Question

The door opened and Jim stepped in and closed it. He looked thin and very serious. Poor fellow, he was only twenty-two and to be burdened with a family! He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.

—"The Gift of the Magi,"
O. Henry

Use the drop-down menus to identify the examples of characterization as direct or indirect.

“He looked thin and very serious.”


“He was only twenty-two.”


“He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.”

Answer 1

“He looked thin and very serious.” — Direct characterization (the narrator directly tells us his appearance/trait).

“He was only twenty-two.” — Direct characterization (the narrator directly states his age).

“He needed a new overcoat and he was without gloves.” — Indirect characterization (the details show his poverty/need rather than explicitly labeling him as poor).