Question

But now, if anybody has anything to say to Raymond, anything to say about his big head, they have to come by me. And I don’t play the dozens or believe in standing around with somebody in my face doing a lot of talking. I much rather just knock you down and take my chances even if I am a little girl with skinny arms and a squeaky voice... How can readers tell that the author is using indirect characterization in this excerpt?

Answer 1

She is being characterized without being direct about it. So instead of saying she is headstrong and protective, she goes on SHOWING that she is headstrong and protective, hence the "direct" in direct characterization. Or "indirect" in indirect characterization. I'm not a very clear person (direct characterization) but I hope this helps...?

Answer 2

Indirect characterization is a literary device that authors use to reveal a character's personality, interests, or motifs by means of their thoughts, words, behaviors, actions and the description of their appearance, without making direct descriptions or statements about the character like “She is smart,” for example.

In the excerpt, readers can tell that the author is using indirect characterization because the author reveals the personality of the narrator (also a character) through the character's own words and thoughts about a situation.