Characterization in "As Good as Gold": Analyzing Direct Characterization
What is the best example of direct characterization in "As Good as Gold"?
A) Jake and Sam shouldered the next pair of fifty-pound food packs and began another long trudge up the hill.
B) "Oh, this is just swell," Jake said, covering his ears to block out the sound.
C) Jake had a short fuse when he was under stress, and this entire adventure was not bringing out the best side of his personality.
D) Of course, staking a claim and striking it enormously rich on Klondike gold had seemed like a wonderful idea last summer.
Answer:
I believe it's C.
Explanation:
I think it's "Jake had a short fuse when he was under stress, and this entire adventure was not bringing out the best side of his personality." because they are talking about him directly and telling us what he's like.
Jake had a short fuse when he was under stress, and this entire adventure was not bringing out the best side of his personality is the sentence from "As Good as Gold" that is the best example of direct characterization. Thus, option (C) is correct.
What is characterization?
The term characterization refers to the author's description of the characters in the story. The narrator's job is to explain the character in the story, describing their unique traits and personality. Characterization is the process of revealing a character's traits in a story.
Jake and Sam picked up the next set of fifty-pound meal packs and started up the hill again. The direct characterization in "When Jake was stressed, he had a quick temper, and this entire trip was not bringing out the best in him" introduces direct characterization, telling us about his personality.
Therefore, "As Good as Gold" provides the best example of direct characterization. Option (C) is correct.