Who is the narrator and protagonist of the True Grit novel?

• A. Rooster Cogburn
• B. Tom Chaney
• C. Mattie Ross
• D. Ned Pepper

Answer: (C)

Identifying who tells the story and drives the action. In True Grit, the narrative is presented in the first person by Mattie Ross, and she is the central character whose pursuit of justice shapes the entire plot. Her voice, memories, and decisions frame what happens, so she serves as both narrator and protagonist. Rooster Cogburn is a major companion who helps carry out the mission, but he does not narrate the tale and is not the story’s focal point from Mattie’s perspective. Tom Chaney is the murderer they chase, and Ned Pepper is an outlaw they encounter; neither of them is the narrator or the main driver of the story.