Which technique is the author using in this passage to reveal the character’s traits?
Passage from The Grapes of Wrath
The driver went on quickly. “I train my mind all the time. I took a course in that two years ago. Now I try to remember everything about people I meet. Kind a clothes, an’ shoes, an’ hat, ‘an how they walk, an’ maybe how tall, an’ what weight, an’ any scars. I do it pretty good. Sometimes I think I ought to take a course to be a fingerprint expert. You’d be surprised how much a guy can remember.”
direct characterization
indirect characterization
1 answer
The technique being used in the passage is indirect characterization.
In this excerpt, the character reveals their traits and personality through their dialogue and the way they describe their habits and interests. The focus on training their mind and remembering details about people suggests a keen observation skill and a certain level of intensity or obsession with details, which provides insight into their character without explicitly stating their traits.
