Who is the narrator? Author’s Point of View

Dialogue and Narration Dialogue = when characters speak. Narration = when the narrator speaks. “Quotation marks” separate narration from dialogue. Example “I hate you,” she mouths silently. (p 5) 1 2

First-Person Narrator is a character within the story. Often uses I, me, my, mine, we, us, ours. Example My room belongs to an alien. It is a postcard of who I was in firth grade. –p 15

Second-Person Usually for instructions Uses “You”; from “your” perspective. Examples You should always do the homework assigned to you because teachers assign you homework for a reason.

Third-Person Narrator usually isn’t involved. Tells other's stories. Lots of “He,” “She,” & character names. Three Types of Third-Person Narration Does the narrator tell… Thoughts and Feelings of Characters?

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

Third-Person Omniscient Narrator is all knowing. Narrator tells thoughts and feelings of more than one character. Omni = AllScient = Knowing Example Mr. Freeman, Melinda’s Art teacher, believes that art is like breathing. Most of the students enjoy his class because he is so enthusiastic and inspiration, but Melinda is a bit skeptical.

Third-Person Limited Narrator is limited to one character. Tells thoughts & feelings of one character [Think: Limited to ONE] Example Heather is a new student at the high school. She befriends Melinda because neither one of them have friends. Unfortunately, Heather faces pain in her mouth from her braces.

Third-Person Objective Narrator does not reveal any character’s thoughts or feelings. Only character’s dialogue and actions are narrated. Example Nicole used to be in Melinda’s, “old clan.” During PE class, Nicole almost said something to Melinda, but instead looked down and retied her Nikes.

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.

1 My English teacher has no face. She has uncombed stringy hair that droops on her shoulders. The hair is black from her part to her ears and then neon orange to the frizzy ends. I can’t decide if she had pissed off her hairdresser or is morphing into a monarch butterfly. I call her Hairwoman. –pg 6

2 Melinda’s mother enjoys doing the things that other people are afraid of. She loves and cares for her daughter unconditionally, however, they do not have a close relationship. The mother thinks that communicating through post its on the refrigerator is acceptable.

3 The way to be successful in whatever you may do is by giving your all. Despite how hard a situation may be, if you give your all, you will get something out of it.

4 Rachel Bruin and Melinda were best friends until the unexpected happened. Melinda feels lonely because she is an outcast, but Rachel does not care. Rachel thinks that it is Melinda’s own fault that she has no friends. If the teachers found out what was going on, they would probably do something about this.

5 Mr. Neck, the social studies teacher, constantly picks on Melinda. He says to her, “I got my eye on you. Front row.”