JOURNAL 22

• PART 1• What is an unreliable narrator?• Who are some examples of unreliable

narrators in stories/shows/films?

THE UNRELIABLE NARRATOR

Any character in a story/film whose narration of current or transpired events cannot be

completely accepted as truth by the audience. The reasons could vary. Look at the following

films for examples. 

PART 2-FILM VIEWING: Identifying the traits of an unreliable narrator

Watching the scene from the movie ____________________, identify five examples (the main character’s experiences) that reveal the main character _________________________ is unreliable. 

What can you conclude about this character? Why is he the way he his? What causes his point of view to be flawed?

CHOOSE ONE CHARACTER• Baker• Carpenter• Chef• Teacher• Football player• Construction worker• Wall Street Broker• Painter • Hunter• Nanny• Chef• Policeman• Scientist• Doctor• Ballerina

Choose an action• Lies to family• Cheats in card games.• Steals babies• Kills animals• Makes people cry• Dissects the brains of liars• Breaks up couples in love• Sucks people’s blood• Bombs cell phone towers• Eats rodents• Sells drugs• Locks people in closets• Harvests people’s organs• Burns forests• Leaves their infant at their neighbor’s doorstep.

Choose a reasonHas AmnesiaHas insomniaIs a sociopath/psychopathNeeds moneyLoves the thrill of itBelieves they(the subject in column 2) is evilThinks happiness is overratedThinks they are a vampireIs schizophrenic Loves blood.

Fears technology.Believes they need to save the world.Believe the world is overpopultedDon’t know they are deadBelieves the apocalypse has arrived.

½ page freewrite

• In the POV of the character you just created, write a half page revealing him/her as an unreliable narrator.

• You may choose to reveal the reason for their actions right away, hint at it throughout, or reveal it at the very end.