Direct characterization directly states a character's personality traits, while indirect characterization reveals a character's personality through their speech, thoughts, actions, effects on others, and appearance. Indirect characterization uses techniques like showing a character's speech, thoughts, effects on others, actions, and controllable aspects of their appearance to indirectly portray their personality to the audience.

1. Direct and Indirect
Characterization

2. Direct Characterization
• Direct characterization tells the audience
what the personality of the character is.
Example:
“The patient boy and quiet girl did not
interrupt their mother.”
“As an outgoing young girl, Alyssa always
found it easy to make friends.”

3. Indirect Characterization
Indirect characterization shows things that reveal the
personality of a character.
Remember STEAL?
Speech
Thoughts
Effect on others
Actions
Looks (controllable aspects)
What might this man’s appearance and behavior say about his character?