Text 1
An extract from “The Boy in Striped Pyjamas” – a novel by John Boyne (pg 106) : the main character, Bruno, (aged 9) goes exploring.
“Bruno slowed down when he saw the dot that became a speck that became a blob that became a figure that became a boy….. The boy was smaller than Bruno and was sitting on the ground with a forlorn expression. He wore the same striped pyjamas that all the other people on that side of the fence wore, and a striped cloth cap on his head. He wasn’t wearing any shoes or socks and his feet were rather dirty. On his arm he wore and armband with a star on it.”
Text 2
The opening extract from “Playing” – a short story by Hugh Brown
(published in “Like Wallpaper” edited by Barbara Else)
“He’ll have his own reasons for what he did. It’s not like he’s ever had to try and impress me- we’ve lived next door to each other since we were three years old. According to our parents we’ve been saying we loved each other since we first met.
He was always a bit out of control, and I guess I was too. We liked that about each other. But we weren’t getting trashed and stealing like our mates
Like that time we were ten………”
Text 3
An extract from “ The Hunger Games” – a novel by Suzanne Collins (pg 7)
“When I was younger, I scared my mother to death, the things I would blurt out about District 12, about the people who rule our country, Panem, from the far-off city called the capitol. Eventually I understood that this would lead us to more trouble. So I learned to hold my tongue and to turn my features into an indifferent mask so that noone could ever read my thoughts.”
Text 4
An extract from “My First Ball” – a short story by Witi Ihimaera
( published in “Aotearoa”, selected by NZATE)
The main character, a teenager named Tuta, is invited to a ball at Government House.
“Mum, she said I had to. It was too late to send back the invitation.
So I persevered. I learnt a lot of things. For instance if you’re talking you ask about the weather. That’s what’s called making intelligent conversation. You say, ‘ Isn’t it lovely’ to everything, even if it isn’t. You always say ‘Yes’ if you’re offered something, even if don’t want it. That’s being polite. And you’re not allowed to swear because they never swear….”
Text 5
The opening extract from “ Number Two” – a short story by Atihana Jones
(published in “Pacific Voices”, selected by Bernard Gadd)
“I’m only ten and my father died last year. I got sick and not even the doctor could tell what was wrong. You know how it is when that happens. Everyone’s a doctor. Aunti Wai said to boil kumarahou and drink it. The teacher said go to a specialist. Uncle Tom said what’s wrong with Epsom Salts? In the end Grannie did what she always does; takes charge and orders everyone about; so Mum has to take me to Tira the old witch.. I mean Tohunga who lives at Waiaua across the bay. Well that settles that and we’re off in the taxi before any more busybodies could give their diagnoses and remedies.”
Text 6
The opening extract from “Scenes of my childhood” -a short story by Maata Shelford
(published in “Pacific Voices”, selected by Bernard Gadd)
“When I was about five years old, we lived in an old house made of corrugated iron with a dirt floor. It was one big room inside, with a long open fire the length of one wall, used for cooking and warmth. We slept on bags filled with hay, and over blankets, sugar-bag quilts for covers. There were ten of us, eight children.
One day, my mother sent me to my great-aunt’s place to borrow some tea, and she gave me an old cracked mug to carry it in.
I had a grown-up’s long dress on, and tripped on this three times on the way, about a quarter of a mile walk.”
Complete the following table by ticking the appropriate boxes and identifying some indicators or evidence to support your decisions
| Naiive narrator? | Knowing narrator? | First person narrator? | Third person narrator? | Indicators? Evidence? | |
| Text 1 | |||||
| Text 2 | |||||
| Text 3 | |||||
| Text 4 | |||||
| Text 5 | |||||
| Text 6 |
Published on: 25 Dec 2010
