Asked by j

is the way an author presents a character.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
That is called characterization.

Definition: Characterization is how an author presents and develops a character’s personality, traits, and motives.

Two main types:
- Direct characterization — the author or narrator explicitly describes a character (e.g., “She was generous.”).
- Indirect characterization — the author reveals a character through actions, dialogue, thoughts, appearance, and other characters’ reactions, letting the reader infer traits.

Common techniques: appearance, speech, behavior/actions, inner thoughts, relationships, backstory, and the way other characters respond. Purpose: to make characters believable, drive the plot, and communicate themes.