Top 6 Best Lessons on 'Narrating Stories from a Narrative Perspective Combined with Descriptive and Expressive Writing'

1. Review of Narrative Perspectives

Review the key points about narrative perspectives in storytelling from 6th-grade literature by answering the following questions: a) How is a first-person narrative told? What is a third-person narrative, and what is the purpose of each narrative perspective? b) Provide examples of first-person and third-person narratives from notable literary works or excerpts you've studied. c) Why do narrators change perspectives? Answers: a. In the first-person narrative, the narrator uses 'I' to tell the story and express personal feelings, making the narrative more vivid and authentic. In the third-person narrative, the narrator remains detached, offering an objective and flexible view of the story. b. Examples: First-person - 'I Go to School'; Third-person - 'The Breaking Point of Water,' 'The Last Leaf'. c. The narrator changes perspective to suit the author’s intent, creating a more dynamic and varied narrative experience, enriching the portrayal of events, people, and settings.

2. Preparing for the Oral Presentation

Recount the following excerpt from the perspective of Mrs. Dậu using the first-person narrative. The narrative perspective can be altered in the introductory dialogue while maintaining the original wording. The pronouns for Mr. Dậu can also be changed, and some phrases in the dialogue can be altered for effect.

Example Response:

I was stunned, my face drained, quickly placing my child on the ground and rushing to stop him. 'Please, sir, my child has just woken up, spare us!' I begged. 'Spare you? Spare you?' He shouted, but his hands didn’t stop—he struck me several times and lunged toward my husband to tie him up. My anger surged, and I couldn't take it anymore. I fought back, shouting, 'My husband is sick, you have no right to torment him!' The official slapped me across the face and advanced toward my husband. I gritted my teeth and said, 'Tie my husband up, and you’ll see!' I grabbed him by the neck, pushing him out the door. His weak resistance crumbled under my force, and he fell, still cursing. The village head’s assistant tried to intervene, but I quickly grabbed his stick. We struggled, pushed, and eventually, both dropped the stick, grappling with each other. My children screamed in the background. In the end, the 'servant of the official' proved weaker than me, and I grabbed him by the hair, throwing him out onto the porch.

I. BASIC KNOWLEDGE TO MASTER

- Speak according to the prescribed content: storytelling combined with description and expression.

- Speak according to the prescribed rules: correct narrative perspective, accurate character dialogue, clear and fluent speech, with expression, etc.

Therefore, in order to effectively practice storytelling from a narrative perspective combined with description and expression, students need to review some aspects of storytelling in narrative writing that were learned in grade 6. Below is one of the concepts covered in class.

1. Narrative Perspective in Narrative Writing

When telling a story, the narrator must decide on the narrative perspective. The narrative perspective is the communication position the storyteller uses when narrating. There are two common narrative perspectives:

- Third-person narration: The narrator hides their identity, remaining unseen while recounting a story about someone else.

- First-person narration: The narrator uses “I” to directly tell about their experiences, thoughts, and emotions.

2. Examples of Narrative Perspectives

a) First-person narration

ONCE UPON A TIME

I didn’t want to tell this story because I was so embarrassed. But anyway, I’ll share it with you. Everyone thought I had a real toothache, but I wasn’t actually suffering from swollen gums.

I put a piece of tissue in my mouth, making my cheek puff up. I made a painful face and groaned, “Oh, my tooth hurts so much!” I hoped no one would ask me to read aloud. The teacher believed me, and my classmates did too. They all felt sorry for me and were concerned. Meanwhile, I pretended to be in pain. The teacher said:

- Go home! Your tooth hurts so much!

But I didn’t want to go home. I kept pushing the tissue around in my mouth and thought to myself, “I’ve fooled everyone! How clever I am!”

Suddenly, a classmate shouted:

- Look, now the swelling has moved to the other side of your face!

(From Vietnamese 2, Educational Publishing House, Hanoi, 2000)

b) Third-person narration

THE SHOW-OFF ROSE

A rose bloomed. It was very proud of itself:

- I’m more beautiful than the sun.

But then the sun set. The night came. The rose turned gray. Without the sun, everything turned gray.

