Evaluating Narrator Reliability/Credibility

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Evaluating Narrator Reliability/Credibility
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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 readers empathy.
• the narrator is untrustworthy.
• the narrator is too immature to understand the
  events as they are happening.

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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?

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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
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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 personrarely 1st person

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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 personrarely 3rd person

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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 someones perspective also be true?

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Treachery of Images
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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 ones perspective distort the truth of
  something? What are some situations where ones
  perspective can affect whats true or real?
• Why is it important to be able to look at
  someones truth or someones perspective, even if
  you dont agree with it?