Question

Read the excerpt from "Mary Louise” by Edith van Dyne.

The girl they were discussing came leisurely down a path, her books under one arm, the other hand holding a class paper which she examined in a cursory way as she walked. She wore a dark skirt and a simple shirtwaist, both quite modish and becoming, and her shoes were the admiration and envy of half the girls at the school. Dorothy Knerr used to say that "Mary Louise's clothes always looked as if they grew on her," but that may have been partially accounted for by the grace of her slim form and her unconscious but distinctive poise of bearing. Few people would describe Mary Louise Burrows as beautiful, while all would agree that she possessed charming manners. And she was fifteen – an age when many girls are both awkward and shy.

Which statement correctly describes the characterization in this excerpt?

Mary Louise Burrows is directly characterized as poised.
Mary Louise Burrows is indirectly characterized as awkward.
Fifteen-year-old girls are directly characterized as poised.
Fifteen-year-old girls are indirectly characterized as awkward.

Answer 1

A. Mary Louise Burrows is directly characterized as poised.

Step-by-step explanation:

EDGE 2020

Answer 2

Mary Louise Burrows is directly characterized as poised.

Step-by-step explanation:

Characterization is the process of the creation of a literary character. There are two types of characterization:

• Direct characterization - the author or another character within the story describes the character in a straightforward manner.

• Indirect characterization - the character's traits are revealed through their actions, speech, appearance, and interactions with other characters.

In the given excerpt, Mary Louise Burrows is directly characterized as poised. Both the author (e.g. ... but that may have been partially accounted for by the grace of her slim form and her unconscious but distinctive poise of bearing) and other characters (e.g. Dorothy Knerr used to say that "Mary Louise's clothes always looked as if they grew on her,") describe her like that.