Literary Elements Part Three: Point of View + Theme

Point of View

Point of View Point of view = the perspective or view from which a story is told. The same story told from different points of view can make the story look very different. Point of view tells you who the narrator is, their involvement in the story, and how much we, the readers, can trust their telling of the story.

First Person POV In first person point of view, we see things from a character’s perspective (view). The narrator is a character in the story. Often the main character, but not always In a story with a first person point of view, the narrator will use the word “I” to describe their actions in the story. Example: “I turned the corner, and there she was – my mother had caught me sneaking down our staircase!”

Second Person POV In second person point of view, the narrator addresses the audience and will use the word “you.” You will rarely ever see a story in second person. Second person is usually used in informational pieces, such as how- to or persuasive essays. Example: “You should recycle your plastic waste.” Example: “Next, mix your pasta and sauce together in a large bowl.”

Third Person POV In third person point of view, the story is told by a narrator who is not a character in the story. When talking about the characters in the story, the narrator will never say “I”; instead, the narrator calls the characters by their names and pronouns such as he, she, they. There are two types of third person narrators: Third person limited Third person omniscient

Third Person POV Third person limited: Third person omniscient: The narrator can only tell us the thoughts and emotions of the main character. The narrator can only give us limited information about the story. The narrator cannot switch to other characters in the story to give us their thoughts too. Third person omniscient: The narrator knows information (thoughts and emotions) about all the characters in a story. The story skips around to telling us what different characters are up to and thinking.

Why is POV important? The point of view through which a story is told is important because it affects how we, the readers, experience the story. Sometimes, the narrator’s own thoughts and feelings (especially with first person point of view) will distort or mess up some details of the story. When a narrator’s emotions or motives strongly affect how we read the story, this is called having an unreliable narrator.

Theme

Theme Theme is the big picture OR main idea OR message of the story. This is why the author wrote the book; while the story is entertaining, they want you to take something away from it. It is a statement or view about life or the way people live. Themes can be found everywhere (art, movies, music, television, comics, cartoons)

Why find a theme? Part of your job as the reader is to understand what the author is trying to say by telling this story. Writers rarely come out and say, “HEY! READER! THIS IS THE POINT I’M TRYING TO MAKE WITH THIS STORY!” You must use clues to infer what the author is trying to tell you.

Theme vs. Topic A topic is the subject of a story can usually be summarized in one word. Example: love, friendship, parenthood, evil, nature To find the theme of a story, it is helpful to find the topic first But the theme of story is what the author is trying to say about the topic. The theme should be a phrase or statement about a topic. You’re reading a romance novel. The topic is love. But what about love? The theme might be “Love endures everything” or “Love doesn’t last forever.” The underlying theme often gives you the author’s opinion about a topic – it is a general statement about life and human nature.

Common TOPICS in literature (not themes!!!) Family Equality Friendship Life and Death Survival War and Peace Love Honesty Hate Education Society Laws & Justice Freedom Religion REMEMBER, A THEME MUST SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THESE TOPICS

Remember… The author’s theme of a story may or may not agree with your own opinion about that topic. That’s okay! If skillfully written, the theme will still make you think about important questions concerning life and human nature.

And beware: The theme never completely explains the whole story. You need to examine other elements of the story as well. Like conflicts, settings, or characters, a story can have more than one theme. A theme must go beyond the plot of the story and its characters – it must be a statement about life in general!

But how do I find the theme…? Usually, only fables will come right out and tell you the theme. Otherwise, you must look for it. While reading, ask yourself: 1. What is the topic of the work? What are we being told about? 2. What do the characters say or do that relates to the topic? 3. What do these things tell you that seem important to learn about life?

Writing thematic statements When you have considered these questions, form a theme by filling in the blank: ___________________ __________________________________ (Topic) (a message the author tells you about the topic) Example: Survival is only really possible when you look out for yourself and others.

http://youtu.be/8Sy5-7SpoGc