The effect of narrative perspective and tense

Question 1

Read the question and choose. A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting?

• A. the writer made a mistake
• B. the narrator is unreliable, so readers should question their account
• C. the narrator is omniscient
• D. the party really was wonderful

Question 2

Is the proposed answer correct? A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting? → the writer made a mistake

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 3

Read the question and choose. A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting?

• A. the narrator is omniscient
• B. the writer made a mistake
• C. the narrator is unreliable, so readers should question their account
• D. the party really was wonderful

Question 4

Is the proposed answer correct? A guidebook says, "You turn left at the fountain and you'll see the old gate." Why use second person? → it guides the reader directly, as if they are there

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 5

Read the question and choose. An older narrator looks back on her childhood in the past tense. What does this allow?

• A. reflection: she can comment on what she understands now that she didn't then
• B. access to every character's thoughts
• C. a faster pace
• D. suspense about whether she survived

Question 6

Is the proposed answer correct? An older narrator looks back on her childhood in the past tense. What does this allow? → reflection: she can comment on what she understands now that she didn't then

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 7

Read the question and choose. A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit?

• A. readers learn nothing about either character
• B. it makes the story shorter
• C. it removes all suspense
• D. readers see the same events from two viewpoints

Question 8

Is the proposed answer correct? A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting? → the narrator is unreliable, so readers should question their account

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 9

Read the question and choose. A guidebook says, "You turn left at the fountain and you'll see the old gate." Why use second person?

• A. it creates an unreliable narrator
• B. it makes the text a poem
• C. it shows the writer's private thoughts
• D. it guides the reader directly, as if they are there

Question 10

Is the proposed answer correct? A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting? → the writer made a mistake

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 11

Read the question and choose. A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit?

• A. readers see the same events from two viewpoints
• B. it removes all suspense
• C. readers learn nothing about either character
• D. it makes the story shorter

Question 12

Is the proposed answer correct? A story is told in the first person, present tense: "I open the door. Something moves." What is the main effect? → humour: it makes events funny

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 13

Read the question and choose. A narrator describes a disastrous party but insists, "Everyone had a wonderful time." What might the writer be suggesting?

• A. the narrator is omniscient
• B. the writer made a mistake
• C. the narrator is unreliable, so readers should question their account
• D. the party really was wonderful

Question 14

Is the proposed answer correct? A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit? → readers learn nothing about either character

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct

Question 15

Read the question and choose. An older narrator looks back on her childhood in the past tense. What does this allow?

• A. suspense about whether she survived
• B. access to every character's thoughts
• C. a faster pace
• D. reflection: she can comment on what she understands now that she didn't then

Question 16

Is the proposed answer correct? A story switches between two first-person narrators in alternating chapters. What is the main benefit? → readers see the same events from two viewpoints

• A. yes, it is correct
• B. no, it is not correct