Characterization, Theme, and Irony in "The Gift of the Magi"
Question 8 • GA-Literature and Composition I CR
Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi."Where she stopped the sign read: "Mme. Sofronie. Hair Goods of All Kinds." One flight up Della ran, and collected herself, panting. Madame, large, too white, chilly, hardly looked the "Sofronie.""Will you buy my hair?" asked Della."I buy hair," said Madame. "Take yer hat off and let’s have a sight at the looks of it."Down rippled the brown cascade."Twenty dollars," said Madame, lifting the mass with a practised hand.
Answer
A
direct characterization, using her words and feelings.
B
indirect characterization, using her thoughts and action.
C
direct characterization, describing her physical appearance.
D
indirect characterization, describing her personality.
Explanation
The narrator directly describes Madame as “large, too white, chilly,” giving the reader information about her appearance and impression. This is direct characterization because the narrator states the traits rather than letting readers infer them only from her actions. So the best choice is direct characterization describing her physical appearance.
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