Narrator and Point of View. A narrator is a person or character who tells a story. If a story is told from the first-person point of view, the narrator takes part in the action and uses words such as I and we. If a story is told from the third-person point of view, the narrator stands apart from the action and uses words such as he, she, and they. As you read “The Third Level,” decide who the narrator is. Is the story told from the first-person point of view or from the third-person point of view?
Setting. The setting of a literary work is the time and place in which it happens. Writers create settings in many different ways. In fiction, setting is most often revealed by means of descriptions of landscape, scenery, buildings, furniture, clothing, the weather, and the season. It can also be revealed by how characters talk and behave. As you read, look for details about setting that indicate the time in which events are taking place. Why is setting so important in this story?
Irony. Irony is a difference between appearance and reality. An event that contradicts the expectations of the characters, the reader, or the audience of a literary work is an example of irony of situation. Look for an example of irony of situation as you read this story.
|
- Grand Central Station in New York City has traditionally been one of the busiest train terminals in the world. In fact, you have probably heard the common American simile, “as busy as Grand Central Station.” Today, the Grand Central Terminal is a 72-acre complex in downtown Manhattan. Thousands of commuters pass through the terminal every day and use the shops and restaurants there.
- History Connection. Grand Central Terminal took the place of an earlier station, Grand Central Depot. Grand Central Depot was built between 1869 and 1871. When it was replaced in 1913 by the current terminal, Grand Central Depot became the site for the first Madison Square Garden. Grand Central Terminal cost $43 million to build—a huge sum of money in the early 1900s.
|
