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.
“In the afternoon he groomed the Black until the stallion’s black body glistened, and his long mane fell smoothly down on his neck.”
“Suddenly he let loose on the reins and the stallion bolted. He gained momentum in mighty leaps.”
“Answering the pleas of the hundreds grouped around them, Alec took a few roses from the huge bow of flowers draped around the Black’s neck, and then threw the rest of them into the throng.”
“When he came up, his first thought was of the ship; then he heard an explosion, and he saw the Drake settling deep into the water.”
“Without stopping to think, Alec grabbed hold of [the rope]. Then he was pulled through the water, into the oncoming seas.”
“Alec forgot his problems in the beauty of the stallion as he swept along, grace in his swift stride, his black mane and tail flying.”
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Due Date:
Objective: Create a storyboard analyzing the differing points of view in The Black Stallion
Student Instructions:
Comparing different points of view lets students discover how narration changes a story’s impact. Highlighting these contrasts sharpens students’ critical reading skills and deepens their understanding of author choices.
Choose a short scene from The Black Stallion and rewrite it in both first-person (“I”) and third-person (“he/she”). Showing both versions helps students notice differences in information and tone.
Ask students to share what they notice about each version. Guide them to observe how the narrator’s position affects what the reader knows, feels, and imagines.
Draw two overlapping circles on the board. Label one “First-Person” and the other “Third-Person.” List unique and shared qualities from the class discussion in each section.
Have students pick a favorite moment from the story and rewrite it in both first-person and third-person. Encourage them to reflect on how each version changes the scene.
Point of view in The Black Stallion refers to how the story is told through Alec's perspective. Readers experience events and Alec’s thoughts as they happen, gaining insight into the author’s purpose and the story’s themes.
The author reveals Alec's thoughts and feelings by describing his reactions, inner dialogue, and emotional responses to events. This helps readers connect closely with Alec and understand his experiences.
Understanding point of view helps students see how information is presented, why certain details are included, and how the author shapes the reader’s understanding of characters and events.
An easy activity is to have students create a storyboard showing key scenes from Alec’s perspective and then from another character’s viewpoint. This visual exercise helps highlight differences in perspective.
Encourage students to find text evidence where Alec’s thoughts or feelings are described, and compare how events might be experienced differently by other characters. Discuss how this impacts the story’s meaning.