(From Writing Exercises 7)

THE STINGY WOMAN AND THE AXE SOUP

A stingy woman refused to give anything to anyone. One day, a soldier returned from battle, hungry, but knowing the woman’s stingy nature, he only asked to borrow her axe to make soup. Borrowing an axe to make soup wouldn’t cost her anything, so she agreed. The soldier cleaned the axe, put it into a pot, and boiled it for a long time. He tasted it and said it was good, but added, “If only you had some flour to add, it would taste even better. I’ll invite you to try this special soup.” The woman gave him a little flour. He tasted it again and said, “If only there were some butter and salt, it would be perfect.” The woman gave him those too. In the end, the soldier invited her to taste the “axe soup.” It was delicious. He even managed to get some bread. The woman was puzzled as to how the soldier made such a tasty soup. Meanwhile, the soldier silently laughed inside.

(From Pham Ho, in Writing about Descriptions and Narratives, Educational Publishing House, Hanoi, 1991)

II. PRACTICE GUIDELINES

1. Preparing to Narrate

To effectively tell the story of the conflict between Ms. Dau and the headman's family, you should:

- Determine the narrative perspective

The excerpt in the textbook is written in the third person. Now, you need to change it to the first-person perspective – Ms. Dau’s perspective. This requires converting the character names to “I” and adjusting certain words to match the first-person narrative style.

- Outline the structure for the narrative

The excerpt can be divided into three scenes:

+ Scene 1: Ms. Dau begging the headman’s family to release her husband.

+ Scene 2: The headman’s family being arrogant and intimidating towards Ms. Dau.

+ Scene 3: Ms. Dau fighting back against the headman’s family.

- Plan the narration style

+ Pay attention that this is a first-person narrative, so events should be viewed and evaluated from this perspective.

+ Expressive elements should appear in the narrator’s dialogue with other characters. At this point, the author immerses themselves into the character to express their emotions and attitudes. Therefore, when narrating, focus on pronouns such as “I” and other words that indicate feelings, like “I beg you” or “Please let me see.”

2. Begin the Narration

I turned pale, hurriedly placed the child on the ground, and ran over to grab his arm:

- I beg you, sir, my family just woke up, please let us go.

- Let you go! Let you go!

He said this as he pushed me hard in the chest, then lunged to tie up my husband.

I was so angry that I couldn’t take it anymore, and I shouted back:

- My husband is sick, you’re not allowed to hurt him!

The officer slapped me hard across the face and ran over to my husband. I clenched my teeth:

- You tie him up right now, and I’ll show you!

Then I grabbed his neck and shoved him out the door. The man’s strength couldn’t match my pushing, and he fell flat on the ground, still yelling at me to tie up both of us.

The headman’s family saw this and charged at me with sticks ready to strike. In an instant, I grabbed one of their sticks. We struggled for a while, then finally collided with each other. My children were crying loudly. Finally, the weaker of the headman’s assistants was thrown out the door by me.

Note:

- Narrate slowly, using conversational language.

- The tone of the dialogue should reflect the character’s attitude and feelings, clearly distinguishing it from the narrator’s voice.

- Avoid narrating with a monotonous voice from start to finish.

A. OBJECTIVES

- Be able to present a story clearly, concisely, and vividly, incorporating both description and emotional expression.

- Review narrative perspective.

B. GUIDANCE FOR ANSWERING QUESTIONS AND EXERCISES

1. Review of Narrative Perspective

Review the information about narrative perspective in narrative texts (storytelling) in Vietnamese Literature 6, Volume 1 by answering the following questions:

a) What is first-person narration? What is third-person narration? Explain the effect of each perspective.

b) Provide examples of first-person and third-person narration from previously studied literary works or excerpts.

c) Why do narrators sometimes change narrative perspectives?

Guidance

a) First-person narration: The narrator directly recounts events they have heard, seen, or experienced. In this perspective, the narrator is a participant in the story, allowing them to express their thoughts and emotions, making the narrative more authentic and persuasive. The narrator typically uses "I" in first-person narration.

Third-person narration: The narrator remains detached, referring to characters by name or pronouns. This allows for more flexibility and a broader view of the narrative.

>> Additional Reading: Lesson 14 - Quiet Sapa (Excerpt)

b) The stories "I Went to School" and "In My Mother's Arms" are narrated in the first-person perspective, while "Turbulent Waters" and "The Last Leaf" are narrated in the third-person perspective.

c) Changing narrative perspective allows the narrator to examine characters and events from different viewpoints, adding diversity and richness to the description of people, places, and events.

2. Preparing for Speaking Practice

Read the following excerpt and retell it from the perspective of the character Chị Dậu.

