What is the term for the protagonist of an autobiographical novel?

June 14, 2018 4:18 PM

Is there a specific literary term for the character in autobiographical fiction who represents the author? In other words, Sal Paradise is Jack Kerouac's what? "Alter ego" is the best I can come up with, but I feel like I've heard a more specific term. Related question: Is there a different term for characters in autobiographical fiction who represent real people other than the author? In other words, Old Bull Lee is William S. Burroughs' what?
posted by tom_r to Writing & Language (8 answers total)

The character is a stand-in for the author?
posted by aubilenon at 4:41 PM on June 14, 2018

I've sometimes seen 'avatar' used for this.
posted by kickingtheground at 4:44 PM on June 14, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: “Mary Sue” is a derogatory term (because the character is an idealized version of the author) and “author surrogate” is another term.
posted by saucysault at 5:02 PM on June 14, 2018 [4 favorites]

Yeah, was going to say "avatar."
posted by lunasol at 5:43 PM on June 14, 2018

Self-insert?

Not sure I'd use Mary Sue unless it's a deliberately idealised version of the author - the Mary-Sue/Stuness is separate from whether it's an author surrogate.
posted by Sebmojo at 7:06 PM on June 14, 2018 [1 favorite]

"Avatar" is also my immediate thought.
posted by lazuli at 8:05 PM on June 14, 2018

Best answer: Author surrogate.
posted by signal at 9:00 PM on June 14, 2018

Yeah, I think talking about Sal Paradise and saying the main character is Kerouac's Mary Sue will leave people pretty confused.
posted by LoonyLovegood at 1:43 AM on June 15, 2018