Question

Read the excerpt from a student’s essay. From the beginning, Rainsford is an individual who enjoys the hunt and wastes no thought on the animals he kills. On the boat, Whitney expresses some empathy for the animals they hunt, while Rainsford scoffs at the notion that animals feel fear or any other emotion. In fact, Rainsford belittles Whitney, telling him that "[t]he world is made up of two classes—the hunters and the huntees. Luckily, you and I are the hunters.” Which revision of the first sentence most effectively incorporates the literary term characterized? At the beginning of the story, Rainsford characterized himself as a man who enjoys the hunt. From the onset of the story, Rainsford is characterized as an experienced hunter who feels no remorse. From the first scene, Rainsford is trying to be characterized as a good hunter with much experience. Immediately, Rainsford has characterized himself as a very strong hunter without a conscience.

Answer 1

From the onset of the story, Rainsford is characterized as an experienced hunter who feels no remorse.

The difference between all the other choices and this one is that in the other options Rainsford is doing the characterizing. A character cannot characterize himself. The author is the one who is doing the characterization of his/her characters. The definition of characterization is the way the author presents the characters to the reader through their actions, thoughts, looks, speech and/or effects on others.