11.9.23 DOL

First-person point of view refers to the perspective from which a poem is narrated or told. In first-person point of view, the narrator is a character within the text, and they use pronouns like "you,” “yours," etc.

• True

• False

This question has two parts. First, answer Part A. Then answer Part B.

Part A

What is the author’s point of view in the poem?

• First person point of view from the grandfather’s perspective.

• Third person point of view from the grandfather’s perspective.

• First person point of view from the grandson’s perspective.

• 1. Third person point of view from the grandson’s perspective.

Part B

Which line from the poem expresses the point of view?

• playing softball on the weekend, (line 8)

• hands. The match is on. (line 15)

• pushes my arm down,(line 20)

• secretly glad (line 33)

Which lines of the poem contribute to the speaker’s voice about the connection he has with this grandfather?

• 1. My grandfather claims he’s too old to roughhouse, can’t

  see well enough to play catch, 

  says his sports days are all in the past. (lines 1-3)

  
  

• 1. I know it wasn’t always so

  when I look at the pictures in the hall—

  my grandfather playing football in high school, (lines 4-6)

  
  

• 1. We roll up our sleeves, face each other across

  the kitchen table, square ourselves. We clasp

  hands. The match is on. (lines 13-15)

  
  

• 1. Slowly, steadily, he presses my arm down.

  My knuckles hit the table

  and my grandfather slaps me on the back. (lines 24-26)

  
  

Read these lines from the poem.

How do these sentences contribute to the speaker’s voice in the poem?

• By suggesting that the speaker is aware that time with his grandfather is precious.

• By suggesting that the speaker develops a sense of curiosity about his grandfather.

• By showing that the speaker believes his grandfather was going to win anyways.

• By showing that the speaker does not have any connection with his grandfather.

How would the poem change if it was written from the perspective of the grandfather? 

Use the RAC strategy

If the speaker of the poem was the grandfather…