Lit TypesLAP 1: Short Stories

Day 6: Point of View

Point of View Point of view is the vantage point or

perspective from which a story is told. The first-person point of view, or first-

person narration, tells a story from the I or we perspective.

Second-person point of view, or second-person narration, uses the word you and is relatively rare.

She, He, and it are the pronouns marking third-person point of view, or third-person narration, the type most often encountered in fiction.

Point of View (continued)

Limited point of view gives the reader an insight into the mind of only the narrator or of one other character.

The omniscient point of view reveals to the reader the thoughts of all or most characters.

Type of Narrators

Whether the story is in first-or third-person, the narrator is a character or speaker who tells a story. Sometimes the narrator is a

character in the story.

Dialect

A dialect is a version of language spoken by the people of a particular place, time, or social group.

Theme: Responsibility Towards Others  Granny really does not like the filmmakers at her

house, filming her family or her. She believes some things should be kept private and not for the public eye. The filmmakers are attempting to use her life to make a political and social statement, sponsored by the state government, about the black rural poor. She believes they have no right to be there.

Both Granny and Cathy tell stories of other people and how when their lives were invaded they were messed up and became worse then before. These camera men are invading them for only selfish reasons, which is to get their footage. The story of the man jumping shows how selfish people are. People need to mind their business and be responsible towards others. The lesson would be that people should think of how other people will feel about their actions and not be so inconsiderate.

“Blues Ain’t No Mockin Bird”

Setting The setting takes place in a rural community at the Grandmother’s house in Southern America. The setting is outside around her house. It also takes place in the 1950's.

Point of View Point of View & Explanation 

The point of view is in 1st person because it is told through the voice of a character in the story whether they are minor or major. The character telling the story is the granddaughter of Granny and Cain. Readers only hear and see what she does. The narrator in this story is also a character. We only know what is going on because she tells the story in her point of view.

Mood Mood of the Story 

The mood of the story is serious. Granny isn’t joking around when she lets the filmmakers know they are not welcomed there. The whole time through the story Granny has anger and is not fooling around. Everyone in the story is serious about the filmmakers being there and don’t like the fact that they are there.

Character Analysis

With a partner, complete the character web and analysis.

You will share your findings with the class.

Characters Granny- is the narrator’s grandmother who is

really trying to “protect” her family. She does not like the idea of the filmmakers filming her family. She thinks they have no right to be there and they are just selfish people trying to expose the poor. It was mostly her who got rid of the filmmakers but her husband had helped. She is a static character because no part of her personality changes throughout the story. Granny can also be seen as a round character because the story shows that granny is independent and strict.

Characters (continued) Cain/ Granddaddy- is Granny’s

husband. He has a very forceful presence. But he isn’t as rude and mean when he asks the filmmakers to leave unlike Granny. He is thought to be like a king. He is also a static character because the author gives no evidence of his being changing. Granddaddy can be seen as a flat character because he is seen as noble.

Characters (continued) Filmmakers (Camera & Smilin’)- they are the

people who come to granny’s house in the beginning of the story. They claim they have to film movie pictures for a food stamp campaign. They were being selfish and not taking no for an answer. They had left when Cain told them to leave. The filmmakers are also static because they do not change their point of view of the rural community even though some get along with out the county's help. The filmmakers are flat characters because they are disrespectful.

Characters (continued) Cathy- She is one of the four children who

understands the stories Granny tells. She basically understands the adult world and the family. She is a third cousin of the narrator. In the end of the novel she talks about writing a book. She is not a major character and does not have evidence of changing. Cathy is a flat character because she seems to have a leadership or mature nature.

Characters (continued) Terry & Tyrone- are twin boys who live next

door but are there in the yard when the filmmakers arrive. They don’t really pay attention to what is going on they just stay in the yard wrestling each other. Though they are static characters, Terry and Tyrone can be seen as a flat character because they are described as playful.