What does the process of characterization involve?

The process of characterization involves revealing the personality and traits of a character, which is essential for understanding who the character is and how they contribute to the story. Through characterization, authors provide insight into a character's thoughts, motivations, behaviors, and relationships with others. This can be achieved through direct characterization, where the author explicitly describes the character, or indirect characterization, where aspects of the character are revealed through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with other characters.

In contrast, creating a plot twist focuses on surprising the reader with unexpected developments in the story’s action, while describing the setting deals specifically with the environment in which the story takes place. Interpreting the historical context involves understanding the time period and circumstances surrounding the narrative, which is separate from character development. Therefore, recognizing how a character is shaped and presented is key to engaging with the story on a deeper level, emphasizing the importance of understanding characterization.