Read the excerpt from "The Gift of the Magi."Had the queen of Sheba lived in the flat across the airshaft, Della would have let her hair hang out the window some day to dry just to depreciate Her Majesty’s jewels and gifts.
Answer
A
indirect characterization, because it is showing Della’s pride in her long hair
B
direct characterization, because it is describing Della’s skill for decorating
C
indirect characterization, because it is revealing Della’s cultural heritage
D
direct characterization, because it is describing Della’s prized possessions
Explanation
The narrator does not directly state that Della is proud of her hair; instead, the comparison suggests how valuable and impressive she thinks it is. Della would let her hair hang outside simply to make the queen of Sheba’s jewels seem less magnificent. This reveals Della’s pride in her long hair through indirect characterization, so choice A is correct.
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