Narrative Point of View Who’s telling the story?

First Person • The narrator is a character in the story. • The main character is “I.” • Personal narratives, memoirs and auto-biographies are written in first person point-of-view. Can you think of novels you have read that are written in first-person??

Why use First Person? • First person is great for making a story seem authentic and personal. Example: As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.

Third Person Limited • The narrator is NOT a character in the story. The main character is “he” or “she.” • The story follows the actions and thoughts of only one character, the main character. • The reader has limited knowledge about the actions, thoughts and feelings of the other characters in the story.

Why use Third Person Limited? • It connects the reader with one particular character. • The reader is less likely to be bogged down with a constant stream of thoughts and feelings. Example: As she walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who she so often heard singing from the top of the maple tree. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone. Nevertheless, she shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

Third Person Omniscient • “Omniscient” means “all-knowing.” • The narrator is NOT a character in the story. • The omniscient narrator can describe the actions and thoughts of multiple characters.

Why use third person omniscient? • If you, as an author, want to give the reader special insight into several character’s thoughts or describe events happening at the same time, you want to be omniscient, or all-knowing. Example: As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet.             The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the old woman rattled the blades of grass as she tried to hide herself behind the tree.             As the old woman saw her start up the hill, she moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If the girl saw her now, everything would be ruined.             The girl thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone.             The old woman thought if she could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to her. Wouldn't she?             The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

Let’s Review First person, third person limited, or third person omniscient? John knew he shouldn't have allowed his grandmother to go down the stairs alone. She wasn't steady on her feet and sometimes she grabbed onto the nearest object when dizziness overwhelmed her.

First person, third person limited, or third person omniscient? John stood next to his grandmother. He wanted to help her down the stairs. Mrs. Smith looked at her grandson, her blue eyes sharp, and moved a strand of hair from her face. She was determined to do this on her own, to prove she wasn't an helpless old lady . . .

First person, third person limited, or third person omniscient First person, third person limited, or third person omniscient? I knew I shouldn't have let Grandma go down there. She isn't too steady on her feet to start with, and then she gets those dizzy spells. But she insisted, and the next thing I know, she's tumbling down those stairs like a gymnast . . .