Narrator’s point of view

1. Read and Identify Narrator’s point of view

2. Definitions • Narrative: A narrative is a story that describes a sequence of events. • Narrator: The person or entity telling the story to the reader. • Point of View: The vantage point, or “viewing angle,” of the narrator. • Omniscient: “All Knowing.” It’s Latin: • Omnis = All • Sciens = Knowing

3. Author, Narrator, Reader: P.O.V. Writes A Story Author Narrator Tells that Story To the Reader!

4. The Narrator is a “Lens” Author Reader Narrator

5. Author, Narrator, Reader • Or, in other words: The author doesn’t tell the story to the reader. The author creates a narrator that tells the story to the reader.

6. First-Person POV • The narrator is a character in the story who: • Refers to himself or herself as “I” within the narrative • Tells the of events that happened to himself or herself • Is limited by what they can see and hear • Limits the reader to knowing only their personal opinions of events and other people

7. Third-Person Omniscient POV • The narrator is not a character in the story, but an “all-knowing” omniscient being (or entity) that automatically knows: • Everything that has happened in the story’s past • Everything that is happening in the story right now • Everything that happens anywhere in any place • Everything that happens inside the minds of any character • Everything that will happen in the story’s future

8. Third-Person Limited POV • The narrator is not a character in the story, but a storyteller that hovers close to one character. The Third Person Limited narrator knows: • Only what one character knows happened in the past • Only what one character knows is happening right now • Only what happens in that one character’s surroundings • Only what happens in that one character’s mind • Only what that character can guess will happen in the future

9. Summarize the Differences • First Person – the narrator is a character in the story. • Third Person – The narrator is NOT a character in the story. • Limited – The narrator can only see some things, or one thing at a time. • Omniscient – The narrator sees and knows everything all the time.

10. Summarize the Similarities • First Person & Third Person Limited • Both tell the story from a limited vantage point. • The reader gets limited information from one viewing angle in the story. • In longer stories, the viewing angle can change, but the story is always told from one viewing angle at a time. • Third Person: Limited & Omniscient • Both are NOT characters in the story, that’s why you call both of these “Third Person.”

11. Tell a Fractured Fairy Tale • Get into writing teams of four. • Pick a fairy tale to re-write. • You ALL must participate in the process of re-telling this story. • Write a new version from either Third Person Limited or First Person. • Show how the different points of view make the stories different using the Venn Diagram. • Good story suggestions: • Hansel and Gretel • Goldilocks and the Three Bears • The Three Little Pigs • Little Red Riding Hood • Three Billy Goats Gruff • Cinderella • The Frog Prince