Understanding Point of View

Point of view

In a narrative, the point of view refers to who is telling the story.

First-person point of view

When a story is told in first-person point of view, the narrator is a participant in the story.

First-person point of view

When a story is told in first-person point of view, the narrator is a participant in the story.

I looked down from the rocky ledge. I could see everything around me from this location! I hoped that I wouldn’t lose my balance.

First-person point of view

First-person stories use first-person pronouns like I, me, and my.

I looked down from the rocky ledge. I could see everything around me from this location! I hoped that I wouldn’t lose my balance.

Third-person point of view

When a story is told in third-person point of view, the narrator is not in the story.

Third person point of view

When a story is told in third-person point of view, the narrator is outside of the story.

Travis looked down from the rocky ledge. He could see everything around him from this location! He hoped that he wouldn’t lose his balance.

Third-person point of view

Stories told in third person use third-person pronouns like he, she, his, hers, and so on.

Travis looked down from the rocky ledge. He could see everything around him from this location! He hoped that he wouldn’t lose his balance.

First or third person?

I didn’t feel ready to try the entire Appalachian Trail, but I thought that a two-week trip would be fun for me.

First or third person?

I didn’t feel ready to try the entire Appalachian Trail, but I thought that a two-week trip would be fun for me.

This is written in first-person point of view

I didn’t feel ready to try the entire Appalachian Trail, but I thought that a two-week trip would be fun for me.

What would you change to make it third person?

____ didn’t feel ready to try the entire Appalachian Trail, but _____ thought that a two-week trip would be fun for _____.

What about second person?

Second-person point of view pulls the reader into the story with the pronouns you and your.

Second-person point of view

You feel a sense of excitement as you look at the kayak. This will be the day you have been looking forward to!

Second-person point of view

You feel a sense of excitement as you look at the kayak. This will be the day you have been looking forward to!

Second-person point of view

Why do you think authors don’t use this point of view very often?

Which point of view?

Victor looked at the moth. He couldn’t believe that such a strange creature had landed right outside his door.

Which point of view?

Victor looked at the moth. He couldn’t believe that such a strange creature had landed right outside his door.

This is third person

Victor looked at the moth. He couldn’t believe that such a strange creature had landed right outside his door.

Why do we care?

Understanding the point of view of a story helps us to pay attention to how it is written. When we know the point of view, we can learn more about the characters and the plot.

What point of view?

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

Look carefully!

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

This shows first-person point of view

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

Why might it be confusing?

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

Who is the narrator?

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

Finding the narrator

Unless the narrator introduces himself or herself, we have to look at dialogue to figure out the narrator of a story written from first-person point of view.

Who is the narrator?

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

Who is the narrator?

Sylvia looked around. “Where are we?” she asked. “Just off the trail,” I replied. “See?” “Marco, there’s no trail over there,” Sylvia said. My heart sank. She was right.

First-person narrators

Knowing that the story is from Marco’s point of view will help us to understand his thoughts and feelings. We won’t learn as much about Sylvia in this story, though, because we are seeing everything through Marco’s eyes.

Which point of view?

The wizard looked around. “Where is my apprentice?” he barked. Eleza gulped. Already she was in trouble. “Yes, sir?” she asked. “I need more sunflower petals for this spell,” the wizard grumbled. “Well, don’t just stand there! Go!”

Which point of view?

The wizard looked around. “Where is my apprentice?” he barked. Eleza gulped. Already she was in trouble. “Yes, sir?” she asked. “I need more sunflower petals for this spell,” the wizard grumbled. “Well, don’t just stand there! Go!”

Don’t be fooled!

The wizard looked around. “Where is my apprentice?” he barked. Eleza gulped. Already she was in trouble. “Yes, sir?” she asked. “I need more sunflower petals for this spell,” the wizard grumbled. “Well, don’t just stand there! Go!”

Don’t be fooled!

Don’t look at dialogue to find the point of view of a story. In dialogue, characters use first-person pronouns all the time. Look for the narration around the dialogue to figure out the point of view.

Look at the pronouns

The wizard looked around. “Where is my apprentice?” he barked. Eleza gulped. Already she was in trouble. “Yes, sir?” she asked. “I need more sunflower petals for this spell,” the wizard grumbled. “Well, don’t just stand there! Go!”

Third-person point of view

The wizard looked around. “Where is my apprentice?” he barked. Eleza gulped. Already she was in trouble. “Yes, sir?” she asked. “I need more sunflower petals for this spell,” the wizard grumbled. “Well, don’t just stand there! Go!”

Third-person limited

In third-person limited point of view, the narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of one character only.

Third-person limited

Eleza scuttled to the sunflower patch. She thought that becoming a wizard’s apprentice would be fun and exciting. Instead she was here in the garden, picking sunflower petals with the grasshoppers. “Hurry!” the wizard called from inside.

Whose thoughts are shared?

Eleza scuttled to the sunflower patch. She thought that becoming a wizard’s apprentice would be fun and exciting. Instead she was here in the garden, picking sunflower petals with the grasshoppers. “Hurry!” the wizard called from inside.

Why this point of view?

Why might an author choose to write a story with third-person limited point of view?

Third-person omniscient

When a story is written from third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters.

Third-person omniscient

Reggie stared at the water. He thought the waves looked huge! “I don’t think I want to swim,” he said. Quit being such a baby, Quentin thought, but of course he didn’t say this aloud. “Stay on the shore then,” he said. “I’m jumping in!” Their mother sighed, wishing that her boys could get along.

Notice all the thinking!

Reggie stared at the water. He thought the waves looked huge! “I don’t think I want to swim,” he said. Quit being such a baby, Quentin thought, but of course he didn’t say this aloud. “Stay on the shore then,” he said. “I’m jumping in!” Their mother sighed, wishing that her boys could get along.

Third-person omniscient

What might be a problem with this point of view?

Review

A story that is told from the point of view of a character in the story is told from ___________ point of view.

Review

A story that is told from the point of view of a character in the story is told from first-person point of view.

Review

A story that puts the reader in the story by using the pronouns “you” and “yours” is told from ____________ point of view.

Review

A story that puts the reader in the story by using the pronouns “you” and “yours” is told from second-person point of view.

Review

I looked around me in delight. Flowers, flowers, everywhere! I would definitely be able to take a picture of a butterfly here. With this picture, I could win the school photo contest.

Can you identify the point of view?

Review

I looked around me in delight. Flowers, flowers, everywhere! I would definitely be able to take a picture of a butterfly here. With this picture, I could win the school photo contest.

First person

Review

Lara looked glumly around the pond. It wasn’t a fun beach or an exciting theme park. She wondered if the entire vacation would be this boring. “Isn’t the pond gorgeous?” Mom asked. Lara frowned. She didn’t think so.

Can you identify the point of view?

Review

Lara looked glumly around the pond. It wasn’t a fun beach or an exciting theme park. She wondered if the entire vacation would be this boring. “Isn’t the pond gorgeous?” Mom asked. Lara frowned. She didn’t think so.

Third person limited

Review

You stare at the distant horizon. There—off in the distance—could it be real? You can’t believe your eyes. You are looking at a real UFO!

Can you identify the point of view?

Review

You stare at the distant horizon. There—off in the distance—could it be real? You can’t believe your eyes. You are looking at a real UFO!

Second person

Putting it all together

What have you learned about point of view? Write three sentences to share your new learning.

Emily Kissner 2014