Indirect Characterization
"Rainsford sprang up and moved quickly to the rail." "When he opened his eyes he knew from the position of the sun that it was late in the afternoon." "He examined the ground closely and found what he had hoped to find--the print of hunting boots."
For all of the sentences above, Rainsford can be defined as nimble (quick), intelligent, and knowledgeable. His quick movement to the rail illustrates his nimbleness, while his knowledge of the position of the sun illustrates his intelligence. His expectations that he will find bootprints show his knowledge about hunting or tracking.
Direct Characterization
"The first thing Rainsford's eyes discerned was the largest man Rainsford had ever seen--a gigantic creature, solidly made and black bearded to the waist." "Ivan is an incredibly strong fellow," remarked the general, "but he has the misfortune to be deaf and dumb. A simple fellow, but, I'm afraid, like all his race, a bit of a savage."
Here, the reader has no question about Ivan. He is a huge, muscular man with a very long black beard. Zaroff openly describes him as strong, deaf (unable to hear), and dumb (mute--unable to speak).
