roolilause

Roolilause is a term in Finnish-language discussions of drama and narrative analysis that denotes a concise sentence stating a character's function within a work. The word rooli means role and lause means sentence, so roolilause literally translates to "role sentence." The term is most often found in literary analysis, scriptwriting guides, and educational materials that discuss character function, plot dynamics, and casting briefs.

In practice, a roolilause identifies the essential function a character serves in the story—for example, protagonist, antagonist, mentor, foil, or catalyst for action. It may appear in character sheets, scene outlines, or screenplay notes as a one-sentence summary of what the character does and how they relate to the central conflict. A roolilause helps observers quickly grasp why the character matters to the narrative.

Examples: Roolilause: The protagonist, a young inventor, drives the plot by uncovering a hidden threat to the community and prompting the action. Roolilause: The antagonist opposes the protagonist and embodies the moral obstacle the hero must overcome. In practical use, multiple roolilause lines can describe several characters' functions within the same work.

Relation to other concepts: a roolilause complements the character’s goals, motivations, and backstory, but it is focused on narrative function rather than full characterization. Variants appear in casting briefs and educational materials, where a one-sentence function helps readers understand a character’s role at a glance.

See also: character function, casting brief, script note.