Naming the Unnamed: How to Use Epithets to Reveal Character

In the opening pages of a story, a name is a gift. It grounds the reader and gives them a handle to hold onto. But what happens when you withhold that gift? What happens when a character is simply called "The Man in Black," "The Girl Who Lived," or "The Gunslinger"?

In literature, this is known as using an Epithet, a descriptive phrase used in place of, or alongside, a proper name. While it might seem like a simple placeholder, the epithet is a powerful tool for building mystery, establishing social hierarchy, and revealing a character’s "true" nature before their birth certificate ever enters the scene.

1. The Homeric Roots: Epithets as Identity

The use of epithets dates back to the very dawn of storytelling. In the Iliad and the Odyssey, Homer rarely referred to his heroes by name alone. They were always "Grey-eyed Athena," "Swift-footed Achilles," or "Rosy-fingered Dawn."

These weren't just decorative adjectives. In oral tradition, epithets served as "mnemonic anchors." They reminded the listener of a character’s most essential quality every time they were mentioned.

• The Takeaway for Writers: If you want to reinforce a character's core trait (their "Thematic DNA"), use an epithet that highlights it. If your protagonist is consistently referred to as "The Reluctant Prince" by the narration, the reader is constantly reminded of the internal conflict between his duty and his desires.

2. The "Alienation Effect": Building Mystery and Tension

Why do we wait hundreds of pages to learn the name of "The Nameless One" or "The Stranger"? This is a psychological technique known as the Alienation Effect (or Verfremdungseffekt).

By withholding a proper name, you create a "narrative gap." Proper names make characters familiar; they imply they have a home, a mother, and a place in the social order. An epithet, however, defines a character solely by their function or appearance.

• Example: In Cormac McCarthy’s The Road, the protagonists are simply "The Man" and "The Boy." By denying them names, McCarthy emphasizes the universality of their struggle and the loss of civilization. They aren't individuals anymore; they are symbols of humanity itself.

• The "Power" Move: When a character finally reveals their real name after being known only by an epithet, it signals a massive shift in intimacy. It’s the moment the "Mask" comes off and the "Human" is revealed.

3. Epithets and Social Hierarchy: Titles of Power

In his research on Sociolinguistics, scholar Basil Bernstein discussed how language reflects social power. Epithets are the primary way characters signal rank to one another.

When a character is called "Your Grace," "The Commander," or "The Master," the epithet does the work of world-building for you. It tells the reader:

1. There is a structured society.

2. This character has a specific role within it.

3. Others are obligated to recognize that role.

Our Tip: Use "Opposing Epithets" to show conflict. If a king calls himself "The Protector of the Realm," but the rebels call him "The Butcher of Blackwood," you have established a political conflict using nothing but descriptive titles.

4. The "Kenning": The Art of the Metaphorical Name

Old English and Old Norse poetry used a specific type of epithet called a Kenning. A kenning is a compressed metaphor used to name something without using its literal word.

• "Whale-road" for the sea.

• "Sky-candle" for the sun.

• "Battle-sweat" for blood.

  
  

Using "kenning-style" epithets for your characters adds a layer of literary texture to your prose. If a character is referred to as "The Truth-Breaker" instead of "The Liar," the name feels ancient, weighty, and more descriptive of the damage they cause.

5. Epithets in Dialogue vs. Narration

Mastering the epithet requires knowing who is using it.

• Narratorial Epithets: This is when the author uses a title to guide the reader’s focus. If the narrator calls a character "The Giant," the reader is focused on scale.

• Internalized Epithets: This is how a character thinks of themselves. A character who thinks of themselves as "The Failure" will act differently than one who thinks of themselves as "The Chosen."

• External Epithets: This is how the world sees them. "The Dragonborn" or "The Witcher." These are often "burden names", titles that the character might not even want but must live up to.

6. The Epithet Checklist: Choosing the Right Title

When you’re stuck on a character name, or if you want to add a layer of mystery, try using an epithet based on these three categories:

Category	Based On...	Example
Physicality	A striking physical feature or scar.	The Silver-Haired, The One-Eyed
Origin/Heritage	Where they come from or their bloodline.	The Son of None, The Northern Star
Legend/Action	A famous (or infamous) deed they did.	The Kingslayer, The Shield-Breaker

7. Avoiding the "Purple Prose" Trap

While epithets are powerful, they can become a cliché if overused. If every sentence refers to the hero as "The Azure-Eyed Warrior of the Silent Sands," the prose becomes purple and difficult to read.

The Golden Rule: Use the epithet to establish the mood, but return to the proper name (or simple pronouns) once the scene is moving. Use the epithet like a spotlight—turn it on when you want to highlight a specific part of the character’s identity, then dim it back down to keep the pacing fast.

Conclusion: The Name is the Mask; The Epithet is the Face

Ultimately, a name is what a person is called, but an epithet is what a person is. By strategically using descriptive titles, you can show your reader a character’s history, their social standing, and their deepest flaws without ever needing to show a birth certificate.

The next time you introduce a character, don’t just give them a name from a list. Give them a title they have to earn. Whether they are a "Pathfinder" or a "Traitor," let the epithet do the talking. After all, the most memorable characters are often the ones whose names we never actually needed to know.