Discovering Stories: Understanding Literary Texts
Discovering Stories: Understanding Literary Texts
Understand what point of view is in a story.
Identify the difference between first-person, second-person, and third-person point of view.
Recognize clue words that tell us who is telling the story.
Figure out the narrator's point of view in different story examples.
Imagine you are telling your best friend about your amazing birthday party yesterday. What words would you use to describe what happened? Would you say "I had so much fun!" or "You had so much fun!"? Think about how you would tell the story from your own eyes.
Every story has a narrator, the person or character who tells us what is happening. The narrator's "point of view" is like their special window into the story. It tells us who is telling the story and how they see things. There are three main types of point of view:
First Person: This is when the narrator is a character in the story. They are telling the story using words like "I," "me," "my," "we," and "us." It's like they are talking directly to you about their own experiences.
Example: "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the giant cake! My mom had baked it just for me."
Think of it like: You telling your friend about your day.
Second Person: This is less common in stories, but it's when the narrator speaks directly to the reader, using words like "you" and "your." It makes the reader feel like they are part of the story or are being given instructions.
Example: "First, you need to gather all your ingredients. Your next step is to mix the flour and sugar."
Think of it like: A recipe or a "choose your own adventure" book.
Third Person: This is when the narrator is outside the story, like a movie camera watching everything happen. They tell the story using words like "he," "she," "it," "they," "him," "her," and "them."
Third Person - Limited: The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
Example: "She walked into the room, wondering if he would be there. Her heart pounded with every step." (We only know what she is thinking and feeling).
Third Person - Omniscient (All-Knowing): The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters. They can jump from one character's mind to another.
Example: "He felt nervous about the test, but she was confident she would pass. They both hoped for the best." (We know what both he and she are thinking).
Think of it like: A storyteller telling you about other people.
Let's read some sentences and figure out the point of view. Look for those clue words!
"The dog wagged its tail happily as I threw the ball."
What clue word do you see? (Answer: "I")
What point of view is this? (Answer: First Person)
"You should always look both ways before crossing the street."
What clue word do you see? (Answer: "You")
What point of view is this? (Answer: Second Person)
"Maria packed her lunch, while her brother, Juan, grabbed his backpack."
What clue words do you see? (Answer: "her")
What point of view is this? (Answer: Third Person)
"He couldn't wait to see the new movie. His friends had told him it was amazing."
What clue words do you see? (Answer: "He," "His," "him")
What point of view is this? (Answer: Third Person)
I will give you short story excerpts. Your job is to be a detective and figure out the point of view. Write down the clue words you find and then tell me if it's First Person, Second Person, or Third Person.
Excerpt 1: "The wind howled through the trees as I huddled deeper into my blanket. I wished I were home."
Clue Words:
Point of View:
Excerpt 2: "Sarah skipped down the path, humming a happy tune. She saw a bright red bird in the tree and smiled."
Clue Words:
Point of View:
Excerpt 3: "To make the best cookies, you will need flour, sugar, and eggs. Your first step is to preheat the oven."
Clue Words:
Point of View:
Excerpt 4: "David felt a little scared, but he knew he had to be brave. His sister, Emily, watched him from the doorway, her eyes wide."
Clue Words:
Point of View:
(Answers: Excerpt 1: Clue Words: I, my. Point of View: First Person. Excerpt 2: Clue Words: She, her. Point of View: Third Person. Excerpt 3: Clue Words: you, Your. Point of View: Second Person. Excerpt 4: Clue Words: He, him, His. Point of View: Third Person.)
Read the following short stories. For each one, identify the point of view (First, Second, or Third Person) and list at least two clue words that helped you decide.
Story A: "The old house stood on a hill overlooking the town. It had been empty for years. Many people said it was haunted. I always felt a shiver when I walked past it on my way to school."
Point of View:
Clue Words:
Story B: "Maria loved to read. She spent hours in the library, lost in adventure stories. Her favorite book was about a brave knight who fought a dragon. She often imagined herself as the knight."
Point of View:
Clue Words:
Story C: "First, find a comfortable spot. Take a deep breath and close your eyes. Imagine you are floating on a soft cloud. Feel the gentle breeze. You are completely relaxed."
Point of View:
Clue Words:
Think about a time you told a friend or family member about something exciting that happened to you. Did you use words like "I," "me," or "my"? That's because you were telling the story from the first-person point of view!
Now, imagine you are writing instructions for a younger sibling on how to play your favorite game. You would probably use the word "you," right? That's like using the second-person point of view.
When we watch movies or read most books, the camera or the narrator is telling us about other people using "he," "she," or "they." That's third-person point of view.
Think about the clue words we talked about: "I," "me," "my," "you," "your," "he," "she," "they."
Which point of view do you think is the easiest to spot? Why?
Which point of view do you like reading or hearing the most? Why?
Today, we learned that point of view tells us who is telling the story.
First Person: Uses "I," "me," "my." The narrator is in the story.
Second Person: Uses "you," "your." The narrator speaks to the reader.
Third Person: Uses "he," "she," "they." The narrator is outside the story.
By looking for these clue words, you can become a super Point of View detective!
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