Which type of characterization is shown when the author explicitly states a character's traits?

• A. Indirect Characterization
• B. Direct Characterization
• C. Metaphor
• D. Characterization

Answer: (B)

Direct characterization is when the author explicitly states a character's traits. This means you’re told directly what the character is like—for example, “She was brave and decisive” or “He is a meticulous planner.” The reader gets the trait in a straightforward way, without having to infer it from clues.

By contrast, indirect characterization reveals traits through what the character does, says, thinks, how others react to them, or how they look. For instance, showing a character calmly solving a crisis or speaking with kindness lets you infer bravery or generosity, rather than being told outright. A metaphor, on the other hand, is a figurative comparison and isn’t itself a method of describing a character’s traits. So the explicit, stated description of traits points to direct characterization.