Which statement describes indirect characterization?

• A. The author directly states a character's traits.
• B. The author reveals traits through actions, dialogue, thoughts, and effects on others.
• C. The narrator provides a long background history of the character.
• D. The author uses statistics to describe the character.

Answer: (B)

Indirect characterization is learning about a character’s traits from clues in their actions, what they say, their thoughts, and the way they affect other characters. This approach lets readers infer personality rather than having it stated outright. The statement that describes this method says the author reveals traits through actions, dialogue, thoughts, and the effects on others, which is exactly how indirect characterization works.

For example, a character who stays up late to help a friend, remains calm under pressure, and earns others’ trust through listening shows qualities like diligence, steadiness, and kindness without the author saying those traits directly.

Direct characterization would tell you traits plainly, like “She is brave,” which isn’t indirect. A long backstory can provide context but doesn’t by itself reveal current traits through present behavior. Using statistics to describe a character doesn’t convey personality or habits in the way indirect characterization does.