Perspectives in "The Giver" and Point of View in Literature

1. DO NOW Monday: The Giver is able to transmit memories to Jonas. When he does this, he loses or forgets the memory. If you could forget a memory, what would it be and why? Tuesday: Jonas’s mother makes the comment, “the word love is so meaningless that it’s become obsolete.” Why do you think that “love” has become obsolete in this community? How would this emotion affect the community? Wednesday: Jonas’s community focuses on the idea of “sameness,” yet they don’t believe that there should be two identical people (twins) in the community. What might be the community’s reasons for thinking this way? Thursday: Jonas realizes that nothing in his community can be changed. Neither he nor The Giver has that power. Think about how change is a part of your life. Share with a partner about what life with no change might be like. Why is change important?

2. Point of View

3. Point of View • point of view – refers to who is telling the story • Determined by the narrator, NOT DIALOGUE DIALOGUE & NARRATION • Dialogue = when characters speak. • Narration = when the narrator speaks. EXAMPLE: • “Quotation marks” separate narration from dialogue. Example “Help” my cousin Jack said. 1 1 2

4. 3 Main Types of Point of View • 1. First Person • 2. Second Person • 3. Third Person • Third Person Omniscient • Third Person Limited

5. 1. First Person first person – narrator is a character in the story • recognize this is the use of the pronouns: I, me, my, mine, we, us, ours, • Personal story, autobiography

6. 2. Second Person • Second person - Usually used for instructions • Uses “You” or “your” Example: First, gather your materials. Add 1 cup sugar to flour.

7. 3. Third Person (a) third person limited – narrator only knows thoughts and feelings of one character (b) third person omniscient - the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of ALL characters • Omni = “all” • “Scient” = knowing • Uses the pronouns: • he, she, her, they, them, and character's names

8. EXAMPLE A • Mr. Johnson looked at Charles sternly. He simply didn’t know what to do with this boy. Charles had been in Mr. Johnson’s office twice earlier this week. Now here he was again, and this time he was charged with something much more serious. Mr. Johnson shook his head. There really was no doubt in his mind. Charles was guilty. He looked at the police officer standing next to Charles. No question whatsoever--Charles had done it.

9. Which point of view? • Excerpt A was Third Person Limited. • The author, not a character, is telling the story. • We can see only what Mr. Johnson is thinking. • We know what Mr. Johnson thinks, but we do not know what the officer or Charles thinks. • We also do not know whether or not Charles is really guilty. • Key words: he, his

10. Example B • I can’t believe what is happening to me. I know that I’ll never convince Mr. Johnson and the cop that I had nothing to do with this. Man! I didn’t do it. Why won’t anyone believe me? I’ve been in trouble before, but I’ve never done anything like this! I’ve got to convince them, or I might as well kiss my life good-bye.

11. Which point of view? Excerpt B - First Person Point of View. • Charles, a character in the story, is telling us what happened to him. • We know that Charles is innocent. • Key Words: I, me

12. Example C • Officer Wiley looked at Charles and scratched his head. All the evidence pointed to Charles’s guilt, but the officer just couldn’t be sure. Mr. Johnson, on the other hand, knew that Charles was guilty as sin. His numerous brushes with authority in the past left no question in his mind at all. Charles hung his head, knowing that this time he would not be able to talk his way out of trouble.

13. Which point of view? Excerpt C - Third Person Omniscient • The author is telling the story, but we can see what Officer Wiley, Charles, and Mr. Johnson are thinking. • We know that Mr. Johnson believes Charles is guilty, but Officer Wiley has doubts. We still are not sure whether or not Charles is guilty.

14. EXAMPLE D To make lemonade, you add the juice of lemons to water and sugar. Then you mix it.

15. Which point of view? • Excerpt D is an example of Second Person Point of View • The narrator is speaking directly to “you.” • The reader may be confused and believe the narrator is talking to them.