Question

Which of the following example s from the Canterbury Tale shows Direct Characterization?

A. “The monk’s sleeves were garnished at the hand, with fine gray fur, the finest in the land”

B. “…a knight, a most distinguished man… Who from the day on which he first began / To ride abroad had followed chivalry…”

C. “…he possessed Fine horses, but he was not gaily dressed.”

D. Both A and C


(A IS INCORRECT)

Answer 1

The correct answer is B. "... a knight, a most distinguished man... Who from the day on which he first began/ To ride abroad followed chivalry...".

Direct characterization is when the author reveals something specific about the character by using adjectives, phrases, or epithets. It also shows the character's motivation. B is the only answer where we can find how the character is and his motivation: "distinguished man", "he followed chivalry".

It is very different from indirect characterization when the author uses dialogue, appearance, actions, relationships, and places all over the world to portray a character. We find this on A. where the monk's sleeves are described but not the monk himself, and C. on the depiction of the knight's appearance but not of his personality.