Greg thought he heard the noise again. His stomach tightened as he held himself still and listened intently. There weren't any more scraping noises, but he was sure he had heard something in the darkness – something breathing!
—“The Treasure of Lemon Brown,”
Walter Dean Myers
Which detail from the passage helps readers understand that Greg is feeling scared in this moment?
What kind of characterization is this?
The detail from the passage that helps readers understand that Greg is feeling scared in this moment is "His stomach tightened as he held himself still and listened intently." This detail reveals that Greg's physical reaction to the noise is a tightening of his stomach, which is often a physical response to fear or anxiety.
This detail is an example of indirect characterization, as it provides insight into Greg's feelings and emotions without explicitly stating them.