Teaching Literary Elements Character The Literary Maven Methods of Characterization in Literature Characterization in literature is the process authors use to develop characters and createThe representation of persons in narrative and dramatic works This may include direct methods like the attribution of qualities in description or commentary, and indirect (or 'dramatic') methods inviting readers to infer qualities from characters' actions, speech, or appearance Since E M Forster's Aspects of the Novel (1927) a distinction has often been made between 'flat' and Characterization literary term definition