Who is the Narrator?

Finding the SPEAKER in a text

When we read a story, poem, or any text,

• We need to know – WHO is telling the story– WHO is saying the poem– WHO is talking in the text

• The NARRATOR is – the person, animal or thing telling the story,

talking in the poem, or talking in the text

Have you ever told a story to someone?

– When you tell someone a story, YOU are the narrator of that story because you are telling what happened.

– If an animal is telling a story, that ANIMAL is the narrator of the story because they are telling what happened.

– If an object is telling a story, that OBJECT or thing is the narrator because they are telling what happened.

Let’s read and find out who is talking in the text:

• Today I went to go play outside with my two friends, Juan and Mario. I asked Juan and Mario if they wanted to play soccer. They said, “Yes!” We played soccer until it was time for dinner. Then my mom called me and said, “Hector, come inside and have dinner.” I said bye to my friends and ran inside to eat dinner.

• Who is the speaker in the story?a. Juanb. Hectorc. Mariod. The soccer ball• How do you know?

See if you can find the NARRATOR in this selection:

• Panda, Koala, and I were exploring Australia. Panda and Koala were able to climb the eucalyptus tree, but I wasn’t. They yelled, “Kangaroo, you’re missing a great view!” I was disappointed that I couldn’t climb my way to the top, but I was able to hop faster than them and reach the river to have a refreshing drink of water.

• Who is the NARRATOR?a. Koalab. Pandac. The treed. Kangaroo• How do you know?

See if you can find the NARRATOR in this selection:

I am liked by many people around the world. I am smothered with red sauce, melted with cheese, and sometimes topped with other objects. Next I am put in a hot room where I sweat and get cooked. Then I get out of the hot room and into a box where I keep warm. Finally a person wearing a goofy hat and shirt delivers me to a house where a bunch of hungry people tear me apart and chew me to pieces.

• Who is the NARRATOR?• How do you know?

A pizza