Name: __________________________

Identifying Narrative Perspective in the Works of Roald Dahl
Directions: Loved children’s author Roald Dahl writes texts from a variety of perspectives.  Read the following passages, determine the narrator’s perspective, and explain your answer.

Narrative Perspective (point of view): first-person, second-person, or third-person

1.  James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

Until he was four years old, James Henry Trotter had had a happy life.  He lived peacefully with his mother and father in a beautiful house beside the sea.  There were always plenty of other children for him to play with, and there was a sandy beach for him to run about on.

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

2.  The Witches by Roald Dahl

I looked round and I saw a hideous painted and powdered witch’s face starring down at me, and the face opened its mouth and yelled triumphantly, “It’s here!  It’s behind the screen!  Come and get it!”  The witch reached out a gloved hand and grabbed me by the hair but I twisted free and jumped away.  

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

3. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

When Mr. Wonka had finished reading the recipe, he carefully folded the paper and put it back into his pocket.  “A very, very complicated mixture,” he said.  “So can you wonder it took me so long to get it just right?”  He held the bottle up high and gave it a little shake and the pills rattled loudly inside it, like glass beads.

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

4. Television by Roald Dahl

Go throw your TV set away, / And in its place you can install / A lovely bookshelf on the wall.
Then fill the shelves with lots of books, / Ignoring all the dirty looks, 
The screams and yells, the bites and kicks, / And children hitting you with sticks-

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	
5. Esio Trot by Roald Dahl

Some years ago, when my own children were small, we usually kept a tortoise or two in the garden.  In those days, a pet tortoise was a common sight crawling about on the family lawn or in the backyard.  

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

6. George’s Marvelous Medicine by Roald Dahl

George turned off the heat under the stewing pot.  He must leave plenty of time for it to cool down.  When all the steam and froth had gone away, he peered into the giant pot to see what color the great medicine now was.  It was a deep and brilliant blue.  

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

7. The Twits by Roald Dahl

As soon as Mrs. Twit sat down, Mr. Twit pointed at her and shouted, “There you are!  You’re sitting in your old chair and you’ve shrunk so much your feet aren’t even touching the ground!”  Mrs. Twit looked down at her feet and by golly the man was right.  Her feet were not touching the ground.

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

8. The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

The farm next to ours is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Gregg.  The Greggs have two children, both of them boys.  Their names are Philip and William.  Sometimes I go over to their farm to play with them.  I am a girl and I am eight years old.  Philip is also eight years old.  Last week something very funny happened.  I am going to tell you about it as best as I can.

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: 

	

9. Attention Please!  Attention Please! by Roald Dahl

Attention please! Attention please! / Don't dare to talk! Don't dare to sneeze!
Don't doze or daydream! Stay awake!  / Your health your very life's at stake!

Narrator’s Perspective: ________________________________________________________ 

Explain how you know: