The narrator is the person who tells the story The narrator describes what happens and controls what you know about the story Sometimes the narrator is also a character IN the story, so you only get their point of view

The Point of View is how the story is told. There are 3 main types of point of view. First Person – The Narrator is a character in the story and calls themselves “I.” Usually the narrator is the protagonist (main character) of the story. The narrator only knows his or her own thoughts and feelings. Third Person Limited – The Narrator describes what happens but is not in the story. The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character. Third Person Omniscient – The Narrator is omniscient (knows everything). The narrator knows all the characters actions and their private thoughts too.

Example 1 Juan saw Mary coming up the path and he called to her, “Hi Maria! How’s it going?” “I’m ok Juan, how are you?” she replied. “I’m fine, but, uh…” Juan looked at his shoes for a few moments. He was suddenly so nervous he didn’t know what to do. She was standing right there, but he just wanted to run away. There was a long, awkward pause, then Juan asked “Maria, do you want to go to the dance on Friday with me?” “Sure Juan, if you like.” Juan’s face brightened. He was ecstatic, “Really? Well that’s great! I’ll see you at your house at 8 o’clock.” “Ok. I’ll see you later, Juan.” Maria replied, and she turned and walked home. What point of view is this story told from? THIRD PERSON LIMITED – Narrator is not a character. He or she only knows the characters actions, and what one character thinks and feels.

Example 2 I saw Mary coming up the path and called to her, “Hi Maria! How’s it going?” “I’m ok Juan, how are you?” she replied. “I’m fine, but, uh…” I looked at my shoes for a few moments. I was suddenly so nervous I didn’t know what to do. She was standing right there, but I just wanted to run away. After a long, awkward pause, I finally asked “Maria, do you want to go to the dance on Friday with me?” “Sure Juan, if you like.” I was ecstatic, “Really? Well that’s great! I’ll see you at your house at 8 o’clock.” I couldn’t believe how happy I was that she’d said yes. “Ok. I’ll see you later, Juan.” Maria replied, and she turned and walked home. What point of view is this story told from? First Person– Narrator is a character who tells us his private thoughts.

Example 3 Juan saw Maria coming up the path and he called to her, “Hi Maria! How’s it going?” Maria’s stomach turned when he heard his voice. “Oh crap! He’s going to ask me to the dance isn’t he,” she thought to herself. “I can’t believe I promised his sister I‘d go with him. What a jerk this guy is!” “I’m ok Juan, how are you?” she replied. “I’m fine, but, uh…” Juan looked at his shoes for a few moments. He was suddenly so nervous he didn’t know what to do. She was standing right there, but he just wanted to run away. After a long, awkward pause, he finally asked “Maria, do you want to go to the dance on Friday with me?” “Sure Juan, if you like,” she replied. “Ugh!” she thought. Juan’s face brightened. He was ecstatic, “Really? Well that’s great! I’ll see you at your house at 8 o’clock.” “Ok. I’ll see you later, Juan.” Maria replied, and she turned and walked home. What point of view is this story told from? THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT – Narrator is not a character. He or she knows everything, including all the characters private thoughts and feelings.

Voice – This is the way the narrator speaks. Some stories have a strong voice because the narrator speaks in an interesting way and has a distinct personality. Tone – This is the attitude the narrator has towards characters and situations in the story.

Example 5 Juan walked down the bustling street rich with all the strange and wonderful smells of exotic fruit and vegetables. The traffic was busy and excited and people jostled for space to buy things. Colorful fruit sellers invited people to try their unusual fruits and promised Juan very low prices for very fresh goods. What is the narrator’s tone towards the setting? What are some key words that tell you this? Positive - This is the same street, but this narrator thinks it’s a really great place. Key Words – bustling, rich, strange, wonderful, exotic, busy, excited, colorful, invited, unusual, fresh

Example 4 Juan walked down a filthy, smelly street heaped with piles of old fruit and vegetables. There was lots of noise from the traffic and the people bumping into each other. Ugly, dishonest fruit sellers yelling from the side of the road about how cheap their rotting fruit was and how Juan should come and buy some of them. What is the narrator’s tone towards the setting? What are some key words that tell you this? Negative - The narrator clearly really dislikes this street. Key words- filthy, smelly, old, noise, bumping, ugly, dishonest, yelling, rotting, cheap

Point of View Writing Assignment Create a short scene with at least 2 characters (based on your character from yesterday). It should be about 3 or 4 sentences. Write the scene 3 times Once in Third Person Limited Once in First Person Once in Third Person Omniscient Creative and Interesting/5 Uses all 3 points of view correctly/10 Reading Mark/15