What term describes the process of revealing a character's traits through their dialogue or actions?

The process of revealing a character's traits through their dialogue or actions is known as indirect characterization. This technique allows readers to infer aspects of a character's personality based on what they say, how they behave, and how they interact with others in the story. It involves showing rather than telling, enabling readers to draw their own conclusions about the character. For example, if a character consistently makes sarcastic remarks, readers may interpret that character as witty or bitter, depending on the context.

In contrast, direct characterization explicitly states the traits of a character, such as when a narrator describes a character as brave or selfish. Character analysis refers to a broader study of a character's development and motivations within a narrative, while figurative characterization is not a standard term used in literary studies for describing character development. Indirect characterization is a key tool in literature, enhancing the depth of characters and engaging readers in the interpretation of their complexities.