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Question

Difficulty: MediumNarrative Point of View and Perspective

Read the prose excerpt below:

"Kalu leaned against the damp mud wall of his thatched hut, watching the dark rain clouds gather over the hills of Umudike. He wondered if his elder brother, who had left for the city three dry seasons ago, ever thought of the farm they had tilled together. Unbeknownst to Kalu, however, his brother was at that very moment sitting in a crowded bus bound for the village, his heart heavy with regret."

Which narrative point of view is employed in the passage above?

  1. Third-person omniscientAnswer
  2. B
    Third-person limited
  3. C
    First-person participant
  4. D
    Second-person narrative

Answer

The correct answer is third-person omniscient point of view.
The correct answer identifies the third-person omniscient perspective. The narrator uses third-person pronouns ('he', 'his') and demonstrates an all-knowing stance by describing events taking place elsewhere beyond the main character's awareness ('Unbeknownst to Kalu...'), as well as revealing the inner emotional state of Kalu's brother.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the pronouns used by the narrator.
The narrator uses third-person pronouns ('he', 'his') rather than first-person ('I') or second-person ('you').
Establishes whether the perspective is first, second, or third person.
2
Examine the scope of the narrator's knowledge across characters and locations.
The narrator knows what Kalu is thinking and also reveals what Kalu's brother is doing and feeling elsewhere ('Unbeknownst to Kalu...').
Differentiates between limited third-person and omniscient third-person perspective.
3
Classify the overall narrative perspective.
Because the narrator possesses all-knowing insight into multiple characters and unobserved actions, the perspective is third-person omniscient.
Matches the narrative characteristics with the appropriate literary point of view.

Key Concept

Narrative Point of View (Third-Person Omniscient vs. Third-Person Limited)
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Topics

Narrative Point of View and Perspective

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