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Grade 8 · English Language Arts · Unit 4 of 10

Whose Story Is It?

Limited, omniscient and unreliable narrators

What your child practises

Recognizing third-person limited and omniscient narrators, spotting clues that a narrator is unreliable, and thinking about how a story would change from another character's point of view.

Saskatchewan Curriculum outcome: CR8.6 · narrators and point of view

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    A story is told with I, but the narrator only describes things that happened to other people. What can a reader still learn?

    • the narrator's opinions, even when describing others
    • every character's thoughts
    • nothing about the narrator
    • the author's address
    Show answer

    the narrator's opinions, even when describing others

    Hint: First-person narrators always show their own view.

  2. Question 2

    What is an unreliable narrator?

    • a narrator who never uses the word I
    • a narrator who speaks to the reader as you
    • a narrator who always knows everything
    • a narrator who may not tell the truth or may not understand events accurately
    Show answer

    a narrator who may not tell the truth or may not understand events accurately

    Hint: Readers have to look for clues to decide what is really happening.

  3. Question 3

    How does Kai see the fence?

    The Fence

    Kai watched the new neighbour's fence go up and saw it as a wall between them. Each board seemed to say, “Keep out.”

    Across the yard, the neighbour hammered in the last nail. She felt proud. At last, her dog could play safely.

    • as a gift
    • as something to be proud of
    • as a safe place for a dog
    • as a wall that says to keep out
    Show answer

    as a wall that says to keep out

    Hint: Look at the first paragraph.

  4. Question 4

    Which clue best suggests a narrator is unreliable?

    • The narrator tells events in order.
    • The narrator describes the setting.
    • The narrator's description often contradicts what other characters say and do.
    • The narrator uses the word I.
    Show answer

    The narrator's description often contradicts what other characters say and do.

    Hint: If the details do not match the narrator's claims, be suspicious.

  5. Question 5

    Why does the narrator show both Kai's and the neighbour's thoughts?

    The Fence

    Kai watched the new neighbour's fence go up and saw it as a wall between them. Each board seemed to say, “Keep out.”

    Across the yard, the neighbour hammered in the last nail. She felt proud. At last, her dog could play safely.

    • to prove that Kai is wrong
    • to make the story shorter
    • to hide the fence from the reader
    • to show that one event can mean different things to different people
    Show answer

    to show that one event can mean different things to different people

    Hint: The same fence means a wall to one and safety to the other.

  6. Question 6

    What point of view is used?

    The Fence

    Kai watched the new neighbour's fence go up and saw it as a wall between them. Each board seemed to say, “Keep out.”

    Across the yard, the neighbour hammered in the last nail. She felt proud. At last, her dog could play safely.

    • first person
    • third-person limited
    • second person
    • third-person omniscient
    Show answer

    third-person omniscient

    Hint: The narrator tells the thoughts of two characters.

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