ACT Reading Literary Narrative Narrative Technique Point of View Narrator Reliability

What This Is and Why It Matters for the ACT

Narrative Technique: Point of View, Narrator Reliability appears in the Reading section of the ACT. It's a crucial concept that helps you understand how the narrator's perspective affects the story. This topic appears on every Reading test and is considered intermediate in difficulty.

Key Concepts (What You Must Know)

• Point of view: The narrator's perspective or vantage point in the story.
• First person: The narrator is a character in the story and uses I or we.
• Third person: The narrator is outside the story and uses he, she, or they.
• Limited point of view: The narrator only knows what one character thinks or feels.
• Unreliable narrator: The narrator is not trustworthy or has biases.
• Authorial intent: The author's purpose or message in the story.

Step-by-Step Strategy for This Topic

1. Read the passage carefully: Identify the narrator's point of view and perspective.
2. Look for clues: Check for language or phrases that indicate the narrator's reliability or unreliability.
3. Analyze the narrator's biases: Consider how the narrator's perspective might affect the story.
4. Identify the author's intent: Think about what the author is trying to convey through the narrator's perspective.
5. Eliminate wrong answers: Use your analysis to rule out options that don't match the narrator's point of view or reliability.
6. Check your work: Verify that your answer makes sense in the context of the passage.

⚠️ Don't assume the narrator is always reliable. Consider the narrator's biases and perspective when making inferences.

How It's Tested on the ACT

Reading questions on narrative technique will ask you to analyze the narrator's point of view and reliability in a passage. You might be asked to identify the narrator's perspective, analyze the narrator's biases, or consider the author's intent.

• Distractors: Be careful of options that try to trick you into assuming the narrator is always reliable or that the narrator's perspective is the only perspective.
• Common mistakes: Don't assume the narrator is always telling the truth or that the narrator's perspective is the only perspective.

Common Mistakes & Exam Traps

• The mistake: Assuming the narrator is always reliable.
• Why it happens: Rushing through the passage or not considering the narrator's biases.
• How to avoid it: Take your time and analyze the narrator's perspective and reliability.
• Exam board insight: The examiners want to see that you can critically evaluate the narrator's perspective and reliability.
• The mistake: Assuming the narrator's perspective is the only perspective.
• Why it happens: Not considering alternative perspectives or not analyzing the narrator's biases.
• How to avoid it: Think about alternative perspectives and analyze the narrator's biases.
• Exam board insight: The examiners want to see that you can consider multiple perspectives and critically evaluate the narrator's perspective.

Practice Questions (3-5 questions)

Question 1
The narrator of the passage is a character in the story and uses I. Which of the following best describes the narrator's point of view? A) First person B) Third person C) Limited point of view D) Unreliable narrator E) Authorial intent

Answer: A) First person Explanation: The narrator uses I, indicating that they are a character in the story and are using first person point of view.

Question 2
The narrator of the passage is not trustworthy and has biases. Which of the following best describes the narrator's reliability? A) Reliable narrator B) Unreliable narrator C) Limited point of view D) Authorial intent E) First person

Answer: B) Unreliable narrator Explanation: The narrator has biases and is not trustworthy, indicating that they are an unreliable narrator.

Question 3
The author's intent in the passage is to convey a message about the importance of empathy. Which of the following best describes the author's intent? A) To entertain the reader B) To inform the reader C) To persuade the reader D) To convey a message about empathy E) To describe a character's traits

Answer: D) To convey a message about empathy Explanation: The author's intent is to convey a message about the importance of empathy, as indicated by the narrator's perspective and the language used in the passage.

Quick Reference Card (60-Second Summary)

• Point of view: The narrator's perspective or vantage point in the story.
• First person: The narrator is a character in the story and uses I or we.
• Third person: The narrator is outside the story and uses he, she, or they.
• Limited point of view: The narrator only knows what one character thinks or feels.
• Unreliable narrator: The narrator is not trustworthy or has biases.
• Authorial intent: The author's purpose or message in the story.

If You Get Stuck on Test Day

• Don't panic: Take a deep breath and read the passage carefully.
• Eliminate wrong answers: Use your analysis to rule out options that don't match the narrator's point of view or reliability.
• Check your work: Verify that your answer makes sense in the context of the passage.
• Pacing strategy: Take your time and read the passage carefully. Don't rush through the questions.

Related ACT Topics

• Authorial intent: The author's purpose or message in the story. (Appears in Reading section)
• Narrative structure: The organization and development of the story. (Appears in Reading section)
• Character analysis: The analysis of a character's traits, motivations, and relationships. (Appears in Reading section)