Question

Read the passage below, and answer the question that follows. Well, Smiley kept the beast in a little lattice box, and he used to fetch him down town sometimes and lay for a bet. One day a feller a stranger in the camp, he was come across him with his box, and says: "What might it be that you've got in the box?" And Smiley says, sorter indifferent like, "It might be a parrot, or it might be a canary, may be, but it an't it's only just a frog." And the feller took it, and looked at it careful, and turned it round this way and that, and says, "H'm so 'tis. Well, what's he good for?" "Well," Smiley says, easy and careless, "He's good enough for one thing, I should judge he can outjump any frog in Calaveras county." The feller took the box again, and took another long, particular look, and give it back to Smiley, and says, very deliberate, "Well, I don't see no p'ints about that frog that's any better'n any other frog." "May be you don't," Smiley says. "May be you understand frogs, and may be you don't understand 'em; may be you've had experience, and may be you an't only a amature, as it were. Anyways, I've got my opinion, and I'll risk forty dollars that he can outjump any frog in Calaveras county." What kind of characterization is the author using for Smiley in the passage?

Answer 1

The author uses indirect characterization to portray Smiley as a sly, boastful, and risk-taking character who is confident in his frog's ability to outjump others.

Step-by-step explanation:

The kind of characterization the author is using for Smiley in this passage is indirect characterization. Instead of directly stating traits about Smiley, Mark Twain, the author, reveals aspects of Smiley's character through his actions, speech, and interactions with other characters.

We learn that Smiley is crafty, boastful about his frog's abilities, and willing to bet money on the frog's jumping prowess. He speaks in a nonchalant manner but is clearly confident in his frog, suggesting he is also a sly and perhaps deceptive character. The detail that he's willing to bet a significant amount on the frog's jumping ability demonstrates his confidence and willingness to take risks.