Narrative Point of View

What is Point of View? Refers to the perspective from which a story is told to the reader. First and Third Person are the most common narrative types. Second person is not usually used in fiction writing. Refers to the perspective from which a story is told to the reader. First and Third Person are the most common narrative types. Second person is not usually used in fiction writing.

FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW Uses the pronouns I, Me, We, and Us to tell a story. The narrator is often the major observer in the story The reader can see only what the narrator sees and chooses to share.share The narrator is frequently the main character in the story,and the reader is supposed to identify with him or her. Example: “I went to the store and bought some dinner for us.” Uses the pronouns I, Me, We, and Us to tell a story. The narrator is often the major observer in the story The reader can see only what the narrator sees and chooses to share.share The narrator is frequently the main character in the story,and the reader is supposed to identify with him or her. Example: “I went to the store and bought some dinner for us.”

SECOND PERSON POINT OF VIEW The narrator tells “you” about something Usually used for instructions: (cookbooks, How- To Books, etc.) Not usually used in fiction writing Ex: First, you should wash your hands. The narrator tells “you” about something Usually used for instructions: (cookbooks, How- To Books, etc.) Not usually used in fiction writing Ex: First, you should wash your hands.

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW Third Person Objective Third Person Omniscient Third Person Limited Pronouns used for Third Person: He She Him Her His, Hers They Them It

THIRD PERSON OBJECTIVE The narrator tells a story about someone else and does not explain any character’s thoughts or feelings. (Emotionless) The reader finds out about character’s feelings through actions or dialogue. Ex: He walked down the street. A man drove by and yelled, “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

THIRD PERSON LIMITED The narrator tells a story and shows one character’s thoughts or feelings in writing. Ex: Sad that his girlfriend had left him, Ben wasn’t paying attention as he walked down the street. A man drove by and yelled, “Hey, watch where you’re going!”

THIRD PERSON OMNISCIENT The narrator tells a story and shows more than one character’s thoughts or feelings. The narrator is “all knowing”. (“Santa” or a “Higher Being” in a religion) Ex: Sad that his girlfriend had left him, Ben wasn’t paying attention as he walked down the street. Tom was also having a bad day, and as he was driving by Ben, Tom tried to startle him: “Hey, watch where you’re going!” Tom yelled rudely.