7th Grade Narration and Point of View

by Lacy McAllister

2

Narration

When reading literature, every story has a narrator. A narrator is the speaker who tells the story to the reader.

3

Point of View

Includes the perspective- or mental view- that the author attempts to communicate to the reader. The narrator's or speaker's point of view influences how events in a story are described. Pay attention to the perspectives of different characters. Do you view the same event in different ways? For example, compare the next two characters' perspectives

4

Rita:

"The ballet was simply exquiste! The ballerinas glided and leaped across the stage without a single false step. I was breathless just watching. My boyfriend, Dexter, obviously enjoyed it, too. He sat completely still through the entire performance. I can't wait for us to go again!"

Dexter:

"I can't believe Rita dragged me to this dumb ballet. I suggested a hockey game, but she said we needed more culture. Whatever! When the curtain lifted and those silly dancers in tights started bouncing around, I slid down in my seat a little. Maybe if I stayed completely still, Rita wouldn''t realize I was napping."

5

As you can see, Rita and Dexter have very different points of view about the same subject. Notice how the author develops the characters' points of view using their behavior, speech, and the observations of other characters. For example, Rita sees Dexter sitting still and assumes he's watching the ballet attentively. But Dexter reveals that he is actually napping.

6

Multiple Choice

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so very gradually, I made up my mind to take the life of the old man and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

You fancy me mad. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what caution I went to work! Who is the narrator of this passage?

1

A character in the story

2

An old man

3

A vulture

4

A narrator not in the story

7

Multiple Choice

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so very gradually, I made up my mind to take the life of the old man and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

You fancy me mad. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what caution I went to work! If this passage used third-person point of view, the reader would most likely

1

also want to harm the old man

2

feel too much fear to continue reading

3

not have insight into the speaker's motives

4

have no way of knowing about the old man's eye

8

Multiple Choice

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so very gradually, I made up my mind to take the life of the old man and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

You fancy me mad. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what caution I went to work! How would this passage most likely change if narrated from the old man's point of view?

1

The narrator might wonder why his friend was being so nice lately.

2

The eye would not bother the old man's friend anymore.

3

The old man would be able to use his evil eye to defeat the other character.

4

There would be nothing unusual about the old man's eyes.

9

Multiple Choice

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture- a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so very gradually, I made up my mind to take the life of the old man and thus rid myself of the eye forever.

You fancy me mad. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded- with what caution I went to work! To whom is the narrator speaking when using the word 'you'?

1

the old man

2

himself

3

a third person in the story

4

the reader

10

Multiple Choice

What Diantha Did

Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1860-1935) wrote this book in 1909. She was well-known American feminist, sociologist. novelist, and a lecturer for social reform. Gilman became a spokesperson on topics such as women's perspectives on work and family. She argued that housework should be equally shared by men and women, and at an early age, girls should be encouraged to be independent. Gilman believed the domestic environment (cooking, cleaning, and raising children) oppressed women through male dominated beliefs (women belonged in the home) upheld bu society in the early 1900s.

1. In the dead quiet of the afternoon Diantha and her mother sat there sewing.

2. To the older woman rocking in her small splint chair by the rose-draped window, her thoughts dwelling on long dark green grass, the shade of elms, and cows knee-deep in river-shallows, this was California- hot, arid, tedious in endless sunlight- a place of exile.

3. To the younger, the long seam of the turned sheet pinned tightly to her knee, her needle flying firmly and steadily, and her thoughts full of pouring moonlight through acacia boughs and Ross's murmured words, it was California-rich, warm, full of sweet bloom and fruit, of boundless vitality, promise, and power-home!

4. Mrs. Bell drew a long weary sigh, and laid down her work for a moment.

5. "Why don't you stop it Mother dear? There's surely no hurry about these things."

6. "No- not particularly," her mother answered, "but there's plenty else to do."

7. "What kind of work do you like best- really?" her daughter inquired suddenly, after a silent moment or two.

8. "Why- I don't know," said her mother. "I never thought of it. I never tried any but teaching. I didn't like that."

9. "And what part of housework do you like best?" the girl persisted.

10. Mrs. Bell smiled again, wanly. "Seems to me sometimes as if I couldn't tell sometimes what part I like least!" she answered.

11. "But, Mother, there is one part you like- keeping accounts! I never saw anything like the way you manage the money, and I believe you've got every bill since you were married."

12. "Yes, I do love accounts," Mrs. Bell admitted. "And I can keep run of things. I've often thought your Father'd have done better if he'd let me run that end of his business."

13. Diantha gave a fierce little laugh. She admired her father in some ways, enjoyed him in some ways, loved him as a child does if not ill-treated; but she loved her mother wit ha sort of passionate pity mixed with pride; feeling always nobler power in her than had ever had a fair chance to grow. It seemed to her a dull tragedy; this graceful, eager, black-eyed woman, spending what to the girl was literally a lifetime, in the conscientious performance of duties she did not love. Part A: What is the mother's point of bire about doing housework?

1

She likes all housework except sewing.

2

She enjoys everything about doing housework.

3

She doesn't like doing any kind of housework.

4

She only likes sewing.

11