Character Clues Worksheet
Grade 7 ELA Literary Analysis • Character Craft
Character Clues Worksheet
Investigating Direct & Indirect Characterization in American Short Fiction
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Anchor Concept: How Authors Reveal Character
Review before analyzing the stories
Direct Characterization (TELLS)
The author explicitly states character traits, physical qualities, or motives.
"He was a dramatic, attention-seeking child."
Indirect Characterization (SHOWS: S-T-E-A-L)
The author reveals traits through clues the reader must infer:
S - Speech T - Thoughts E - Effect A - Actions L - Looks
Warm-Up Check: Label each as D (Direct) or I (Indirect):
1. Walter walked with a slow, heavy limp. [ ] 2. The boy was deeply insecure and needed sympathy. [ ]
1
Case Study: Sherwood Anderson's "Stolen Day"
Focus: The Narrator's Internal Conflict
Read each text excerpt from "Stolen Day." Determine whether Anderson uses Direct or Indirect characterization. If indirect, name the STEAL element. Then, analyze what trait or inner desire is revealed.
Evidence A
"It seemed to me that I must also have inflammatory rheumatism. The disease was like a sudden fire in my bones... I sat on the school steps and ached all over."
Method (Circle one):
[ ] Direct [ ] Indirect (STEAL: ________)
Specific Trait / Emotion Revealed:
What this proves about what he truly wants:
Evidence B
"I forgot the pain. I got excited. I hauled him right out into the grass, a big flopping carp... I went on home carrying the big fish, feeling proud and grand."
Method (Circle one):
[ ] Direct [ ] Indirect (STEAL: ________)
Contradiction in his behavior:
Reader's inference about his illness:
Analytical Synthesis: The Climax at the Dinner Table
When the narrator blurts out at supper that he has inflammatory rheumatism, his family bursts into laughter. How does Anderson use Effect on Others and the boy's Internal Thoughts to emphasize his humiliation?
Focus: Character Analysis & Textual Evidence Page 1 of 2
Comparative Study
Humor Through Characterization
Story 2: "The Night the Bed Fell" by James Thurber
2
Comic Characterization: Actions & Absurdity
Unlike Anderson's introspective drama, Thurber builds humor by piling on eccentric habits and extreme Actions (A) and Effects on Others (E).
Briggs Beall (The Cousin) STEAL Focus
"Briggs believed that he was likely to cease breathing in his sleep... He set an alarm clock for 3 A.M. and kept a glass of spirits of camphor by his bedside."
Which STEAL category drives Briggs's character?
How Thurber uses exaggeration for comedy:
Mother & The Falling Bed STEAL Focus
"Mother leaped out of bed with the wild shout, 'The bed had begun to break!' and immediately assumed Father was dying in the attic."
Identify the character trait revealed by Mother's reaction:
How does her reaction affect everyone else in the house?
3
Craft Comparison: Internal Heartache vs. External Chaos
Compare the authors' primary characterization methods and their intended effect on the reader.
| Story & Author | Dominant STEAL Method | Impact on Tone / Reader Feeling |
|---|
| "Stolen Day" | | |
| (Sherwood Anderson) | Heavily relies on Thoughts (T) and Internal Monologue. | Evokes empathy, vulnerability, and the painful childhood ache for parental validation. |
| "The Night the Bed Fell" | | |
| (James Thurber) | Heavily relies on Actions (A) and Effect on Others (E). | Creates fast-paced comedy, slapstick confusion, and affection for eccentric family members. |
Extended Written Response Use RACER or Claim-Evidence-Reasoning
Which method of indirect characterization is more powerful for storytelling: revealing a character through their secret private thoughts (as in Stolen Day) or through their outrageous public actions (as in The Night the Bed Fell)? Defend your claim with at least one reference to each text.
Student Checklist & Standards Tracker:
Distinguish Direct vs. Indirect Apply STEAL acronym accurately Cite textual evidence for claims
Grade 7 ELA • Standard RL.7.3 & RL.7.6 Page 2 of 2
