Question

After school, I met up with Felix and a few other friends at the skate park. Felix is my best
friend, and we have both been trying to learn this new skateboarding trick for a few weeks.
Anyway, last night, as I was skating home from Felix’s house, I finally pulled off the trick! I was
sure that Felix would be happy for me, so I thought about texting him that night to tell him. But
then I thought that it would be more fun to just show him the next day.
So, today, I rolled up at the skate park and said, “Hey Felix, check this out.” I tried and landed
the trick on the first try. He nodded without smiling or showing excitement and said, “Nice, Josh.
You nailed it.” Felix has always been a quiet person who doesn’t show much emotion, so I have
always had trouble reading him—whether he is happy or sad or excited or whatever. This time
was no different. I had no idea if he was excited for me or was maybe a little jealous that I got the
trick before he did. Or maybe he thought I was trying to show off? I wasn’t sure if I should ask him
about it.
1. From which point of view is the passage told? How can you tell?
2. Is the narrator a character in the passage? How can you tell?
3. How does the passage’s point of view affect what readers know about the characters’
thoughts and feelings?
4. From which point of view would the story need to be written for readers to know Felix’s
thoughts and feelings? Explain.
5. How does the narrative point of view used in this passage help readers identify with the
narrator and the potential conflict he faces?

Answer 1

1. First-person point of view. The narrator uses "I," "we," and "my" throughout (e.g., "I met up," "I finally pulled off the trick," "my best friend"), which shows the story is told from the narrator’s own perspective.

2. Yes — the narrator is a character in the passage. He speaks about his own actions and feelings and is even identified by another character when Felix says, “Nice, Josh. You nailed it.” That shows the narrator is Josh and is participating in the scene.

3. Because it’s first-person, readers get direct access only to the narrator’s thoughts and feelings (his excitement, uncertainty, interpretations of Felix’s reaction). We do not get direct access to Felix’s interior state; we only learn about Felix through his words, expressions, and the narrator’s interpretations. This limited viewpoint creates ambiguity about what Felix actually feels.

4. To know Felix’s thoughts and feelings, the story would need either:
- a third-person omniscient narrator (who can report the inner thoughts of any character), or
- a point of view switch to Felix himself (first-person from Felix or third-person limited focused on Felix).
Either of these would allow the reader direct access to Felix’s internal reactions instead of relying on Josh’s guesses.

5. The first-person narrator makes readers identify with Josh by giving intimate access to his emotions, doubts, and internal questions (e.g., wondering whether Felix is jealous, unhappy, or thinks he’s showing off). The limited perspective also creates the social tension and uncertainty Josh faces—readers feel the same ambiguity and empathy because they experience the situation through his eyes rather than being told the “true” feelings of others.