Point of View The Story’s Voice

What Is Point of View? Point of view is the vantage point from which a writer tells a story. A writer tells a story through the voice of a narrator. A narrator may be an outside observer or a character in the story. Everything you learn about the characters, events, and places in a story depends on the narrator’s point of view.

Points of View The three most common points of view are omniscient third-person limited first person

Omniscient Point of View In the omniscient point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story but can tell us what all the characters are thinking and feeling as well as what is happening in other places. The omniscient narrator can tell us as much or as little as the writer permits may tell us what all—or only some—of the characters are thinking, feeling, and observing may comment on the story’s meaning, characters, or events

Omniscient Point of View Just outside the auditorium entrance, students milled about nervously and waited to be called in for the audition. A few had paired off to practice their lines together, but most stood or sat alone engaged in their own calming rituals. Ruth stood in the corner and talked to the wall in a low voice. She would be graduating this year, and she desperately wanted to be Juliet. She was trying to get just the right tone of voice for the balcony scene. Gary, dressed in all black, paced back and forth in front of the mirror- lined wall and periodically glanced at his reflection and smoothed his dark hair. He was auditioning for Mercutio, but he was worried that Mr. Glover would think he was too much of a “comedic” actor to give him a more serious role. Janis sat with her back against the row of lockers, her knees tucked up close to her body, and stared at the floor as she recited the lines in her head. She didn’t really care what part she got as long as she had a speaking role. She had been an extra in the last two productions and was ready for more responsibility.

Third-Person-Limited Point of View In the third-person-limited point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story but zooms in on the thoughts and feelings of one character. The third-person narrator views the actions from the vantage point of a single character can tell us only what that single character is thinking, feeling, and observing

Third-Person-Limited Point of View Gary paced back and forth in front of the mirror-lined wall. He glanced toward Ruth and smiled. She looked so odd standing in the corner talking to the wall. He admired the way she could totally immerse herself in a character and ignore the outside world. He was too aware of what other people thought of him. He sometimes played the clown, but only when he knew that he could get a laugh. Mr. Glover said he tried too hard to entertain people. Maybe that was why Mr. Glover always cast him in a comic role. This time, though, he wanted a chance to try his hand at more serious acting. Mercutio’s character seemed the perfect role for him—sometimes foolish and other times brooding and angry.

First-Person Point of View In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story and tells the story using the first-person pronoun I. The first-person narrator participates in the action of the story can tell us only what he or she is feeling, thinking, or observing may or may not be objective, honest, or perceptive about what’s going in the story

First-Person Point of View I stared at the wall and tried to remember what it felt like to be fourteen and have a major crush on a guy. I’ve never felt love as intensely as Juliet. Personally, I always thought that Juliet’s character was a bit too impulsive and naïve. But, who was I to quibble with Shakespeare? I was willing to set aside my personal opinions for a chance to play one of the most famous female characters in drama. What better way to end my high school drama career than to play the role of Juliet. Before I could get the role, though, I would have to impress Mr. Glover. I closed my eyes and pictured myself standing on the balcony as Juliet: My heart is heavy because my love is my sworn enemy, and I’ll probably never get the chance to see him again. My voice is sad and full of longing. “O, Romeo…”

Why Is Point of View Important? The narrator’s point of view determines what and how much you learn about the story’s characters, events, and places. It’s important to evaluate the credibility and knowledge of the narrator. Ask yourself: How much does this narrator know and understand? How much does this narrator want me to know? How would this story be different if someone else were telling it? Can I trust this narrator?

What Have You Learned? Match these terms with the correct definition. Omniscient Third-person limited First person Omniscient First person Third-person limited _________________— The narrator is a character in the story and tells what he or she experiences. _________________— The narrator is an observer and knows everything about all the characters. _________________— The narrator is an observer and describes the thoughts and feelings of just one character.

The End