The Role of the Narrator in Blood Brothers
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Date:
19
th
October 2021
Title:
What is the role of the narrator?
Recap questions:
1.
What is the difference between a
proper noun and a common noun?
2.
What does the word ‘didactic’ mean?
3.
What is the definition of a
tragicomedy?
4.
What is the purpose of a prologue?
5.
What is the difference between a
symbol and a motif?
New knowledge / Pen to Paper
What is a narrator?
A narrator
is the person who tells the story .
There are three main types of narrative voice:
1.
First person
– one of the characters is narrating the story and uses the first
person pronoun ‘I’.
2.
Second Person
– structured around the ‘you’ pronoun but is very rare in novel-
length work.
3.
Third person
– the narrator is telling the story about the characters and refers to
them using the third person pronouns ‘he’ / ‘she’
a.
Third person omniscient
– the omniscient narrator knows everything about the
story and its characters. They can enter anyone’s mind, move freely through time
and give the reader their own opinions and observations as well as those of the
characters. This narrator also knows more than the characters – god’s-eye-
view.
b.
Third person limited
– the third person limited narrator sticks closely to one
character but remains in third person. They can see inside one character’s head
– their thoughts, feelings and sensations.
What type of narrator do you
think the narrator is in Blood
Brothers?
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-guide-to-point-of-view-
in-writing-definitions-and-examples#3-types-of-point-of-view
Talk partners
New knowledge
The concept of the narrator stems from the Greek
chorus
New knowledge
The concept of the narrator stems from the Greek chorus
A Greek Chorus is a theatrical device originating in ancient Greek
theatre involving a small group of performers—who are usually
unrelated to the central action of a story—commenting on the central
action of a play.
The chorus speaks directly to the audience and may not interact with
the main characters of a story at all.
Their purpose is to underscore the moral themes, actions, character
development, and messages of a story to the audience.
The Greek chorus was prevalent in classical Greek drama of the 5th
century BCE. Classical tragedy originated in Ancient Greek theatre,
with the chorus acting as a guiding voice to the audience, cluing them in
on shifts in the plot or a character’s inner state.
The chorus also would typically pronounce judgment on the fate of the
characters in the drama, heightening the tragic elements of the play.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/greek-chorus-guide#what-is-a-greek-chorus
New knowledge / Pen to paper
The function of the Greek chorus
•
Provides commentary on the action of a play
: Chorus members commenting
on the themes, messages, and unseen action of a play helped to guide
audiences to understand the intended progression of a narrative. Ancient
Greek theater typically involved one actor playing many different roles, and
the Greek chorus helped to clarify what was going on.
•
Draws the audience in
: The Greek chorus addresses the audience directly,
often engaging in wry commentary seeking to let the audience in on privileged
information.
•
Expresses a characters’ inner thoughts
: The Greek chorus is able to reveal a
main character’s emotions and motivations to the audience, even when they
are trying to hide them.
•
Gives principal actors a moment offstage
: Choral interludes allowed actors in
ancient Greece a moment to change backstage, often with actors playing
multiple characters needing a breather.
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/greek-chorus-guide#what-is-a-greek-chorus
To what extent does the narrator from Blood
Brothers fulfil the above roles?
Talk partners
Pen to paper
The function of the narrator in Blood Brothers – a textual
exploration
Provides
commentary
on the action of
a play?
Draws the
audience in?
Expresses a
characters’
inner
thoughts?.
Gives principal
actors a
moment
offstage?
Something
else?
Reflection
But who is the narrator in Blood Brothers?
The Narrator in Blood
Brothers represents the
public, who are often
judgemental and critical
when they hear the
headline news, before
they know all the facts.
The Narrator
represents
Willy Russell.
The Narrator
acts as the
conscience; of
the characters
in the play and
the audience.
The Narrator
represents the Devil,
because he is always
‘right behind’ the
characters, an
unseen part of their
lives.
What do you think?
