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GOAL #1: I can explain the difference between character, author, narrator, and dialogue.

GOAL #2: I know what point of view means.

GOAL #3: I can define the different types of point of view: 1st person, 2nd person, 3rd person limited and 3rd person omniscient.

RL. 6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

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How do you identify the narrator? The narrator is who is telling a story.

My father was a St. Bernard and my mother was a collie. This is what my mother told me. When I was well grown, I was sold and taken away, and I never saw my mother again. We said our farewells, and looked our last upon each other through our tears.

Who is telling the story?

The

NARRATOR

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In this lesson you will learn how to identify the narrator, characters, and the author.

You will also learn the different types of point of view!

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Narrator

A narrator is the person who is telling you the story.

“It was one of those super duper cold Saturdays...”

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Character

A character is a person, animal, or object that an author uses in telling a story. Characters can be real or made up.

Can the narrator be a Character in a story?

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Author An author is the person who wrote the story.

QUESTION:

Can the author and the narrator be the same person?

Christopher Paul Curtis

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Dialogue

A conversation between two or more people. Dialogue is put inside quotations.

QUESTION:

When you are trying to decide on the point of view of a story, should you look in the dialogue?

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Point of View

Point of view refers to the way a story is told, the perspective or angle of vision, or the position from which the events are narrated for the reader. 

Point of View

Point of view

Sometimes the author "tells" the story; sometimes one of the characters does so. Sometimes this narrator knows all about everything; sometimes the narrator is limited in her or his knowledge and outlook.

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2nd Person

Second-person point of view uses the pronouns "you, your." Second person is a good choice when giving directions or anytime you're speaking directly to someone. 

example:

You should really come and join the group because you would probably like it a lot.

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Third-person point of view uses "he," "she," or "they." Sometimes, "it" is used when talking about a thing instead of a person.

example:

     Sally rode home as fast as she could. Then she jumped off her bike and ran into the house to see what was going on.

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Third-Person Limited

In third-person limited point of view, the narrator is a non-participant but only knows the thoughts and feelings of a single character. In other words, the narrator's knowledge of the situation is limited only to one character.

example:

     Marco felt like he had done something good for the community. He felt like a helper and wanted to do more good things to assist those in need. But how did everybody else feel? How did Hannah and Zach feel about their work? He would have to talk to them to find out.

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Third-Person Omniscient

In the third-person omniscient point of view, the writer is a non-participant but is able to see into and have unlimited knowledge about any or all of the characters. From this angle, the author can roam anywhere, see anything, and comment on or interpret events at will.

example:

     Marco felt like he had done something good for the community. He felt like a helper and wanted to do more good things to assist those in need. Marco wouldn't know it until he talked to them, but Hannah and Zach felt the same way, too. Hannah had not been able to sleep. She was excited at the thought of expanding their project. She was sure they could provide even more toys for the children next year! Zach was already planning ways to raise more money and get more people involved. He had even had a dream about how to do it!

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1st Person:

First-person point of view uses "I" or "we." First person is often used when someone is stating an opinion or sharing a feeling.

example:

I like my freshly-painted bedroom so much that I want to jump for joy!

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1st Person:

The main character will use “I” or “me” to tell you his or her story

When I arrived at school, I went straight down to the cafeteria to say hello to all of my friends. I knew they would be waiting to hear my story about what happened yesterday after school.

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3rd Person:

A narrator will tell the story using “he” or “she” to refer to the main character

Tom walked straight down to the cafeteria as soon as he got to school. He was excited to share with his friends how he scored the winning goal in the soccer game last night.

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Pause after beginning a new passage or story.

This helps you determine the narrator- who is telling the story!

My father was a St. Bernard and my mother was a collie. This is what my mother told me. When I was well grown, I was sold and taken away, and I never saw my mother again. We said our farewells, and looked our last upon each other through our tears. The last thing she said—keeping it for the last to make me remember it the better, my mother said, "In memory of me, when there is a time of danger to another, do not think of yourself. Think of your mother. Do as she would do."

