THE GREAT GATSBY

Point of View

First-Person Participant

The narrator is the central character and is directly involved in the action.

Example: I was riding my moped down Maple Street when I swerved, lost control, and sailed into a group of ladies coming from the store. I hit one.

N

C

C

C

First-Person Observer

The narrator is a minor character not directly involved in the action who relates what he observes about the character and the action.

While I was stopped for a light at the corner of Elm and Maple, I saw a man on a moped run into the crowd.

N

C

C

C

Third-Person Limited

The narrator is outside the story and relates it by limiting the viewpoint to one character’s perspective.

Jeff whizzed down Maple Street, proud of his new moped. On the curve at the corner, he lost control and ran into some ladies coming from the store.

N

CC

CC

Third-Person Omniscient

The narrator is outside the story but is able to penetrate the thoughts and describe the actions of the characters as the need arises.

Three people awoke that morning happy to be alive. Jeff had a new moped, Mrs. Bixby was going shopping with friends, and Mr. Fox had finished payment on his silver Camaro.

N

CC

C

Practice

Mary stayed up almost all night studying for her calculus test. For breakfast, she had a granola bar and a Red Bull. However, the caffeine was not enough to keep her awake. She was so tired she fell asleep halfway through the test and ended up failing. Though she was disappointed in herself, she promised her teacher she had learned a lesson. She would never put off studying until the last minute again.

More Practice

I was up all night studying for my calculus test. For breakfast, I decided to drink a Red Bull to help me stay awake. It didn’t work, for I fell asleep during the test. I failed, but I learned a valuable lesson. I will never put off studying until the last minute again.

Which one is this?

While I was taking my calculus test, I noticed the girl sitting next to me nod off. She fell asleep halfway through class and must have failed the test.

And, finally…

Mr. Low and Mary woke up on Friday morning in two very different moods. Mr. Low felt refreshed and was looking forward to his weekend plans while Mary was extremely tired and grumpy. During the calculus test in his 3rd hour class, Mr. Low was disappointed to see Mary, one of his favorite students, fall asleep.

Changing the Point of View

Make a t-chart and label the left side “first person” and the right side “third person.” Using the left side, present the two scenarios in first person. Then, convert them to third person on the right side. Be creative when illustrating the impact of changing the point of view. You are a celebrity. You are being bothered by a fan who

is trying to get an autograph. Leaving school, you notice a crowd gathered in the

middle of the parking lot. Curious, you join it to discover that a millionaire is passing out hundred-dollar bills.