By showing what the youth is like, rather than explicitly telling the reader characteristics about him, the author uses indirect characterization. This technique allows the reader to infer the youth's thoughts, feelings, and concerns through his actions and reflections, rather than through direct statements about his character.
Read the following excerpt from chapter 2 of The Red Badge of Courage.
The next morning the youth discovered that his tall comrade had been the fast-flying messenger of a mistake. There was much scoffing at the latter by those who had yesterday been firm adherents of his views, and there was even a little sneering by men who had never believed the rumor. The tall one fought with a man from Chatfield Corners and beat him severely.
The youth felt, however, that his problem was in no wise lifted from him. There was, on the contrary, an irritating prolongation. The tale had created in him a great concern for himself. Now, with the newborn question in his mind, he was compelled to sink back into his old place as part of a blue demonstration.
For days he made ceaseless calculations, but they were all wondrously unsatisfactory. He found that he could establish nothing. He finally concluded that the only way to prove himself was to go into the blaze, and then figuratively to watch his legs to discover their merits and faults. He reluctantly admitted that he could not sit still and with a mental slate and pencil derive an answer. To gain it, he must have blaze, blood, and danger, even as a chemist requires this, that, and the other. So he fretted for an opportunity.
By showing what the youth is like, rather than explicitly telling the reader characteristics about him, the author uses ____.
falling action
theme
suspense
direct characterization
indirect characterization
1 answer
2 answers