Direct and Indirect Characterization--To Kill a Mockingbird

Indirect characterization is best defined as:

• When an author reveals details about a character through adjectives and phrases

• When details about a character must be inferred from their thoughts, speech and actions

• When an author shares details about a less important character

• When an author introduces a new character

"Dill was a curiosity. He wore blue linen shorts that buttoned to his shirt, his hair was snow white and stuck to his head like duckfluff; he was a year my senior but I towered over him" (pg 9). This is:

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

"Calpurnia was something else again. She was all angles and bones; she was nearsighted; she squinted; her hand was wide as a bed slat and twice as hard" (6-7). This is:

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

The way Aunt Alexandra treats Scout -- criticizing her clothes, telling her to be more cheerful, making her eat by herself -- show that Aunt is Alexandra is best characterized as:

• Fancy and elegant

• Stupid and not understanding

• Easygoing and helpful

• Proper and judgmental

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

"Walter looked as if he had been raised on fish food: his eyes, as blue as Dill Harris's, were red-rimmed and watery. There was no color in his face except at the tip of his nose, which was moistly pink" (pg 30). This is:

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

Francis and Aunt Alexandra are best characterized as:

• Helpful

• Warm

• Judgmental

• Curious

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.5.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

"'I helped the engineer for a while,' said Dill, yawning" (pg 48). This piece of indirect characterization shows:

• Dill exaggerates his stories.

• Dill works.

• Dill is a sleepy person.

• Dill is brave.

"He was the filthiest human I had ever seen. His neck was dark gray, the backs of his hands were rusty and his fingernails were black deep into the quick" (pg 35). This is:

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3

Atticus is best characterized as (check all that apply):

• Fair

• Smart

• Strict

• Uncaring

On page 104, Scout describes a time when Uncle Jack pulled a splinter out of her foot and distracted her with a joke about a minister smoking hookah. This is:

• Direct characterization

• Indirect characterization

Tags

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

CCSS.RL.11-12.3