© Edgenuity, Inc. 1

Warm-Up Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

Words to Know

Write the letter of the definition next to the matching word as you work through the lesson. You may use the glossary to help you.

contrast A. who is telling the story and how it is told

compare B. to study to find differences

point of view C. to examine to discover similarities and difference

Lesson Goals

Read “A Smart Cookie” by Sandra Cisneros and“An Hour with Abuelo” by Judith Ortiz Cofer.

Analyze what a

does and says.

Compare and contrast

and consequences.

Examine di�erent

in a story.

? Lesson Question

WK2

© Edgenuity, Inc. 2

Warm-Up Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

? Words to Know

perspective A. when a character’s actions and speech reveal character traits

inference B. the way a character or person views the world

indirect characterization

C. a conclusion made on the basis of implicit or explicit evidence

WK2

Making a Choice

Making a choice is the process of options and selecting one or more.

The choices you make are often driven by:

• .

• gut instinct.

• other opinions.

• a need to avoid certain .

© Edgenuity, Inc. 3

Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

InstructionPart 1

Actions and Words4

Indirect Characterization

Indirect characterization – when a character’s actions and speech character traits

Indirect characterization

What the character does

A character who spends timecleaning might be a tidy person.

The character talks back toeveryone around her.

Words, , dialogue

What the character says

2Slide

through actions:

Indirect characterization through

:

The reader can make an

that the characters

are nervous about riding the train, because:

• they “hold hands very tight.”

• they are concerned about the “right” train.

The reader can infer that the mother has regrets, because:

• she believes she is not “somebody.”

• she .

I could’ve been somebody, you know? my

mother says and sighs.

–“A Smart Cookie,” Sandra Cisneros

I hold her hand very tight while we wait

for the right train to arrive.

–“A Smart Cookie,” Sandra Cisneros

© Edgenuity, Inc. 4

Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

Sandra Cisneros (b. 1954)

• Was born in Chicago, Illinois

• Has brothers and no sisters

• Is best known for the novel The House on Mango Street

• Writes , short stories, and novels

• Features characters who are Latina in the United States

InstructionPart 1

7Slide

© Edgenuity, Inc. 5

Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

InstructionPart 2

Point of View

point of view – a device authors use to show is telling the story and how it is told

First person Second person Third person

I, , mine , your He, she,

Analyzing Perspective through Point of View

perspective – the way a character or person the world

Think about how the narrator views the world around him in this text. Then underline the words that show the narrator makes guesses about what the other character is thinking.

For a long time he doesn’t say anything else. I think that he’s sleeping, but then I see that he’s

watching me through half-closed lids, maybe waiting for my opinion of his writing. I’m trying

to think of something nice to say.

–“An Hour with Abuelo,” Judith Ortiz Cofer

4

2Slide

© Edgenuity, Inc. 6

Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

Judith Ortiz Cofer (b. 1952)

• Was born in in 1952

• Grew up in Patterson, New Jersey

• Spent at her grandmother’s house in Puerto Rico

• Keeps her family’s Puerto Rican and values

• Writes poetry, essays, short stories, creative nonfiction, and

InstructionPart 2

6Slide

© Edgenuity, Inc. 7

Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

InstructionPart 3

Comparing and Contrasting “A Smart Cookie” and “An Hour with Abuelo”

compare and contrast – to look for and differences

of these stories stress the importance of education. In “A Smart

Cookie,” the mother did not care about education, in “An Hour with

Abuelo,” the grandfather really cared about the importance of school.

I became a farmer. I married a good

woman who gave me many good children.

I taught them all how to read and write

before they started school.

–“An Hour with Abuelo,” Judith Ortiz Cofer

You want to know why I quit school?

Because I didn’t have nice clothes.

No clothes, but I had brains.

Yup, she says disgusted, stirring again.

I was a smart cookie then.

–“A Smart Cookie,” Sandra Cisneros

2Slide

© Edgenuity, Inc. 8

Summary Character and Perspective in Two Short Stories

?

Use this space to write any questions or thoughts about this lesson.

Answer

Lesson Question How does an author tell about choices and their consequences?