Toto Toto tells the story of The Wizard of Oz from the perspective of Dorothy’s dog, Toto. This is an extract from the text that introduces Toto’s voice as he chases Uncle Henry’s hat: “Anyways, I went chasing that hat of Uncle Henry’s just about all over Kansas, and caught up with it down by the creek where it landed in the water, and I dived right in, grabbed it in my teeth and trotted back home, head high, tail high, pretty darned pleased with myself. I could see her now, standing on the veranda of the farmhouse, and right behind her and I nearly right above her came this giant monster of a twister just a-roaring and a-raging, towering up into the sky, taking the barn with it, making splinters of it, and the fences too, and the rain tub, swirling and swallowing the lot.”
Storytelling challenge: Can you tell a story in the first person in the voice of a distinctive character?
You should: • Think of an exciting moment in a story. Describe the moment to a partner, telling the story in the first person, as if it is happening to you. • Remember to use personal pronouns (I, me, myself) and words and phrases that capture your character’s voice (like Toto’s “pretty darned pleased”).
You might: • Try telling your story from two different perspectives: first in the first person as if your character is telling it, and then again with a third person narrator (“Toto lay there in his basket”, rather than “I was lying in my basket”). How are the two ways of telling the story different? Which do you prefer?
Stuck for ideas? You could make up an entirely new story with new characters, or you could retell a story you know well already. If you get stuck, perhaps try to think of an exciting moment in a story, such as: • Your character is being chased • Your character is about to perform in front of the school • Your character is in the middle of a battle
Tell the story to a partner, trying to capture the voice of your character. Do they have a particular way of speaking? Do they use words or phrases unique to them?
Toto