This is a straightforward way to tell the reader about a character's personality, values, or other qualities. The narrator might say things like:
* "She was a kind and compassionate woman."
* "He was a stubborn and opinionated man."
* "The young girl was shy and introverted."
Direct characterization can be effective, but it can also feel too obvious or heavy-handed.
Contrast this with indirect characterization, where the reader learns about a character through:
* Their actions: How a character behaves in different situations.
* Their speech: The way they talk, their word choices, their tone of voice.
* Their thoughts: What they think and feel, their inner monologue.
* Their appearance: Physical characteristics that might reveal something about their personality.
Indirect characterization is more subtle and allows the reader to draw their own conclusions about a character.