Child Narrators Essay

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Child Narrators The process of writing fiction and short stories allows for much imagination. Authors often write humorous, real-life or even extravagant story lines that take on many varieties and points of view. Often, authors find that using different points of view can add to a plot and sometimes make a story more exciting. Age and gender are arguably the most important characteristics an author has to choose from when picking out a point of view for his or her narrator. These characteristics can influence the opinions and even the interpretations of a reader which is why the author’s decision is vital in how he or she wants the story to be viewed. There are many reasons why authors choose child narrators when writing story. There is usually a lesson to be learned when writing a short story or fiction. What better narrator to use than an innocent child, right? Children’s inexperience to life is a great way for authors to create lesson learning, life-like situations for readers by demonstrating bad decision making. For example, Jackie in “First Confession” is a young boy consumed by his emotions and driven by strong views of his grandmother and sister. He threatens his sister with a butter knife and refuses to eat grandma’s cooked meals because of his reluctance to show any approval of either of them. The hypocrisy he sees in both of them leads him in refusal to interact and even shun them from his life. He eventually plots to kill his own grandmother! Most readers would agree that killing your grandmother is a little drastic, but other may sympathize with Jackie’s feelings. Either way, readers recognize that sibling rivalry and elderly rebellion is common in young children, whether or not the reader has been a victim or offender of either. Children regularly can express themselves by saying things like “I hate you” or “I’m never talking to you
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