Pretty boy

Judg · Apr 22, 2008

I'm not writing historical fiction, but in my fantasy novel it is important that people not sound too modern. I'm writing in fairly neutral English, avoiding any term that sound too connected to our modern world.

At one point, one character calls another a "pretty boy" and a beta reader called me on it. He said it sounded too modern. I think he's right. I felt uneasy about it even as I put it down, but - darn it all - it was exactly what the man meant. Would any of you know of a term with the same meaning but less of a modern feel to it? I don't want anything archaic, though, so this gets tricky.

My tentative fix is a rather anemic "laddie" but I'm hoping somebody brilliant will have a better idea and I figured this forum was the best place to look.

c.e.lawson · Apr 22, 2008

How about 'metrosexual'? (Just kidding

)

I think your beta is right, too. Dandy?

Actually, what does your character actually mean by 'pretty boy'? Good looking? Effeminate? Looks like a girl?

A little more info would help, I think.

c.e.

Judg · Apr 23, 2008

What he really meant was someone who was afraid to get his hands dirty (in this case with black magic), so he was referring more to an attitude than to physical appearance. It wasn't a fair evaluation either. He deeply resents having to teach someone from the dominant culture that rejected and expelled them in times past but takes advantage of the opportunity to bully the young man, who is about 19 and much smaller than his teacher, who is a tank.

And I hadn't realized the whole thing was so complex until you made me explain it.

HeronW · Apr 23, 2008

Pretty boy was present as a term, semi-amatory by an older man to a younger back to Alexander's time or more. Same sex pairing were a norm and often went parallel to having a wife and children to carry on the line.

Maybe your evil mage char would say, "You want to stay pretty, boy?" in response to the younger man refusing to 'get his hands dirty'.

donroc · Apr 23, 2008

Heron is right about the use of the term over the centuries. Imo, the context should determine how "pretty boy" reads. Remember almost a hundred years ago we had a gangster named Pretty Boy Floyd. A classmate of mine in Jr. High, ca. 1940s was known as first name Pretty Boy last name because he had feminine features.

c.e.lawson · Apr 23, 2008

I certainly don't dispute the use of the term 'pretty boy' over the centuries. (I'll leave the actual research verifying that to someone else, though.

) I do, however, think it is a phrase quite commonly in use today, therefore it violates Judg's stated objective in her work:

I'm writing in fairly neutral English, avoiding any term that sound too connected to our modern world.

Just google the term (or talk to an American teenager) and you'll see it's all over the place right now. So I'd still agree with using something else.

Heron's suggestion, however, works for me, and does sound different from calling someone a pretty boy.

pdr · Apr 23, 2008

Could he be...

some kind of flower?
a lily of a boy?
just a plain 'flower'
'...tender as a flower are you?'
'...bit of a lily, eh boy?'

My students suggest:
tender or soft,
something bird like, chicken, goosey,
a twit,
something like cat paws, because cats hate getting them wet or dirty?

Judg · Apr 25, 2008

Thank you guys. You've given me a lot to consider.

Heron, that was a very creative suggestion. It wouldn't quite work with the plot, I'm afraid. The teacher may be a tank and a bully, but he's too too sophisticated and intelligent for a crude threat. Besides, it would probably cost him his head if he actually beat the boy... ;o)

PDR, you consulted a class for me? Wow...

Tink · Apr 25, 2008

Judg said:
Thank you guys. You've given me a lot to consider.

Heron, that was a very creative suggestion. It wouldn't quite work with the plot, I'm afraid. The teacher may be a tank and a bully, but he's too too sophisticated and intelligent for a crude threat. Besides, it would probably cost him his head if he actually beat the boy... ;o)

PDR, you consulted a class for me? Wow...

What about pansy, it comes from the 15th Century and it means: marked by an unbecoming delicacy or overrefinement, effeminte. effeminate (also from the 15th Century) effeminate means having feminine qualities and /or untypical of a man

donroc · Apr 25, 2008

Definitely do not use girly-boy.

Judg · Apr 26, 2008

bonnyread · Apr 26, 2008

Dandy? Fop? Maybe not quite right, but those are the words that came to my mind. Pansy seems okay to me too.

jennontheisland · Apr 26, 2008

Dandy and fop were the first that came to mind for me too.

Epicene?

Shweta · Apr 26, 2008

Pansy, dandy, and fop came to my mind, but dandy and fop seem quite connected to... Regency and Victorian? England to me.

I really like the flower notion. The particular flower choice could tell the reader something about the culture. If he was a delicate orchid, then they have international trade and exploration, if he's a hothouse rose, they have horticultural technology.

I'd guess if you went for a metaphor (a flower, a delicate baby critter, something like that) it'd be best to have it be a delicate, fragile, cultivated thing as opposed to anything "hardy" that grows wild. To match his delicate upperclass/dominant culture sensibilities. So like, a rose, an orchid, a lily, a tulip, a pansy, something like that, rather than a daisy or other wildflower. Or a lamb, chick, kitten, rather than cub.

Does that make sense?

Hollan · Apr 26, 2008

Pretty boy is used toward Seth in The Oracle Prophecies by Catherine Fisher, and it's set in a fantasy ancient Egypt type of world. It works in her story without feeling modern. But Seth actually *is* a pretty boy, aka, feminine looking, I guess.

Pretty boy

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

c.e.lawson

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

HeronW

Down Under Fan

donroc

Historicals and Horror rule

c.e.lawson

pdr

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

Tink

Just soaking up some R&R...

donroc

Historicals and Horror rule

Judg

DISENCHANTED coming soon

bonnyread

jennontheisland

the world is at my command

Shweta

gone

Hollan

Stage name = Chainsaw Sally