English I Notes August 27-28
Point of View—the narrator’s position in relation to the story being told
A. First person—I, me, my, our, we—the narrator is directly involved in the story
B. 2nd person—you, you all (usually in self-help books, guide books, and DIY manuals)
C. 3rd person—they, he, she, it—the narrator is removed from the action in the story/ not a character
(most common POV used in novels, short stories, etc.)
a. Omniscient—knows thoughts and actions of characters
b. Limited—limited to only what is observed/heard; doesn’t know thoughts
Diction—style of speaking/writing dependent upon word choice; affects tone; determined based on purpose and
audience
"Dearest reader, I humbly entreat you to eschew the latest celebrity tittle-tattle and instead devote your
attention to diction and tone." Sophisticated/elevated word choice—very formal
versus
"Listen up! Drop the gossip magazine and get with the diction/tone program!" Informal/colloquial word
choice—used with peers/friends/people of equal or lower “status”
Tone—implied attitude of the author/speaker toward the subject/audience; determined by diction
Examples of tone descriptors:
Satiric
Whimsical
Dramatic
Learned
Informative
Somber
Urgent
Confident
Mock-heroic
Objective
Ironic
Petty
Factual
Restrained
Elegiac
Disdainful
Bantering
Flippant
Condescending
Patronizing
Facetious
Clinical
Mock-serious
Inflammatory
Benevolent
Fanciful
Detached
Cynical
Scornful
Colloquial
Compassionate
Impartial
Pretentious
Vibrant
Irreverent
Sentimental
Moralistic
Complimentary
Contemptuous
Sympathetic
Taunting
Concerned
Angry
Contentious
Insolent
Candid
Connotation/Denotation
Denotation: the literal, “dictionary definition” meaning of a word
Example: The literal meaning of “flag” is a piece of fabric with a distinctive design that is usually
rectangular
Connotation: the commonly understood, subjective cultural association of meaning with a word, in addition
to the dictionary definition
For example, we use many different terms for young people. While “little one” and “brat” both
literally refer to a young person, “little one” usually has a positive connotation (association), whereas
“brat” typically has a negative connotation. You wouldn’t want to compliment a young mother by
calling her child a “cute little brat.”
Another example: The American flag (above) has the denotation of a piece of fabric with stars and
stripes. The connotation behind the phrase, “American flag,” is typically associated with freedom,
patriotism, loyalty, etc.
Characterization— the process of revealing the personality of a character
Character- a person in a story, poem, or play (sometimes animals)
Ways to reveal character:
1. Letting us hear the character speak
2. Describing how they look or dress
3. Letting us listen to the character’s inner thoughts and feelings
4. Revealing what other characters think or say about the character
5. Showing us what the character does— how they act.
6. Tell us directly what the character’s personality is like: cruel, kind, sneaky, etc.
Indirect Characterization- (first 5 ways) we have to use our own judgment to decide what a character is like, based
on the evidence the writer gives us.
Direct characterization- (#6) we don’t have to decide for ourselves
Characters are classified as:
Static- one who does not change much
Dynamic- character changes as a result of the story’s events
Flat- has only one or two traits
Round- like a real person, has many different character traits
Motivation- the fears or conflicts that drive a character (ex: vengeance, fear, greed, love, boredom)
“Papa Who Wakes Up Tired in the Dark”
By Sandra Cisneros
Your abuelito is dead, Papa says early one morning in my room. Esta muerto, and then as if he just heard the
news himself, crumples like a coat and cries, my brave Papa cries. I have never seen my Papa cry and don't
know what to do.
I know he will have to go away, that he will take a plane to Mexico, all the uncles and aunts will be there,
and they will have a black-and-white photo taken in front of the tomb with flowers shaped like spears in a
white vase because this is how they send the dead away in that country.
Because I am the oldest, my father has told me first, and now it is my turn to tell the others. I will have to
explain why we can't play. I will have to tell them to be quiet today.
My Papa, his thick hands and thick shoes, who wakes up tired in the dark, who combs his hair with water,
drinks his coffee, and is gone before we wake, today is sitting on my bed.
And I think if my own Papa died what would I do. I hold my Papa in my arms. I hold and hold and hold
him.
APPLICATION ASSIGNMENT
1. Identify the point of view of the above passage. 1st person
2. What is the tone of the passage? Sentimental
Elegiac
Nostalgic
3. What word choices (diction) help to convey the tone? Provide at least two (words or phrases).
Crumples like a coat; brave Papa cries; don’t know what to do; it is my turn to tell the others; I will
have to explain; I hold and hold and hold…
4. What is the denotation of the word “papa?”
Father
5. What is the connotation of the word “papa,” in the passage above?
Affectionate term for father; indicates his bravery/courage, sense of power/security, etc.
6. What is one example of direct characterization of Papa?
Esperanza refers to Papa as “brave” (directly tells what character is like)
7. List three examples of indirect characterization of the narrator. What can we infer about her character?
1) She is a young child, evidenced by her word choices (narration) and her discussing her Papa crying
and her not knowing what to do
2) She is growing and taking responsibility on during this event; she knows she will have to tell the
others (thoughts)
3)She is very affectionate/sympathetic towards her father (actions—holding father)
8. Explain how indirect characterization in this section influences (changes/effects) the meaning of the text.
Answers vary—(indirect characterization gives a more specific picture of the character than direct)