Read each quotation from the story, and then decide whether the author is using direct or indirect characterization. “della, being slender, had mastered the art.” “madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the ‘sofronie.’” “‘twenty dollars,’ said madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.” “grand as the watch was, he sometimes looked at it on the sly on account of the old leather strap that he used in place of a chain.”

In those quotations from the story, author is using both direct and indirect characterization. Direct characterization is when author directly states what characters are like and indirect characterization shows personality of a character through speech, looks, actions, thought and effects on others. In the first quotation author is using direct characterization through stating how character looks and states her actions – Della is slender and she has mastered the arts. In second quotation author also uses direct characterization through looks and actions – Madam is large, too white, chilly and she hardly looks at ‘Sofronie. In the third quotation, Madam’s characterization is indirectly shown through her action and speech – she bidded twenty dollars by lifting her hand. An in the fourth quotation indirect characterization is shown through actions – he looked the watch on the sly.

to not go near anything hot

"the sandy walls seemed to collapse in on themselves"

and

"the bloodshot waters seemed to have no bottom"