Personages

Personage refers to a person, especially one of some prominence or distinct character; it can denote a real individual who is notable or a fictional character within a narrative. The plural form is personages. The term is often used when the emphasis is on social status, role, or personality rather than on every person's identity. In modern usage, personage is somewhat formal and may appear in historical writing, biographical surveys, or literary criticism; in everyday speech, “person” or “figures” are more common.

Etymology: the word comes from Old French personage, from Latin persona meaning mask or character. The sense stresses the role a person plays in a scene or story. Distinctions: personage tends to convey a sense of notable individuality or archetypal function; whereas person is neutral, and character is a more specific literary term.

Usage in literature and media: the term is often used to describe a cast of characters or historical figures in a narrative, or to refer to notable individuals in non-fiction contexts. For example, a scholarly work might discuss the major personages of a medieval court or a novelist’s diverse set of personages, each with a distinct voice. Related terms include figure, person, character, and persona (the latter often refers to a social or performative identity rather than a strict individual).