Read the excerpt from Flannery O’Connor’s “The Life You Save May Be Your Own.”

The daughter could not see far in front of her and continued to play with her fingers. Although the old woman lived in this desolate spot with only her daughter and she had never seen Mr. Shiftlet before, she could tell, even from a distance, that he was a tramp and no one to be afraid of. His left coat sleeve was folded up to show there was only half an arm in it and his gaunt figure listed slightly to the side as if the breeze were pushing him. He had on a black town suit and a brown felt hat that was turned up in the front and down in the back and he carried a tin tool box by a handle. He came on, at an amble, up her road, his face turned toward the sun which appeared to be balancing itself on the peak of a small mountain. What technique does O’Connor use in the paragraph to create compelling characters?

A) detailed descriptions
B) vivid dialogue
C) multiple settings
D) believable motivations

A. Detailed descriptions.

Explanation:

Flannery O'Connor from his book "The Life You Save May Be Your Own" described in great detail Mr Shiftleft as seen by the old woman.

From the old woman's observations, she could find out some things about Mr Shiftleft just from looking at his appearance, mannerisms, gait, etc. The old woman could tell he "was a tramp and no one to be afraid of" beecause of the way he wore his coat because of the way he wore his coat. She described it as him folding his left coat sleeve that showed just an arm and his gait in such a manner as if the breeze were pushing him.

The old woman went further to describe Mr Shiftleft in very great details by explaining and narrating the color of his clothes, carrying a toolbox, with his face against the sun.

From the passage it is immediately clear that the author used detailed descriptions to narrate in great detail both the mannerisms of Mr Shiftleft, his mode of dressing, his way of standing and walking, etc.

as for symbolic actions, the narrator's tearing down the wallpaper in an attempt to find the "woman" in the wallpaper represents her struggle to retain or regain her sanity.   the wallpaper has been part of her confinement and by her tearing it down, she is freeing herself from that confinement.