Narrative Perspective Author’s Point of View

Perspective What does the word perspective mean? Viewpoint Outlook Opinion Thought

Think-Pair-Share Think-- of the last movie you watched. Think-- What is your opinion of that movie? Pair– with the person next to you. Share– give your partner a chance to share their opinion of a movie. Share—your opinion of the movie you watched.

Your response Your response might have sounded like this… “I thought the movie was funny.” “I thought the movie stunk!” “I thought the movie was for babies!” This is called “First-Person” perspective

Think-Pair-Share Think-- of the movie your partner just shared. Think-- What was their opinion of that movie? Pair– with that same person as before. Share– repeat your partner’s opinion back to them. Share—Allow your partner to do the same.

Response Your response might have sounded like this… “You thought the movie was funny.” “You thought the movie stunk!” “You thought the movie was too violent!” This is called “Second-Person” perspective.

Think-Pair-Share—Last one! Think-- of the movie your partner just shared. Think-- What was their opinion of that movie? Pair– with SOMEONE DIFFERENT from before. Share– repeat your previous partner’s opinion back to your new partner. Share—Allow your partner to do the same.

Response Your response might have sounded like this… “Marcus thought the movie was funny.” “Tre’Shauna thought the movie stunk!” “He thought the movie was too violent!” This is called “Third-Person” perspective.

Now let’s look at the ingredients for perspective or “point of view.”

Dialogue and Narration Dialogue = when characters speak. Narration = when the narrator speaks. “Quotation marks” separate narration from dialogue. Example “Help,” my cousin Jack said. 1 2

Identifying Narrative Perspective aka point of view It's about the narrator (who tells the story) We're not looking at dialogue. We don't care what characters say. Only the narrator's voice matters when we are looking for perspective or point of view.

Pronoun Case First-PersonI, me, my, mine, we, us, ours, Second-Personyou, your Third-Personhe, she, her, they, them (also character's names) We are trying to figure out the narrator's view point on the story. Perspectives and Signal Words

Examples I am in the room. I = 1 st Person You came into the room. You = 2 nd Person Then he or she came in the room. He or She = 3 rd Person

First-Person Narrator is a part of the story (character). Often uses I or we. Example I went home. Tim came over. I couldn't play. Notice that “I” is being used as well as a second- person pronoun, “Tim.” Focus on WHO is telling the story.

Second-Person Usually for instructions Uses “You”; from “your” perspective. Examples First, gather your materials. Add 1 cup sugar to flour.

Third-Person Narrator usually isn’t involved. Tells others’ stories. Lots of “He,” “She,” & character names.

Third-Person Omniscient Narrator is all knowing. Narrator tells thoughts and feelings of more than one character. Omni = AllScient = Knowing Example Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay knew Tim would be mad, but she wanted to live her life.

Third-Person Limited Narrator is limited to one character. Tells thoughts & feelings of one character Example Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay just left without saying anything. She left a note and then left him.

Third-Person Objective Narrator does not reveal any character’s thoughts or feelings. Only character’s dialogue and actions are narrated. Example Tim slammed the door. He walked upstairs & read a note from Shay. He kicked her trash can & started crying.

Tips on Identifying Check 1st or 2nd-person before worrying about objective, limited, or omniscient. Ask, “Who’s story is the narrator telling: his, mine, or someone else’s?” Focus on narration not dialogue.

Practice 1. Number your answers Read the following passages. 3. Determine the narrator’s perspective. 4. Write down your answer.

1 When I was four months old, my mother died suddenly, and my father was left to look after me all by himself… I had no brothers or sisters. So through boyhood, from the age of four months onward, there was just us two, my father and me. We lived in an old gypsy caravan behind a filling station.

What do you think? Use the clues! Whose story is being told? –His, mine, or someone else’s? What pronoun(s) were used? –I, you, or he/she? If you guessed… First-person, YOU ARE CORRECT! The narrator uses the first-person pronoun “I.” The narrator explains his/her own thoughts and feelings.

2 The huge man dropped his blankets and flung himself down and drank from the surface of the green pool. The small man stepped behind him. "Lennie!" he said sharply. "Lennie, for God’s sake don’t drink so much." Lennie continued to snort into the pool. The small man leaned over and shook him by the shoulder. "Lennie you gonna be sick like you was last night." Lennie dipped his whole head under, hat and all… "Tha’s good," he said. "You drink some, George." He smiled happily

What do you think? Use the clues! Whose story is being told? –His, mine, or someone else’s? What pronoun(s) were used? –I, you, or he/she? What does the author know? –Only what is happening? One character’s thoughts and feelings? All characters’ thoughts and feelings? If you guessed… Third-person objective, YOU ARE CORRECT! The narrator uses third-person pronouns such as “he.” The narrator doesn’t reveal anyone’s thoughts or feelings, only what action is taking place.

3 Foresight in Relationships The previous night, make your plans for the next day and write them down… If you attend an exclusive Samurai’s party and feel timid, you cannot do your part in making it a successful party. You had first better prepare by convincing yourself that you will have a grand time. And you should feel grateful for the invitation.

What do you think? Use the clues! Whose story is being told? –His, mine, or someone else’s? What pronoun(s) were used? –I, you, or he/she? If you guessed… Second-Person, YOU ARE CORRECT! The narrator uses the second-person pronoun “you.” The narrator uses a tone that sounds like instructions.

4 Harold Davis took a deep breath and slowly started to peel the gauze from the wound on his grandmother’s leg. “Hold on, Grandma. I’m almost done,” He said quietly. “Don’t worry, baby. It doesn’t hurt too much,” she quietly replied. “Just take your time.” Harold glanced up at his grandmother lying on the couch. He could tell she was in pain from the way she gripped the cushions, but still she managed to smile back at him.

What do you think? Use the clues! Whose story is being told? –His, mine, or someone else’s? What pronoun(s) were used? –I, you, or he/she? What does the author know? –Only what is happening? One character’s thoughts and feelings? All characters’ thoughts and feelings? If you guessed… -Third-Person Limited, YOU ARE CORRECT! -All action is narrated, but also the feelings and thoughts of Harold.

5 They were standing under a tree, each with an arm round the other's neck, and Alice knew which was which in a moment, because one of them had "DUM" embroidered on his collar, and the other "DEE." "I suppose they've each got ‘TWEEDLE’ around at the back of the collar," she said to herself. They stood so still that she quite forgot they were alive, and she was just looking around to see if the word "TWEEDLE" was written at the back of each collar, when she was startled by a voice coming from the one marked "DUM."

What do you think? Use the clues! Whose story is being told? –His, mine, or someone else’s? What pronoun(s) were used? –I, you, or he/she? What does the author know? –Only what is happening? One character’s thoughts and feelings? All characters’ thoughts and feelings? If you guessed… -Third-Person Limited, YOU ARE CORRECT! -All action is narrated, but also the feelings and thoughts of Alice.

Answers 1.First-Person 2.Third-Person Objective 3.Second-Person 4.Third-Person Limited 5.Third-Person Limited