Narrative Point of View

What is Point of View?

• Refers to the perspective from which a story is told to the reader.

• First and Third Person are the most common narrative types.

• Second person is not usually used in fiction writing.

FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW

• Uses the pronouns I, Me, We, and Us to tell a story.

• The narrator is often the major observer in the story

• The reader can see only what the narrator sees and chooses to share.

• The narrator is frequently the main character in the story ,and the reader is supposed to identify with him or her.

• Example: “I went to the store and bought some dinner for us.”

SECOND PERSON POINT OF VIEW

• The narrator tells “you” about something

• Usually used for instructions: (cookbooks, How-To Books, etc.)

• Not usually used in fiction writing

• Ex: First, you should wash your hands.

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

Third PersonObjective

Third Person Omniscient

Third PersonLimited

Pronouns used forThird Person:

HeSheHimHerHis, Hers TheyThemIt

THIRD PERSON OBJECTIVE

• The narrator tells a story about someone else and does not explain any character’s thoughts or feelings. (Emotionless)

• The reader finds out about character’s feelings through actions or dialogue.

• Ex: He walked down the street. A man drove by and yelled, “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

THIRD PERSON LIMITED

• The narrator tells a story and shows one character’s thoughts or feelings in writing.

Ex: Sad that his girlfriend had left him, Ben wasn’t paying attention as he walked down the street. A man drove by and yelled, “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT

• The narrator tells a story and shows more than one character’s thoughts or feelings. The narrator is “all knowing”. (“Santa” or a “Higher Being” in a religion)

•Ex: Sad that his girlfriend had left him, Ben wasn’t paying attention ashe walked down the street. Tom was also having a bad day, and as he was driving by Ben, Tom tried to startle him: “Hey, watch whereyou’re going!” Tom yelled rudely.