POINT OF VIEW

POINT OF VIEW Point of view is the position from which a story is told. Point of view affects the way a reader understands the characters and events in a story. The narrator may be a character in the story or an outside observer.

POINT OF VIEW To determine point of view, think about the following questions: How does the narrator fit into the story? Is he or she part of the action or watching from the outside? How much does the narrator know about each of the characters in the story? PERSON SINGULAR PLURAL 1st I am… We are… 2nd You are… 3rd He/She/It is… They are…

POINT OF VIEW First Person Point of View: There are three different points of view that are commonly used in literature: First Person Point of View: Most of the time, the story is told by one of the characters. Sometimes different characters narrate different chapters. The narrator uses “I” or “me.” The narrator shares his or her personal views of other characters and events. The narrator doesn’t know the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of other characters. The reader only knows as much as the narrator knows or tells them.

POINT OF VIEW Third Person Limited Point of View: The story is told by a narrator who is an outside observer. The narrator is not a character in the story and is not part of the action. The narrator uses “he” or “she.” The narrator focuses on the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of one character in the story. The narrator does not know what all of the characters are thinking or doing.

POINT OF VIEW Omniscient Point of View (third person): The story is told by a narrator who is an outside observer. The narrator is not a character in the story and is not part of the action. The narrator uses “he” or “she.” The narrator provides an objective perspective. The narrator knows the thoughts, feelings, and opinions of all of the characters in the story. Second Person Point of View is not used to narrate. Do NOT look at dialogue when trying to determine the point of view in a story!

UNRELIABLE NARRATOR In fiction, as in real life, some people can’t be trusted to tell the truth. The unreliable narrator is a narrator who can't be trusted. This type of narrator speaks with a bias, makes mistakes, or even lies. The narrator may lie because of ignorance or self-interest, but either way, he or she cannot be trusted by the reader. Part of the fun in reading stories with unreliable narrators is attempting to figure out the truth of the situation and in trying to understand why the narrator is not being honest or straightforward.

UNRELIABLE NARRATOR Unreliable narrators appear fairly often in classic literature, including The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Great Gatsby, Wuthering Heights, and “The Tell-Tale Heart.” The lesson is, don’t take anything for granted when you read, and keep an eye out for the unreliable narrator!