d_view3.txt Driver File Contents (ASManager2.zip)

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Point of View, Part 3

There are two points of view that you will use as an author -- the first person and the third person. The first person refers to a character telling his or her own story. The third person refers to an outsider telling about characters in the story.

When the story is told in the first person, the narrator always uses "I."

"I passed the stranger and noticed the unfamiliar cut of his clothes."

When the story is told in the third person, the narrator refers to the characters as "he," "she," or "they."

"She passed the stranger and noticed the unfamiliar cut of his clothes."

Rewrite from Third to First

In this excerpt, you will assume the role of one of the characters, either Daniel Webster or the devil. Read through the passage to decide which character you want to be. Then, rewrite the dialogue tags, or descriptors, to fit your role as one of the characters. First, study the example below. It shows third person dialogue as it might appear rewritten as first person.

Third Person

"Aha!" said Dan'l Webster, with the veins standing out in his forehead. "Then I stand on the Constitution! I demand a trial for my client!"

First Person

"Aha!" I said. I could feel the veins stand out on my forehead. "Then I stand on the Constitution! I demand a trial for my client!"

Excerpt from "The Devil and Daniel Webster"
By Stephen Vincent Benet

"Foreign?" said the stranger. "And who calls me a foreigner?"

"Well, I never yet heard of the dev -- of your claiming American citizenship," said Dan'l Webster with surprise.

"And who with better right?" said the stranger, with one of his terrible smiles. "When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there. When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on her deck. Am I not in your books and stories and beliefs, from the first settlements on? Am I not spoken of, still, in every church in New England? 'Tis true the North claims me for a Southerner and the South for a Northerner, but I am neither. I am merely an honest American like yourself -- and of the best descent -- for, to tell the truth, Mr. Webster, though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours."

"Aha!" said Dan'l Webster, with the veins standing out in his forehead. "Then I stand on the Constitution! I demand a trial for my client!"

"The case is hardly one for an ordinary court," said the stranger, his eyes flickering. "And, indeed, the lateness of the hour--"

"Let it be any court you choose, so it is an American judge and an American jury!" said Dan'l Webster in his pride. "Let it be the quick or the dead; I'll abide the issue!"


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Revise the preceding passage so it is written from the first person point of view. (Move the cursor, delete, and insert first person pronouns and/or dialogue tags, or descriptors.)

Thought Questions

Now reread your passage. Then reread the original version as the author, Benet, wrote it. (The original version is shown again below.) After reviewing both
versions, type in your thoughts about the two points of view.


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Excerpt from "The Devil and Daniel Webster"
By Stephen Vincent Benet
Original Version

"Foreign?" said the stranger. "And who calls me a foreigner?"

"Well, I never yet heard of the dev -- of your claiming American citizenship," said Dan'l Webster with surprise.

"And who with better right?" said the stranger, with one of his terrible smiles. "When the first wrong was done to the first Indian, I was there. When the first slaver put out for the Congo, I stood on her deck. Am I not in your books and stories and beliefs, from the first settlements on? Am I not spoken of, still, in every church in New England? 'Tis true the North claims me for a Southerner and the South for a Northerner, but I am neither. I am merely an honest American like yourself -- and of the best descent -- for, to tell the truth, Mr. Webster, though I don't like to boast of it, my name is older in this country than yours."

"Aha!" said Dan'l Webster, with the veins standing out in his forehead. "Then I stand on the Constitution! I demand a trial for my client!"

"The case is hardly one for an ordinary court," said the stranger, his eyes flickering. "And, indeed, the lateness of the hour--"

"Let it be any court you choose, so it is an American judge and an American jury!" said Dan'l Webster in his pride. "Let it be the quick or the dead; I'll abide the issue!"

Now write your thoughts in response to the questions below.

Why do you think the author chose to write in the third person?

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In rewriting the excerpt from "The Devil and Daniel Webster," tell why you decided to write from the point of view of the character you chose.

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What was lost or what was gained by your first person version of the passage?

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If you were the author, which point of view would you use? Why?

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Writing in the First Person

Write approximately ten lines of dialogue that might occur between yourself as a teen-ager or adult and a parent, a teacher, or another adult. Use first person point of view.

Imagine a situation that will surely lead to lively dialogue. Perhaps you want to borrow a parent's car after recently getting a speeding ticket. Or perhaps you want to convince a teacher that the poor grade you recently received was unfair. Or perhaps you want to go off and be with friends when your parent feels that you have chores to do.

Dialogue with an Adult

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From First to Third

Have a friend or your writing partner rewrite your first person story into third person point of view. First, make a copy of your story by the angle brackets below. Then your partner can rewrite it. (If you are working alone, you can do the rewrite yourself.)

My First Person Dialogue with an Adult
Rewritten into Third Person Point of View

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If you haven't done so already, name and save this file now. (Press ctrl+S, type a name for the file, and press enter.)

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end of activity
Copyright Renaissance Learning, Inc.
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