Guidance

- The passage is originally narrated in the third person (the author Ngô Tất Tố hides their perspective). When retelling it in the first-person perspective, Chị Dậu becomes the narrator, and thus, the narrative, observations, and emotions must align with the character's point of view. Some words will need to change, such as: "Chị Dậu" becomes "I", "Anh Dậu" becomes "my husband" or "my house"; dialogues must be transformed into narrative speech, and descriptive or emotional passages should be adjusted accordingly.

- For example, we can change the following:

I was scared, quickly placing the child on the ground and rushing to take his hand:

- Please, sir, my house just recovered from illness, please spare us!

- Spare you? Spare you! He said while slapping my chest repeatedly and advancing to tie up my husband.

At that moment, overcome with anger, I desperately fought back:

- My husband is ill, you have no right to harm him!

The officer slapped me hard, and then he moved toward my house.

Angry, I clenched my teeth:

- Tie my husband up, let's see how you handle this!

I grabbed his collar and shoved him out the door. The strength of this man, addicted to drugs, couldn't match my pushing force. He fell flat on the ground, still shouting threats about tying up my husband and me.

The officers of the village chief tried to step in, but I quickly seized the staff from one of them. A struggle ensued, pushing and shoving, until both let go, wrestling with each other. My children cried loudly. Eventually, the officer was weaker than me, and I pulled his hair, throwing him onto the porch.

SPEAKING PRACTICE IN CLASS

Tell the story in the first-person perspective to the class. (While narrating, focus on descriptive and emotional elements.)

Guidance

- Distinguish between dialogue and narrative speech.

- Combine storytelling with gestures, expressions, and attitude.

- Stick closely to the original text retold from the first-person perspective.

I. Preparation at Home

a. Review Knowledge and Skills About Narrative Perspective

The narrative perspective is the position from which a story is told. It is usually represented by pronouns in the narration.

- First-person perspective: using "I" (e.g., "I Go to School", "In My Mother's Heart");

- Third-person perspective: the narrator remains unseen, recounting events as if the characters themselves are telling the story or as an omniscient observer (e.g., "The River Flooded", "The Last Leaf"). The third-person perspective allows greater freedom in observing and narrating events.

The first-person narrator (I) is limited to telling only what "I" know or have experienced.

b. Home Preparation

Question 1: Retell the following excerpt from the perspective of Mrs. Dậu in the first-person:

Change the pronouns in the narrative, keeping the dialogue intact; replace the pronouns for Mr. Dậu with "my husband", e.g., "The official slapped me on the face, then rushed toward my husband"; adjust some descriptive details for the first-person perspective.

"The village official rushed towards me with a stick, ready to strike. Quickly, I grabbed the stick from him. We struggled, then I dropped the stick, tackling him to the ground. My children cried loudly. In the end, I pulled his hair and threw him to the ground."

Question 2: Present the story to the class according to your preparation at home:

- Pay attention to adjusting your voice to match the first-person narrative, especially during dialogue;

- Emphasize descriptive and expressive elements from the first-person perspective.

II. Speaking Practice in Class

The village official was relentless, ignoring the dire situation of my family as he rushed to restrain my husband. I immediately put my child down and ran to beg him for mercy. But he was arrogant, shouting and striking my chest painfully. I endured, but he moved forward, insisting on taking my husband. Overcome with rage, I could no longer bear his cruelty. Without thinking about myself, I resisted: "My husband is sick, you cannot harm him." At that moment, he slapped me again and moved toward my husband. Unable to control my fury, I gritted my teeth and shouted, "Tie my husband up and see what happens!" I grabbed his neck and shoved him out the door. He fell helplessly to the ground, still shouting to restrain us.

Answer to question 1 (page 109, Literature 8, Volume 1): Review on narrative perspectives

- Which texts have you read that are told from the first-person perspective, and which are told from the third-person perspective?

- Have you encountered any shifts in narrative perspective within these texts? Why is it necessary to change the narrative perspective?

Detailed explanation:

- The narrative perspective is the viewpoint used by the storyteller to recount events.

- It is often expressed through the use of personal pronouns. Sometimes, the story is told from the first-person perspective – using “I” (e.g., “I Go to School,” “In the Mother’s Heart”), and sometimes from the third-person perspective – where the narrator remains invisible but omnipresent, recounting the story as though from a character’s own perspective or a detached “someone else” (e.g., “The Water Breaks,” “The Last Leaf”). The third-person perspective allows more freedom in recounting events, offering a broader view, while the first-person perspective restricts the narrator to what they personally know and experience. Depending on the purpose, the narrative perspective may shift to create distinct stylistic nuances or adjust the narrative focus.

