Literary Elements

Literary Elements Point of View

Point of Viewakaperspective • First Person • Second Person • Third Person Objective • Third Person Limited • Third Person Omniscient

First Person • A story written in the first person is told by an "I," where "I" can be the main character, a less important character witnessing events, or a person retelling a story they were told by someone else. This point of view is often effective in giving a sense of closeness to the character. It can be very easy to get the reader to identify or sympathize with your main character when the reader is seeing everything through that character's eyes. (I, me, my, we, etc…)

First Person Examples • I could picture it. I have to go to the library and study with my so called friend Susan. I know how it’s going to be. She is going to sit there and be so snotty while acts like she knows everything. She may be better at math than me, but she is certainly not a better reader. I don’t even know why I put up with her. The phone rang; it was Susan. “When do you want to meet me at the library?” her agitating voice pierced through on the other end. “In 30 minutes,” I replied. • As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.

Second Person In second person, the narrator addresses the protagonist as "you” and turns the reader into the character. Often, this kind of story has the narrator speaking to a younger version of their self. This point of view is very rare because it is extremely difficult to pull off. The reader may feel that they are the one spoken to, and will find it difficult to accept that they are doing the things the narrator tells them they are doing. Most instructions, like those in recipes, are written in second person.

Second Person Examples You could picture it. You have to go to the library and study with your so called friend Susan. You know how it’s going to be. She is going to sit there and be so snotty while acts like she knows everything. She may be better at math than you, but she is certainly not a better reader. You don’t even know why you put up with her. The phone rang; it was Susan. “When do you want to meet me at the library?” her agitating voice pierced through on the other end. “In 30 minutes,” you replied. As you walk up the hill, you realize that the atmosphere's just too quiet. There's no sound from the cardinal you know is almost always singing from the top of the maple tree. You think you see a shadow move high up on the slope, but when you look again it's gone. You shudder as you feel a silent threat pass over you. You feel cold, like a cloud just passed over the sun.

Third Person Objective Characters are referred to as "he" and "she" in third person. In this case the narrator (who may be indistinguishable from the author) is not a character in the story. The narrator can only relate to the reader what is seen or heard. A good writer can tell a completely objective story in such a way that the reader is able to determine the feelings and sometimes even the thoughts of the characters through what those characters say and do, even though the thoughts and feelings are never described.

Third Person Objective Examples Carrie and Susan walked into the city library together. They took out their math text and began to study. “Why is the librarian staring at us?” Carrie murmured. “I don’t know,” Susan whispered, “She probably thinks we are going to start trouble.” “Why is it so hard for adults to trust us?” Carrie asked disgustedly. “Maybe to her one bad apple has spoiled the bunch,” responded Susan. They two studious young ladies continued to work on prime factorization while the librarian watched carefully. The girl walked up the quiet hillside. In the top of the maple tree, the cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing. A dead branch cracked on the ground below the bird's perch. The man stepped on the branch and rattled the blades of grass as he moved behind the tree. He watched the girl come up the hillside toward him. Her gaze shifted quickly and warily from one shadowy area high on the slope to another, and she shuddered.

Third Person Limited The narrator is able to see into the mind of a single character, usually the main protagonist. Sometimes the point of view may zoom in so close to that characterthat the narrator begins to use that character's manner of speech and thought, and sometimes the narrator may step back to take a more objective view. This point of view is sort of the "default" in fiction -- it is the most common because it can be used the most effectively in the majority of situations.

Third Person Limited Examples Carrie went to the library to meet her friend Susan. She did not like Susan very much, although she was a great person to study with. They took out their math texts and prepared to complete Miss Shipley’s study guide. Carrie knew her parents would be disappointed if she failed another test. As she walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who she so often heard singing from the top of the maple tree. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone. Nevertheless, she shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

Third Person Omniscient The narrator knows everything about all main characters; all thoughts, feelings, and actions may be related to the reader (or they may be withheld). There are no secrets in third person omniscient. The reader can feel like they can gain insight into all of the main characters. Usually, but not always, flat or minor characters are not revealed because it can become too confusing to the reader to reveal all characters.

Third Person Omniscient Examples Carrie went to the library to meet her friend Susan. Carrie did not like Susan very much; She found her annoying. The funny thing was Susan did not like Carrie either; she found her arrogant. They both knew that they studied well together, and so they did. “What are the factors of 17?” Carrie asked. Susan, in her usual annoying voice, responded, “17 is a prime number. It doesn’t have any factors. Everybody knows that.” ‘That is why nobody likes you,’ Carrie thought to herself. As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the man rattled the blades of grass as he tried to hide himself behind the tree. As the man saw her start up the hill, he moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone. The man thought if he could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she? The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

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Literary Elements