Point of view provides the eyes, ears, and thoughts of a character. By analyzing point of view, students can gather insight to the author’s purpose, theme, and voice. In this activity, students will examine the author’s point of view and identify ways it is unique in understanding elements of the story.
First person point of view allows readers to see everything through Greg’s eyes.
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Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that demonstrates the narrator's feelings at different parts of the text.
Encourage students to step into Greg's shoes by writing their own diary entries from his perspective. This activity helps students deepen their understanding of first-person point of view and character voice.
Guide students to recall memorable events or challenges Greg faces in the book. Listing these moments gives students concrete ideas to write about, making the activity relatable and fun.
Ask students to share how Greg felt or reacted during the selected events. Exploring his emotions helps students capture the authentic voice and perspective in their writing.
Write a sample entry on the board, thinking aloud about word choices and tone. This demonstration shows students how to infuse personality and detail into their own writing.
Encourage students to write their entries, then share with a partner or the class. Sharing builds confidence and allows students to appreciate different interpretations of Greg’s perspective.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid uses a first-person point of view, letting readers experience the story directly through Greg Heffley's thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
Students can identify the narrator’s feelings by looking for words or phrases that express emotions, desires, or reactions in the text, and by making inferences from the narrator’s actions and descriptions.
Analyzing point of view helps students understand the author’s purpose, theme, and character motivations, providing deeper insight into the story’s message and meaning.
Examples include Greg saying, “But then I found out who I DID have to wrestle…” and “The song is only three minutes long, but to me it felt like an hour and a half,” showing his personal perspective.
Teachers can have students identify the narrator’s feelings at different story points, select text examples, and draw or write about each scene to visually represent the narrator’s perspective.