Answer to question 2 (page 110, Literature 8, Volume 1): Preparation for oral practice

Read the excerpt below and retell it from the perspective of Sister Dau (first-person narrative):

“Sister Dau's face turned pale as she hastily placed the child on the ground and rushed to grab his hand:

- Please, sir, my child has just recovered. Please let him go!

- Let go! Let go!

As he spoke, he punched Sister Dau in the chest a few times before moving closer to tie up Brother Dau.

Seemingly overwhelmed by anger, Sister Dau fiercely resisted:

- My husband is ill, you have no right to harm him!

The officer slapped Sister Dau hard, then proceeded to move toward Brother Dau.

Sister Dau gritted her teeth:

- Tie up my husband, I dare you!

She grabbed him by the neck and shoved him out the door. The officer’s swift reflexes couldn't match the strength of the determined woman, and he fell flat on the ground, still shouting to tie up the couple.

The local police officer moved forward to strike Sister Dau. Swiftly, Sister Dau grabbed the officer’s stick. They wrestled and pushed against each other before both letting go of the weapon, turning the encounter into a physical confrontation. The children cried out in distress. In the end, the officer was overpowered by the stronger woman and was knocked to the ground with his hair yanked out by Sister Dau.”

(Ngô Tất Tố, “Lighting the Lanterns”)

Detailed explanation:

- Change the pronouns in the narrative and dialogue as needed; the third-person reference to Brother Dau can be replaced with “my husband” (e.g., “The officer slapped me once, then moved to my husband.”); modify the dialogue accordingly (e.g., “Furious and unable to tolerate any longer, I fought back:”). Adjust descriptive details and emotional expressions as necessary.

- Write the entire retelling in a complete narrative form and practice telling it aloud at home.

I - Preparation at Home
1. Review the Narrative Voice
Review and revisit the topics about narrative voice in the storytelling section from Vietnamese Literature 6, Book One by answering the following questions:
Question A, Part I, page 109 - Vietnamese Literature 8, Book 1:
The narrative voice is the position from which the narrator tells the story. It is usually represented by the pronouns used in the narrative.
First-person narration is when the storyteller refers to themselves using the pronoun 'I' in the story. In this mode, the narrator can directly convey what they have heard, seen, or experienced, including their personal thoughts and emotions, thus enhancing the authenticity and believability of the story. Third-person narration is when the narrator refers to characters by their names. This allows the narrator to tell the story freely and flexibly from multiple perspectives.
First-person narration ('I') is more limited than third-person narration, as the narrator can only share what they know or have personally witnessed.
Question B, Part I, page 109 - Vietnamese Literature 8, Book 1: A few examples:
- First-person narrative: 'In the Mother's Heart', 'I Go to School', 'Lao Hac', ...
- Third-person narrative: 'The Burst of the Dam', 'The Little Match Girl', ...
Question C, Part I, page 109 - Vietnamese Literature 8, Book 1: Depending on the specific plot and context, the writer chooses the appropriate narrative voice. Sometimes, a story may use different narrative voices to provide diverse perspectives and add dynamism, enriching the descriptions of events, characters, and emotions.

2. Prepare for Oral Practice (page 110 - Vietnamese Literature 8, Book 1)
Read the following excerpt and retell it in the first-person narrative of Chi Dau (using the first-person voice). Modify the pronouns in the narration while keeping the dialogue intact; replace the pronoun for Chi Dau's husband (use 'my husband', e.g. 'The officer slapped my face hard, then he jumped beside my husband'). Change some of the wording in the narrative, e.g. 'So angry, I couldn't take it anymore, I bravely resisted.' Adjust descriptive details and expressions, e.g. 'The headman's son's henchman stepped forward with a club, ready to strike me. I quickly grabbed the club and struggled with him, pushing and shoving. After a while, I let go of the club and grappled with him. My two children were crying loudly. Eventually, I grabbed his hair and threw him onto the floor.'

II - In-Class Oral Practice
Recount the above story in the first person to the class. (While telling, pay attention to descriptive elements and expressions).
Students will perform the retelling in class.

– Be sure to adjust your tone to fit the first-person perspective, especially in the dialogue.
– Emphasize descriptive and emotional elements while using the first-person voice.