Point of View

1. Point of View Bless Me, Ultima Rudolfo A. Anaya

2. What is Point of View? • The position of the narrator in relation to the story, as indicated by the narrator'soutlookfrom which the events are depicted and by the attitudetowardthecharacters. www.Dictionary.com

3. Types of Point of View • Objective Point of ViewWith the objective point of view, the writer tells what happens without stating more than can be inferred from the story's action and dialogue. The narrator never discloses anything about what the characters think or feel, remaining a detached observer. • Third Person Point of ViewHere the narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside voice. • First Person Point of ViewIn the first person point of view, the narrator does participate in the action of the story. When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth. We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting. • Omniscient and Limited Omniscient Points of ViewA narrator who knows everything about all the characters is all knowing, or omniscient.

4. Bless Me, Ultima • What is the POV in Bless Me, Ultima? • Antonio is an adult who is writing about his childhood. • The novel is written exclusively from Antonio’s first-person point of view.

5. A Different POV • How would the story change if it were told in a different point of view? • Maria: Antonio’s mother • Gabriel: Antonio’s father • Ultima • Andrew, Eugene, and Leon: Antonio’s brothers • How would the novel change if it were told in an omniscient or 3rd person point of view?

6. Activity • Groups: work with the people sitting next to you. No more than 3 per group • Reread pages 68-69 starting with the second paragraph • Your group will be writing a one page narrative or story line in a different point of view that answers the following question…

7. Narrative • How might the point of view change if the novel was told in one of Antonio’s brothers’ point of views? • How did they receive the news that the war was over? • How exactly did they get home? • What were they thinking? • What would they do or say? • Use pages 65 + as a reference • Use your imagination 

8. How Did the POV Change? • How did the point of view change from Antonio to one of his brothers? • How did the tone change? • How did the plot change? • A story would change drastically if it were told in a different point of view