Evaluating Narrator Reliability/Credibility

1. Evaluating Narrator Reliability/Credibility

2. Evaluating Narrator Reliability • A narrator, especially a first person perspective, may change the events when telling the story because • the narrator has misinterpreted what was seen or heard. • the narrator wants the reader’s empathy. • the narrator is untrustworthy. • the narrator is too immature to understand the events as they are happening.

3. The Reader and the Narrator • The reader enters a contract with the narrator when reading the story. • The narrator will tell me what I need to know. • The reader will have a response to the narrator. • Can be positive or negative • The reader must decide if the narrator should be trusted. • Should everything be taken at face value?

4. Questions to Ask • How much does the narrator know?  • Do events take place now or in the past? • Is the narrator a participant in, or a witness to, the action? • What is the motivation for telling the story? • In a nutshell: Who are you and why are you telling me this? from http://www.studygs.net/fictiona.htm

5. The Reliable Narrator • Can be trusted by the reader, although the reader may not agree with the narrator • Is honest even if the telling of the story is offensive or unpleasant (unbiased or equally-weighted descriptions) • Understands the plot • Provides events that may actually happen for any particular occurance • Usually 3rd person…rarely 1st person

6. The Unreliable Narrator • Cannot be trusted • Misleads the readers • Distorts the truth • Makes the reader evaluate the story and read between the lines • Speaks or behaves in a manner which is not consistent throughout the story • Usually 1st person…rarely 3rd person

7. Perspective vs. Truth/Reality • Perspective- a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view • What is the difference between perspective and truth? • Can someone’s perspective also be true?

8. Treachery of Images

9. Perspective of Truth and Reality • The previous two images were painted by Rene Magritte in 1929. The captions read “This is not a pipe.” and “This is not an apple.” What does this mean? • How can one’s perspective distort the truth of something? What are some situations where one’s perspective can affect what’s true or real? • Why is it important to be able to look at someone’s truth or someone’s perspective, even if you don’t agree with it?