First-Person Point of View. Point of view is the vantage point from which a story is told. If a story is told from the first-person point of view, the narrator takes part in the action and refers to himself or herself using words such as I and we. In some stories told from the first- person point of view, the reader understands more about what is happening than the narrator. As you read, ask yourself if you agree with the narrator’s interpretation of what is happening or if you think the narrator is misunderstanding the meaning of the events.
Characterization. Characterization is the act of creating or describing a character. Writers create character using three major techniques—1) by showing what characters say, do, or think; 2) by showing what other characters (and the narrator) say or think about them; and 3) by describing what physical
features, dress, and personality the characters display. Look for examples of each of these techniques as you read the story. Use the graphic organizer on the right as a model for keeping track of your examples. Use a separate graphic organizer for each of the two main characters.
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- In “An Hour with Abuelo,” a boy reluctantly visits his grandfather in a nursing home. Abuelo, the grand-father, grew up in a small mountain village of Puerto Rico, while Arturo, his grand-son, grew up in Brooklyn, New York. As in many family relationships that span generations as well as cultures, understanding one another’s problems, hopes, and dreams can be a challenge.
- The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico is a self-governing part of the United States. The current political status of Puerto Rico gives the Puerto Ricans virtually the same control over their internal affairs as citizens in the 50 states have. However, Puerto Ricans currently do not vote in presidential elections. In the late 1940s, Puerto Rico created its famous Operation Bootstrap program which attempted to raise the island’s per capita income and change its status as one of the poorest islands in the Caribbean. Operation Bootstrap encouraged manufacturing and the development of tourism, but despite its success, per capita income in Puerto Rico remained low in comparison to that of the rest of the United States. Many Puerto Ricans have chosen to emigrate to the United States in search of better oppor-tunities and higher incomes.
What is your ambition in life, and how do you expect to achieve it?
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