The concept of the narrator in storytelling can be traced back to the Greek chorus in ancient Greek theater. In Blood Brothers, the narrator plays a significant role in guiding the audience through the story, providing commentary, and influencing the narrative's progression. Understanding the different types of narrators, such as first-person, second-person, and third-person omniscient or limited, can enhance the reader's experience of the text.
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Presentation Transcript
Date: 19th October 2021 Title: What is the role of the narrator? Recap questions: 1. What is the difference between a proper noun and a common noun? 2. What does the word didactic mean? 3. What is the definition of a tragicomedy? 4.What is the purpose of a prologue? 5.What is the difference between a symbol and a motif? Do it now Do it now Miss Odell is currently reading
New knowledge / Pen to PaperWhat is a narrator? in-writing-definitions-and-examples#3-types-of-point-of-view What type of narrator do you think the narrator is in Blood Brothers? New knowledge / Pen to Paper A narrator is the person who tells the story . There are three main types of narrative voice: 1. First person one of the characters is narrating the story and uses the first person pronoun I . 2. Second Person structured around the you pronoun but is very rare in novel- length work. 3. Third person the narrator is telling the story about the characters and refers to them using the third person pronouns he / she a. Third person omniscient the omniscient narrator knows everything about the story and its characters. They can enter anyone s mind, move freely through time and give the reader their own opinions and observations as well as those of the characters. This narrator also knows more than the characters god s-eye- view. b. Third person limited the third person limited narrator sticks closely to one character but remains in third person. They can see inside one character s head their thoughts, feelings and sensations. Talk partners https://www.masterclass.com/articles/complete-guide-to-point-of-view-
The concept of the narrator stems from the Greek chorus New knowledge New knowledge
The concept of the narrator stems from the Greek chorus A Greek Chorus is a theatrical device originating in ancient Greek theatre involving a small group of performers who are usually unrelated to the central action of a story commenting on the central action of a play. The chorus speaks directly to the audience and may not interact with the main characters of a story at all. Their purpose is to underscore the moral themes, actions, character development, and messages of a story to the audience. The Greek chorus was prevalent in classical Greek drama of the 5th century BCE. Classical tragedy originated in Ancient Greek theatre, with the chorus acting as a guiding voice to the audience, cluing them in on shifts in the plot or a character s inner state. The chorus also would typically pronounce judgment on the fate of the characters in the drama, heightening the tragic elements of the play. New knowledge New knowledge https://www.masterclass.com/articles/greek-chorus-guide#what-is-a-greek-chorus
The function of the Greek chorus Provides commentary on the action of a play: Chorus members commenting on the themes, messages, and unseen action of a play helped to guide audiences to understand the intended progression of a narrative. Ancient Greek theater typically involved one actor playing many different roles, and the Greek chorus helped to clarify what was going on. Draws the audience in: The Greek chorus addresses the audience directly, often engaging in wry commentary seeking to let the audience in on privileged information. Expresses a characters inner thoughts: The Greek chorus is able to reveal a main character s emotions and motivations to the audience, even when they are trying to hide them. Gives principal actors a moment offstage: Choral interludes allowed actors in ancient Greece a moment to change backstage, often with actors playing multiple characters needing a breather. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/greek-chorus-guide#what-is-a-greek-chorus New knowledge / Pen to paper New knowledge / Pen to paper Talk partners To what extent does the narrator from Blood Brothers fulfil the above roles?
The function of the narrator in Blood Brothers a textual exploration Provides commentary on the action of a play? Draws the audience in? Expresses a characters inner thoughts?. Gives principal actors a moment offstage? Something else? Pen to paper Pen to paper
But who is the narrator in Blood Brothers? The Narrator represents the Devil, because he is always right behind the characters, an unseen part of their lives. The Narrator acts as the conscience; of the characters in the play and the audience. The Narrator in Blood Brothers represents the public, who are often judgemental and critical when they hear the headline news, before they know all the facts. The Narrator represents Willy Russell. Reflection Reflection What do you think?
