Style Analysis Unit 4 Point of View_Perspective

Style Analysis Unit 4 Point of View

The term point of view describes the perspective from which an author chooses to present and essay, story, or other piece of writing. There are several points of view that authors often use. They include the following: A. First-person narrator – used when one of the characters tells the story and speaks as I, and eyewitness; you should look for phrases or sentences with I, me, or my that show the narrator’s thoughts and feelings. B. Third-person limited – used when we see the story from only one character’s point of view, but not first-hand. C. Third-person omniscient – used when the point of view is all-knowing, not restricted in any way; for either third-person limited or omniscient, you should look for phrases and sentences that describe the emotions, feelings, and reactions of the characters. You will be able to see if the point of view is limited or omniscient by the range of view points presented.

The steps to follow in analyzing point of view are similar to those used for diction and detail analysis. Read through “The Rattler” again and try to identify the point of view. Sometimes you see it immediately, and other times you must read the whole passage first. Then circle, highlight, or underline phrases that show the point of view. Here are a few examples: “I walked out into the desert” “I thought I was the only thing abroad” “ I stopped short”

“My first instinct”

Before you start the point of view paragraph, you need a topic sentence for it. This sentence should include the phrase point of view and give a focus for the paragraph. Here is a sample for “The Rattler”:

The first-person point of view reinforces the drama and tension in the scene. The next paragraph follows a familiar pattern: you will write one example sentence with words and phrases you have circled, highlighted, or underlined and then two sentences of commentary. The commentary analyzes the effect of and reasons for the point of view. This unit of writing – one example sentence and two commentary – is called a chunk. You need at least two chunks in a point of view paragraph.

In your example sentence, you need to include two or three quotations that illustrate the point of view. Here is an example:

At the beginning of the story, the man says, “I stopped short”; he wants to let the snake escape because he “never killed an animal” he did not have to.

This quotation sentence integrates two separate short quotes taken from different parts of the passage. This shows your reader that you have understood the entire piece and you are choosing quotations thoughtfully.

Now look over the words or phrases you marked on your own copy of “The Rattler” and practice writing a quotation sentence of your own for point of view. Remember to use two or three different short quotes.

The next step is to write commentary (analysis or interpretation) for the quotes you included in your example sentence. This should discuss the reason for the point of view and the effect on the reader. Before you start, you need to know about the kind of commentary that often appears in a point of view paragraph. Here are some typical commentary phrases for point of view analysis:

A. First person: The reader can feel the same emotions as narrator, a sense of immediacy; the reader reacts in unison with the narrator. B. Third-person limited: The reader feels a sense of distance from others, and, in addition, is limited to one perspective; the narrower view of subject may be biased in only one direction; the narrative distance may be useful, done on purpose by the author.

C. Third-person omniscient: The reader feels more distant than with first person but also has a wider, more panoramic view of the subject; the reader knows everything that an outside observer could know.

You will not be doing your own commentary in this exercise, but we are including a sample to show you how it works. The following chart shows you how to write your quotes and the commentary thoughts for point of view: TOPIC SENTENCE FOR POINT OF VIEW PARAGRAPH: The first-person point of view reinforces the drama and tension in the scene.

QUOTATION

COMMENTARY

• “I stopped short”

• Caught off guard • Sudden shock at the unexpected

• “never killed and animal [he] didn’t have to”

• Both man and reader feel reluctant to act

You will not be doing your own version of the point of view paragraph for “The Rattler.” You will have another passage for practice later. On the next slide is a sample of the point of view paragraph for “The Rattler.”

1) The first-person point of view reinforces the drama and tension in the scene. 2) At the beginning of the story, the man says, “I stopped short”; he wants to let the snake escape because he “never killed an animal” he did not have to. 3) The reader and the man feel a sudden shock at the presence of another living creature in the isolated desert. 4) Both freeze, suggesting the man’s understandable and immediate reluctance to attack it and recognizing his desire to ignore the snake. 5) The man’s duty is clear, however, and after he “[reaches] in the bush” to kill ;the snake, “he does not cut the rattles off”; he thinks for a moment that he “could see him as [he] might have let him go.” 6) The reader shudders at the feeling of the how striking home but at the same time feels the narrator’s appreciation and moment of silence at the end. 7) This reinforcement of first-person narration shows the last farewell to the snake, a final moment of respect. 8) The narrator bids goodbye and acknowledges the tragic end to a dual between equals. Sentence #1 – Topic – (has point of view in the sentence) CHUNK

Sentence #2 – CD – quotation sentence – (has 2-3 point of view quotes) Sentences #3-4 – CM – commentary sentences – (discusses reason for the point of view and the effect on the reader) Sentences #5-6 – 1CD+2CM – another CHUNK Sentence #8 – paragraph conclusion – (ties the paragraph together)

Now you will write an introductory paragraph and then a point of view paragraph for the passage from Gustave Flaubert’s MADAME BOVARY. First make a chart for the two different but complementary tones, using the tone/attitude chart shown below. 1st tone

2nd tone

Now write a thesis for the passage, and then one or two more sentences of commentary to flesh out the introduction.

The (#1) _________________________ and (#2) ____________________tones in the MADAME BOVARY passage reflect/show _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________ _____________________________________

Now, underline, circle, or highlight the point of view phrases in the passage. Create a point of view chart like the example for “The Rattler.” Discuss. Do the first half of the paragraph – a topic sentence, one example that integrates two to three quotations and two commentary sentences (chunk). Discuss. Now do the second half of the paragraph – another chunk. Discuss. Now write a concluding sentence that gives a finished feeing to the paragraph. Finally, for homework, practice the introductory paragraph and point of view paragraph using “The Prison Door” chapter at the beginning of THE SCARLETT LETTER.