Direct and Indirect Characterization

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What is Direct Characterization?

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Direct Characterization is when the author explicitly tells the reader about a character's personality traits.

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What is Indirect Characterization?

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Indirect Characterization is when the author shows the reader about a character's personality through actions, thoughts, dialogue, or other characters' opinions.

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Example of Direct Characterization: 'She is very kind.'

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This sentence directly states a character's trait.

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Example of Indirect Characterization: 'He helped the old lady cross the street.'

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This shows kindness through action, rather than stating it directly.

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What does the 'S' in STEAL stand for?

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The 'S' in STEAL stands for Speech, which refers to what the character says and how they say it.

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What does the 'T' in STEAL stand for?

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The 'T' in STEAL stands for Thoughts, which refers to what the character thinks.

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What does the 'E' in STEAL stand for?

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The 'E' in STEAL stands for Effects on others, which refers to how the character affects other characters.

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What does the 'A' in STEAL stand for?

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The 'A' in STEAL stands for Actions, which refers to what the character does.

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What does the 'L' in STEAL stand for?

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The 'L' in STEAL stands for Looks, which refers to the character's appearance.

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How can you identify Direct Characterization in a text?

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Look for statements that directly describe a character's traits, such as 'He is brave' or 'She is intelligent.'