Then the second-graders line up for the thirty-yard dash and I don't even bother to turn my head to watch cause Raphael Perez always wins. He wins before he even begins by psyching the runners, telling them they're going to trip on their shoelaces and fall on their faces or lose their shorts or something, which he doesn't really have to do since he is very fast, almost as fast as I am.
Read the passage. Then explain how Raphael is characterized based on the way Squeaky describes him.
1 answer
Raphael is characterized as competitive, confident, and a bit of a bully. Squeaky describes him as always winning the races, psyching out the other runners, and being very fast. She also implies that he doesn't need to psych out the other runners because of his speed, showing his confidence in his abilities. The fact that Squeaky admits he is almost as fast as she is suggests that she sees him as a worthy rival. However, his behavior of talking down to the other runners and trying to intimidate them shows a more negative side to his character.