Menelaus wants to live in peace but Odysseus yearns for glory. I believe this is the answer but if not I am super sorry!!
Direct characterization is when the author specifically tells the reader the traits of a character. In this excerpt, Dickens tells you that the woman is elderly, wise, experienced and knows what is "good for children". If Dickens had used indirect characterization, he would have need to shown her wisdom and experience by including specific examples. The reader would then be lead to develop his own conclusion about the whether or not the woman was wise and experienced.
It is an example of, theme. Theme would tell you how the mood is set. <em />It's not symbolism, because there was no object to describe that moment, or any past moment. Hope this helps!
