerges through the interaction of description, evaluation, and narrative organization.