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 a character's personality through actions, thoughts, dialogue, or other characters' reactions.

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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 and feels.

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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 other characters react to or are affected by the character.

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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 physical appearance.

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Example of Direct Characterization: 'John is brave.'

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This sentence directly tells the reader about John's personality.

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Example of Indirect Characterization: 'As the storm approached, John stood tall, ready to face it.'

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This sentence shows John's bravery through his actions.

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How can dialogue be used in Indirect Characterization?

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Dialogue can reveal a character's personality through their speech patterns, word choices, and what they choose to say or not say.