"Shifting Perspectives"
Key Concepts
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Narrative Filtering: The way a narrator's personality and biases color the information they provide.
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Empathy in Writing: Using creative writing to understand the "other" side of a conflict.
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The "I" Witness: Exploring the limitations of first-person narration (they can't know what they can't see).
Examples & Applications
| Scene & Context | Original Perspective | New Perspective & Insight |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gatsby's Shirts (The Great Gatsby) | Nick: Sees a display of wealth and Daisy's odd emotional reaction. | Daisy: Reveals her overwhelming regret and the "suffocating" nature of her life choices. |
| Mercutio's Death (Romeo & Juliet) | Mercutio: Focuses on his wit and "A plague o' both your houses!" | Benvolio: Focuses on the panic of the peacekeeper and the immediate horror of the escalating feud. |
| The Dangerous Shortcut (Fantasy) | Hero: Feels hesitant but trusts the "wise" advisor. | Advisor: Reveals a treacherous hidden agenda and cynical satisfaction at the hero's naivety. |
Memory Aids
Interactive tools to help you remember key concepts
Memory Tools
Imagine the original story was filmed with a camera on the hero's head. Shifting perspectives is like moving that camera to the shoulder of the person standing opposite them.
Memory Tools
Every time you shift perspective, check the Sensory focus, the Subtext, and the Subjectivity.
Flash Cards
Glossary
- Voice
The individual writing style or "personality" of a character.