Point of View
Point of View
• Point of view is the perspective or viewpoint
that a character or narrator has in a story.
– May be stated directly, may have to be inferred
from the words and actions of a character.
• Authors often give characters contrasting or
different points of view to create conflict.
• A character’s point of view may or may not
change throughout a story to help reveal the
theme.
Act 3
• In Act 2, Anne and Helen moved to a cottage
so they could be alone for Anne to teach
Helen. Helen has learned not to be so wild
and to obey, but she still does not understand
the meaning of the letters that Anne spells to
her.
• In Act 3, Anne and Helen are returning and
having a welcome back dinner with Captain
Keller, Kate, James, and Aunt Ev.
Point of View Activity
• While reading Act 3 of The Miracle Worker,
stop at the numbered sections to reflect on
the point of view of that character and
complete the organizer questions.
• Assign the following roles:
– Stage Directions/Aunt Ev/Kate
– Annie
– James/Helen
– Keller
Character
1. Annie’s p.o.v.
about Helen’s
teaching
2. Keller’s p.o.v.
about Annie’s
teaching
methods
3. James’s p.o.v.
about Annie OR
towards his
father
4. Kate’s p.o.v.
about Annie as
the teacher
5. Helen’s p.o.v.
about Annie as
the teacher
Describe the
character’s p.o.v.
on the situation
or character
How do you
know (proof
from text)?
Did this
character’s p.o.v.
change?
Does this p.o.v.
contrast with
another
character?
Character
Describe the
character’s p.o.v.
on the situation
or character
How do you
know (proof
from text)?
Did this
character’s p.o.v.
change?
Does this p.o.v.
contrast with
another
character?
1. Annie’s p.o.v.
about Helen’s
teaching
She thinks Helen needs
discipling and they
shouldn’t give in to
tantrums.
“She will live up to what
you demand of her.”
No – she is constant
throughout the drama.
Yes – Kate and Keller both
think she is too rough
with Helen.
2. Keller’s p.o.v.
about Annie’s
teaching
methods
He thinks she is too strict
and should give in.
“I think some
compromise is called for.”
No – he never cared for
Annie’s methods from the
beginning. He supported
her at some points, but
could not accept her ways
and stubbornness.
Yes – Annie thinks he is
being too soft.
3. James’s p.o.v.
about Annie OR
towards his
father
He agrees with Annie and
finally stands up to his
father about it.
“She’s right, Kate’s right,
I’m right, and you’re
wrong.”
Yes – he didn’t think
Annie could help at first
and he always caved in to
his father.
Yes – Keller, of course.
4. Kate’s p.o.v.
about Annie as
the teacher
She is torn: happy that
Helen has made a
breakthrough, but jealous
of the obvious relationship
she now has with Anne.
“Kate torn both ways
turns away from this.”
Yes – she was the only
one who believed in Anne
in the beginning.
n/a
5. Helen’s p.o.v.
about Annie as
the teacher
Helen now loves her
teacher.
“hand in hand they cross
the yard”
Yes – Helen could not
stand her teacher in the
beginning because Annie
didn’t give in to her and
held her to standards.
n/a
Point of View Activity
• Using your graphic organizer from Act 3 and your
copy of Act 1, create a Fakebook page for a
character from The Miracle Worker.
• Draw a picture of the character and fill in their
information, friends, and likes based on your
readings of Act 1 and Act 3.
• Include four status updates to reveal how that
character’s point of view changed or stayed the
same throughout the drama.
• Include four comments from other characters
that reveal how those characters have contrasting
points of view.