Blossoms of Wisdom


In a quaint little village nestled among rolling hills, there lived an elderly woman named Mrs. Smith. With her stooped frame and silver hair, she appeared fragile, but her eyes held a spark of wisdom and determination that belied her age. Every morning, she could be found tending to her lush garden, nurturing vibrant blooms that mirrored her own vitality.



One day, as young Tommy wandered past her garden, he accidentally trampled a bed of delicate tulips. Tears welled up in his eyes as he awaited Mrs. Smith's reaction. Instead of scolding him, she knelt beside him and whispered stories of how she, too, had once been a curious child. Her compassionate nature and willingness to share her life experiences left a lasting impression on Tommy, forever associating Mrs. Smith with kindness and resilience.

Highlight the adjectives and nouns that directly characterise Mrs Smith



How does the author indirectly characterise Mrs Smith through showing, not telling (descriptions of appearance/actions/behaviour)?




How does the author's use of characterisation make an entertaining short story?

Adjectives: elderly, fragile, vibrant, curious, compassionate, kind, resilient

Nouns: woman, frame, hair, eyes, wisdom, determination, garden, blooms, tulips, nature, stories, impression

The author indirectly characterizes Mrs. Smith through descriptions of her appearance and actions. Her stooped frame and silver hair show her age, while her eyes hold a spark of wisdom and determination. The fact that she tends to her lush garden and nurtures vibrant blooms mirrors her own vitality. Additionally, her compassionate nature is shown through her reaction to Tommy trampling her tulips, as she chooses to comfort him with stories rather than scolding him.

The author's use of characterization makes the story entertaining by creating a relatable and endearing character in Mrs. Smith. Readers can easily imagine her as a kind and resilient elderly woman, and her actions and words evoke empathy and admiration. This adds depth and interest to the story, as readers become invested in Mrs. Smith's interactions with Tommy and appreciate the life lessons she imparts.

The adjectives that directly characterize Mrs. Smith are: elderly, stooped, silver-haired, fragile, wise, determined, vibrant.

The nouns that directly characterize Mrs. Smith are: woman, eyes, spark, vitality.

The author indirectly characterizes Mrs. Smith through showing her actions and behavior. By tending to her garden every morning, nurturing vibrant blooms, and sharing stories with young Tommy instead of scolding him, the author shows Mrs. Smith's compassionate nature, wisdom, and resilience.

The author's use of characterization makes an entertaining short story by painting a vivid picture of Mrs. Smith as a kind and resilient character. Through the indirect characterization, readers can easily connect with Mrs. Smith's personality and empathize with her. This adds depth to the story and keeps readers engaged throughout.

To identify the adjectives and nouns that directly characterize Mrs. Smith, you should look for words that describe her directly in the story. In this case, the adjectives that directly characterize Mrs. Smith are "elderly," "stooped," "fragile," and "silver-haired." The noun that directly characterizes her is "woman."

The author indirectly characterizes Mrs. Smith through showing, not telling by describing her appearance, actions, and behavior. The description of her "stooped frame and silver hair" suggests her age and physical fragility. Her eyes holding a "spark of wisdom and determination" indicates her inner strength and wisdom. The fact that she is found "tending to her lush garden" every morning portrays her nurturing and vibrant nature. Additionally, the author mentions her compassionate nature when instead of scolding Tommy for trampling her flowers, she kneels beside him and shares stories of her own childhood curiosity.

The author's use of characterization makes the short story entertaining by creating a vivid and relatable character in Mrs. Smith. Readers can easily imagine her elderly appearance, but also see her inner strength and resilience through her actions and behavior. Mrs. Smith becomes a symbol of kindness and wisdom, leaving a lasting impression not only on Tommy but also on the readers. This combination of descriptive and behavioral characterization adds depth and emotional connection to the story, making it engaging and enjoyable for the readers.