Identifying Perspectives Worksheets

Related ELA Standard: SL.9-10.1.D

Core Standard
Answer Keys Here

Having the ability to understand the conditions and environment in which an author compiled a piece is just one minor aspect of understanding the true nature of a work of literature. There are many different components that go into how an author gains insight and forms a level of perspective for their piece. These include many different environmental domains such as culture, social, emotional, philosophical, socio-economical, and even institutional in some circumstances. When we are mature enough to digest these parameters, we truly gain insight into the perspective of some of world greatest authors of all time. This series of worksheets will help students learn how to begin to grasp the concept identifying an author's perspective when composing their work.

Identifying Perspectives Worksheets To Print:

Fastfood - Read the description of each character. Then identify what you think each character's perspective is on a fastfood restaurant.

Sociology and History - You will pick apart these concept and see where there is some overlap and some distance.

Who Are They? - See if you can tell who may have said these things.

The Doctor, Receptionist, Parent, and Child - Who is in the situation that is being described for you.

Short Fills - Complete each of the sentences that is given to you.

Social Perspective - In these works the writer focuses on the character’s values, ideas, behaviors, and interactions with others.

Cultural - That means the writer focuses on the traditions, civilization, and customs presented in the text. Culture means the way that we live, the routines we have in our lives that we usually do without thinking about them because they are just a part of who we are.

Ethnic - That means the writer focuses on the origin, history, or characteristics of a specific group of people that share a common culture.

Historical - That means the writer focuses on the past or the influence of the past on people or events.

Put It Altogether - You will tell the stance that an writer used for the work.

In Fiction - You will look at the point of view and underlying nature of a work of fiction.

Perspective vs. Point of View - Decide where to draw the line between these two.

Three Characters - Pick apart a work that has three strong characters.

To the Video - Watch a short video and see what you can tell us about the characters.

Organizer - This is super helpful for explaning the actions of a character.

What Are Perspectives in Literature?


The narrative, or the "point of view," is the voice that writers worldwide use to tell the story they have in their minds. When a person is writing a story, they must first decide which character is telling the story and who's listening to them.


This story can either be told by a person who is a part of the story or from the perspective of an all-knowing, all-seeing voice that knows every detail about every character but is not involved in the story. Let's take a deeper dive to understand perspectives in literature.

 

Literary Perspectives: Understanding What They Are


Think of them as the lens a photographer uses to filter or color what they see. Every writer uses schools of thought or ideas relevant to every shape that guides their writing style. There are several perspectives one can use. Some of them are:


1. Postcolonial
2. Psychoanalytical
3. Feminist
4. Marxist

 

These concepts are considered thematic perspectives. Instead, we're focusing on perspectives that can change the narrator's voice for the audience. These perspectives are:


1. First person
2. Second person
3. Third person

 


First Person

With this perspective, a character, who is a part of the story, narrates it. This is usually revealed by them using first-person pronouns and the word "I." For instance: "I had lunch." As a result, the reader assumes this character is closely involved in the unfolding story. This character can either be the main antagonist/protagonist, or it can also be a character close to the protagonist.


This perspective can give the reader a deeper insight into the character's mind, but one person's perspective also limits it. In many ways, the first-person perspective is limited since it can only mention what one person can know about the story.


Second Person

The second-person perspective is structured around the word "you" and is rare in novels ("you thought you were the best."). You can truly draw the reader into the story with the second-person perspective. They will feel involved and engaged since the narrator will talk directly to them.
Using this perspective for a novel will be challenging, and it's going to improve your writing skills.


Third Person

The author uses this perspective to narrate a story about the characters using their pronous pronouns (he/she/they was/were sleepy). This point of view can further be divided into third person limited or third person omniscient.

 

How to Practice With This Concept

 

1. Experiment with a Scene


Think of a situation that has three characters. Now on three different pages, write about the event from three different perspectives. Once you're done writing it, go over what you've written and ask yourself critical questions: how can this be improved? Did I miss out on something?


2. Applying Different Perspectives


Use this exercise with something that's a work in progress. Choose an event from the story that you wrote about initially. Now go over it again and write it from a different perspective. Once you're done writing, ask yourself the questions: Did I have to change something? Did I have to add any new information because of my perspective?