The techniques writers use to create and develop characters are called

• A. Characterization
• B. Plot
• C. Setting
• D. Theme

Answer: (A)

Characterization is the way writers make characters come alive by showing who they are and how they change. This happens through direct statements about a character’s traits and through indirect signals—what a character says, thinks, does, how others react to them, and the physical details the narrator provides. Together these clues let readers form a vivid sense of personality, motivation, and development, such as a hero learning to overcome fear or a villain revealing their true nature through their choices.

This is different from the sequence of events that drive the story (plot), the backdrop of time and place (setting), or the underlying message or idea the author wants to convey (theme). For example, you learn about a character’s stubbornness and resourcefulness by how they handle challenges and interact with others, not merely by what happens to them or where the story takes place.