Order 1219411: Types of Narration

ENG 202: Questions about Point of View in Ursula K. Le Guin’s “The Wife’s Story” (284-287), Alice

Walker’s “Olive Oil” and Meron Hadero’s “The Suitcase” (both in folder) 7 questions: 50 points total Read everything carefully. This is designed to provide a learning experience.

Writers often use one of these three types of narration:

First-person narration uses “I” because “one character is telling the story from [his/her] point

of view.” In other words, we step into the skin of this character and move through the story

seeing everything through his/her eyes alone. To best illustrate first-person narration, choose

parts of the story that show the character revealing intimate thoughts/feelings, something we

can see only by having access to his/her heart & mind. This is a useful point of view to show a

character’s change of heart, to trick a reader, and/or to make the reader realize that s/he

understands more than the narrator does. Third-person omniscient narration: “The narrator sees into the minds of any or all of the characters, moving when necessary from one to another.” In other words, the narrator is god-like (all-knowing) with the ability to report on the thoughts of multiple characters. To best illustrate omniscient third-person narration, choose parts of the story that show characters’ private thoughts/feelings revealed only to us, not the others. This can be a very satisfying point of view because we know what is on many or all characters' minds and do not have to guess. This is a useful point of view to show how events impact characters in the story. Third-person limited narration “reduces the narrator’s scope to a single

character.” In other words, the narrator does not know all but is rather

limited to the inner thoughts of one character; however, this narrator can

also objectively report on the environment surrounding this character. To

best illustrate third-person limited, choose parts of the story that

illustrate this character’s thoughts/feelings that are only revealed to

us, not to the others; additionally, choose parts of the story that show

objective reporting of events. This is a useful point of view for stories

that highlight a dynamic between a character and the world.

Each story this week uses a different type of narration.

“The Wife’s Story” uses first-person narration: the story is told from the point of view of the

wife.

1) Quote a part of the story that proves it is written in first-person narration. To earn

full points, choose wisely. To best illustrate first-person narration, choose a part of

the story that shows the wife revealing an intimate thought/feeling, something we can

see only by having access to her heart/mind. To earn full points, achieve correct

integration, punctuation, and citation by using the format below. (8 points) Highlighting is just for lesson clarity.

Quotation Format

The wife reveals, “Quotation” (#). # = page number(s) you cite

2) Interpret the significance of using this point of view in “The Wife’s Story”: What is

achieved by telling the story from the wife’s point of view? In other words, Le Guin

purposely uses this narration to achieve a particular effect. What does putting us into

the wife’s shoes, so to speak, accomplish? (6 points)

“Olive Oil” uses third-person omniscient narration: we see into the hearts & minds of Orelia & John.

3) Quote a part of the story that proves we can see into Orelia’s heart/mind. To earn full points, choose wisely. To best illustrate omniscient third-person narration, choose a part of the story that shows Orelia’s private thought/feeling that is only revealed to us, not John. In other words, with god-like powers, the narrator allows us to see into her soul. To earn full points, achieve correct integration, punctuation, and citation by using the format below. (8 points)

Quotation Format

The narrator reveals this about Orelia’s private thoughts: “Quotation” (#).

4) Quote a part of the story that proves we can see into John’s heart/mind. To earn full points, choose wisely. To best illustrate omniscient third-person narration, choose a part of the story that shows John’s private thought/feeling that is only revealed to us, not Orelia. In other words, with god-like powers, the narrator allows us to see into John’s soul. To earn full points, achieve correct integration, punctuation, and citation by using the format below. (8 points)

Quotation Format

The narrator reveals this about John’s private thoughts: “Quotation” (#).

5) Interpret the significance of using this point of view: Why is it important to see inside the hearts/minds of both Orelia and John? In other words, what have they both experienced by the story’s end? (6 points)

“The Suitcase” uses third-person limited narration: we only see into the

heart/mind of Saba, not the other characters in the story.

6) Quote a part of the story that proves we can see into only Saba’s heart/mind. To earn full points, choose wisely. To best illustrate

third-person limited, choose a part of the story that illustrates

Saba’s thought/feeling that is only revealed to us, not to the

others. To earn full points, achieve correct integration,

punctuation, and citation by using the format below. (8 points)

Quotation Format

The narrator reveals this about Saba’s private thoughts: “Quotation” (#). MORE ON NEXT PAGE

7) Interpret the significance of using this point of view. Saba faces a test in this story: will she honor her Ethiopian family and heritage?

For this reason, it is important that the narrator can objectively

report on the world around Saba and let us see into her heart/mind.

If the story was in first person, we would have to rely completely on

Saba to report everything. First person narrators are subjective,

however, so we would never fully know if her version is accurate. If

the story was in third-person omniscient, it would be utterly

chaotic! We would jump from the mind of Saba into that of her

relatives Fassil, Lula, Konjit, Rahel, Wurro, and Fikru whose minds

must be swimming with judgements of Saba, frustrations with each

other, and desires for their demands to be met. Third-person limited

is the only way to effectively represent Saba’s challenge and its

outcome. Therefore, how does the final paragraph of the story let us

know that Saba objectively passed the test? (6 points)