In this activity, students will examine the author’s point of view and identify ways this view is unique in understanding elements of the story.
“I put my face down near Shiloh’s again, my mouth next to his ear. ‘Live, Shiloh, Live!’ I whisper.”
David sees the pen and notices the blood on the ground, so Marty tells David about Shiloh and how he was attacked.
Marty blackmails Judd; he agrees to keep quiet about the deer and will do twenty hours of work in exchange for Shiloh.
"A lie don’t seem a lie anymore when it’s meant to save a dog, and right and wrong’s all mixed up in my head."
Marty thinks about holding up a sign that says, “FREE: WORLD’S BEST DOG”.
“I bend over, my forehead against him, my hand on his head. He’s dead, I know it! I’m screaming inside.”
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard analyzing the differing points of view in Shiloh.
Student Instructions:
Help students deepen their understanding by asking them to imagine how another character in Shiloh sees the story. Assign each student a different character (like Judd or David) and have them write a short journal entry describing their feelings about a key event. This builds empathy and critical thinking.
Guide students to list possible feelings and reasons for their assigned character’s actions. For example, why might Judd be angry or defensive? This step helps students write more realistic and insightful journal entries.
Show students how to reference specific details from the story to back up their writing. For instance, students can quote a line or describe an event that influenced their character’s perspective.
Invite students to share their journal entries in pairs or small groups. Discuss how each character’s view changes the way we understand the story, highlighting the importance of multiple perspectives.
Shiloh is told from a first-person point of view, with Marty as the narrator. Readers experience the story through Marty's thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences.
Marty’s personal perspective allows readers to understand his emotions, inner conflicts, and motivations, making the story more relatable and immersive.
The first person point of view helps readers connect closely with Marty and see the dilemmas he faces, especially about honesty and protecting Shiloh.
Students can create a storyboard to illustrate scenes from different characters' perspectives, compare their thoughts, and discuss how each viewpoint changes the understanding of the story.
Effective activities include storyboarding scenes, writing journal entries from various characters, and having discussions about how the narrator’s perspective affects the story.