Final answer:
In 'Tears of a Tiger', Monty's statement is an example of indirect characterization, where his age and lack of knowledge are subtly revealed through his own words, rather than being directly described by the author.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Tears of a Tiger, when Monty says, "Hey, I'm six years old. I got a lot to learn," this is an example of indirect characterization. Through Monty's own words, we learn about his age, his awareness of his youth, and that he recognizes there is much he does not know, reflecting his innocence and developmental stage. It conveys character traits implicitly rather than through explicit descriptions—without the author telling us directly, we discern that Monty is youthful and presumably naive, just starting to understand the world.
This technique contrasts with direct characterization, where an author would straightforwardly state characteristics of a person. Instead, what Monty says is an organic, subtle way to reveal aspects of his character. The concept of indirect characterization is essential in literature, as it allows readers to engage more actively with the text, interpreting and deducing details about the characters based on their actions, dialogue, and thoughts.