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Core Lesson

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My father was a St. Bernard and my mother was a collie. This is what my mother told me. When I was well grown, I was sold and taken away, and I never saw my mother again. We said our farewells, and looked our last upon each other through our tears. The last thing she said—keeping it for the last to make me remember it the better, I think—was, "In memory of me, when there is a time of danger to another, do not think of yourself. Think of your mother. Do as she would do."

Who is the narrator?

Who are the characters?

What is the dialogue?

What point of view is this story told from?

What pronouns are used in this story? (Pronouns help us decide the point of view!)

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Core Lesson

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My father was a St. Bernard and my mother was a collie. This is what my mother told me. When I was well grown, I was sold and taken away, and I never saw my mother again. We said our farewells, and looked our last upon each other through our tears. The last thing she said—keeping it for the last to make me remember it the better, I think—was, "In memory of me, when there is a time of danger to another, do not think of yourself. Think of your mother. Do as she would do."

Who is telling the story? How do I know?

  • 1st person
  • A dog is telling the story!
  • Characters: the dog’s mom and dad.

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Core Lesson

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My father was a St. Bernard and my mother was a collie. This is what my mother told me. When I was well grown, I was sold and taken away, and I never saw my mother again. We said our farewells, and looked our last upon each other through our tears. The last thing she said—keeping it for the last to make me remember it the better, I think—was, "In memory of me, when there is a time of danger to another, do not think of yourself. Think of your mother. Do as she would do."

Who is telling the story? How do I know?

  • A dog is telling the story
  • I know this because the dog has a St. Bernard for a father, and a collie for a mother
  • The dog also tells us about being sold

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Core Lesson

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Pause after beginning a passage

1

2

Ask: “Who is telling the story?” to determine the NARRATOR!

3

Ask: “How do I know?” Look for evidence!

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Core Lesson

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In this lesson you have learned the difference between characters, the author, and the narrator.

You have also learned how to determine 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person limited and omniscient point of view!

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How does a person who began in humble circumstances become a legend? Along the rim of the Polar Sea, Keesh lived and died. From father to son, from brother to sister, from summer when the sun does not set, until winter when the sun does not shine, Keesh’s story is still told over and over again.

When Keesh’s father was killed while hunting to save the village from starvation, the villagers soon forgot him. They neglected Keesh and his widowed mother, Ikeega, who shared a small igloo together. This all changed when Keesh turned thirteen.

Who is the Narrator-this is a TRICKY question?

What is the point of view?

How do you know?

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Guided Practice

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Who is the narrator?

How do you know?

Who are the characters?

Is there any dialogue?

What point of view is this story told from?

How do you know?

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Guided Practice

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Identify the point of view of these books:

AND PROVE IT!!!

1) The Watsons Go to Birmingham

2) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

3) Mokee Joe

ANSWERS!

1) First Person

2) 3rd Person Omniscient

3) 3rd person limited

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Extension Activities

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GOAL:

Identify the point of view of these books:

AND PROVE IT!!!

1) The Watsons Go to Birmingham

2) The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

CHALLENGE:

1. Find the point of view for each of these in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:

PREFACE:

Chapter 12:

Conclusion:

Some Things To Do...

St. Petersburg Glossary...

ANSWERS!

1) First Person

2) 3rd Person Omniscient

3) 3rd person limited

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Extension Activities

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Read the first three paragraphs of “My Early Home” from the book “Black Beauty” and try to identify the following:

the narrator, characters, dialogue? , and the point of view.

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Quick Quiz

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The first place that I can well remember was a large pleasant meadow with a pond of clear water in it. Some shady trees leaned over it, and rushes and water-lilies grew at the deep end. Over the hedge on one side we looked into a plowed field, and on the other we looked over a gate at our master's house, which stood by the roadside; at the top of the meadow was a grove of fir trees, and at the bottom a running brook overhung by a steep bank.

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Quick Quiz

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  While I was young I lived upon my mother's milk, as I could not eat grass. In the daytime I ran by her side, and at night I lay down close by her. When it was hot we used to stand by the pond in the shade of the trees, and when it was cold we had a nice warm shed near the grove.

 

As soon as I was old enough to eat grass my mother used to go out to work in the daytime, and come back in the evening.

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Quick Quiz