In “The Sentinel,” characterization and dialogue are minimized.
The reader is told virtually nothing about Wilson other than his name.
Even that small fact must be deduced
from an offhand comment made by a member of his team regarding
Wilson’s desire to climb the mountain on
which the artifact stands:
He calls it “Wilson’s folly.” From a passing reference to his exploits as a young man, t
he reader learns that Wilson is a veteran explorer.
No other information is given. Even less is known about Garnett, t
he story’s only other named character.
Minimizing character development and dialogue emphasizes
the central theme and the ominous mood of the story.
Unlike character and dialogue, howeve