Narrative Point of View

1. Narrative Point of View

2. 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.

3. 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.”

4. 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.

5. THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW Pronouns used for Third Person: He She Him Her His, Hers They Them It

6. 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!”

7. 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!”

8. 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.