Room Lesson Plan

What is the effect of having Jack as the narrator?

Jack is five years old. While his language may be more advanced than that of a typical five-year-old, his observations are not. At this point in the novel, hearing the story from Jack’s perspective has two major effects. First, it allows the reader to have a little bit of distance from the darkness and violence in Room. Second, it prompts the reader to read between the lines. For instance, Jack does not know anything about sex or rape, so the reader has to make those logical leaps. Students may also say that they find Jack’s language awkward or troubling at times. They may need to re-read certain sentences or be confused...