From whose perspective is the story told? Point of View From whose perspective is the story told?

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?

Point of View and Perspective Point of View – who is telling the story Perspective – how the story is being told

Examples of Perspective I was at home, quietly minding my own business, when I heard a knock on the door. I looked out the window and saw a wolf. I didn’t open the door, so the cruel wolf huffed and puffed and blew my house down.  I was simply trying to borrow a cup of sugar from the little pig next door because my dear grandmother needed some sugar. I knocked on his door, but he didn’t open it. I’d been dealing with this nasty cold, and suddenly I sneezed. Unfortunately, the impact of my sneeze blew the pig’s house down.

First-Person Point of View narrator is a character in the story and tells the story using the first-person pronouns, such as I, me, we, us 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 happening in the story

First-Person Point of View Example We lived on the main residential street in town—Atticus, Jem and I, plus Calpurnia our cook. Jem and I found our father satisfactory: he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment… Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Third-Person Objective Point of View narrator plays no part in the story and does not reveal any character’s thoughts or feelings - The third-person objective narrator can only tell the character’s dialogue and actions

Third-Person Objective Point of View Example John laughed hollowly. “You’re joking,” he said. The neon light flickered on his face, turning it a ghastly yellow. Veronica shook her head slowly. Her fingers were busy shredding her tear-stained paper tissue. “I’m not joking. It’s all true.” John stood up and banged his fist against the wall, hard, once. He was shaking his head in disbelief. “I’ll have to leave now,” he said, his voice terse.

Third-Person Limited Point of View narrator plays no part in the story but zooms in on the thoughts and feelings of one character The third-person limited 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 Example The next morning Mr. Sir marched the boys to another section of the lake, and each boy dug his own hole, five feet deep and five feet wide. Stanley was glad to be away from the big hole. At least now he knew just how much he had to dig for the day. And it was a relief not to have other shovels swinging past his face, or the Warden hanging around. Holes by Louis Sachar

Third-Person Omniscient Point of View 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 third-person 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

Third-Person Omniscient Point of View Example The Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy’s basket with them, so that she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this was very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at the awkward way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts. His padded hands were so clumsy that he dropped almost as many as he put in the basket. But the Scarecrow did not mind how long it took him to fill the basket, for it enabled him to keep away from the fire, as he feared a spark might get into his straw and burn him up. The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum

Guess the Narrator Lilly shivered and sobbed while sitting alone under the tree. Jacob felt a pang of pity for her, and though he worried what the others might say, he walked to her, sat beside her, and offered her his jacket. Omniscient Limited Objective

The Answer Is Limited

Guess the Narrator Lilly shivered and sobbed while sitting alone under the tree. Jacob gazed at her with a stare suggestive of pity, and his lips tightened as though he debated something of importance. He gave one timid glance back at the others, and then walked boldly over to Lilly and sat beside her and offered her his Jacket. Omniscient Limited Objective

The Answer Is Objective

Guess the Narrator Lilly shivered and tried unsuccessfully not to sob while sitting alone under the tree. She was more embarrassed and miserable than she had ever been. Jacob felt a pang of pity for her, and though he worried what the others might say, he walked to her, sat beside her, and offered her his jacket. Omniscient Limited Objective

The Answer Is Omniscient