Point of View 2

Point of View 2

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Narrator's Point of View

When a writer begins a new story, she must decide who will tell the story. Point of view is who tells the story, or the “voice” that the story is told in.

It's the place from which a narrator sees and understands what is happening.

First Person Point of View

In the first person point of view, the narrator is telling a story and is a character in the story.

He or she is directly involved in the events that happen. First person narration often uses the pronouns “I” or "we".

“We’re going to put on a play, Miriam!”

Zakir announced, waving his hands in my face. I immediately began to think of what part I’d like to play. I thought at first I’d like to play a witch —I’d been working for weeks on an eerie, low-sounding screech that I was sure would steal the show. But I knew Zakir was secretly afraid of such things. Our father would reprimand me for being insensitive to my brother’s phobias. I could already hear his gentle scolding.

"Don't tease him, Miriam," he would say. I thought of playing a queen, but Our little sister, Dinah, would probably insist on wearing the house’s toy crown. I looked around our living room, spying a pair of green tights doubled down between the couch cushions. A wrestler? Maybe.

Multiple Choice

Which best describes the central idea of the previous slide?

• Miriam is trying to decide how to scare her brother.

• Miriam is thinking about what part she wants to have in a play.

Multiple Choice

What point of view is this passage on the previous page written in?

• First Person Point of View

• Second Person Point of View

• Third Person Point of View

The carousel

The carousel lurched into life, its jarringly sweet song abruptly sounding through the nearly empty park. A flock of birds startled and scattered across the sky. I called out, “Whoops, sorry!” to the few families waiting for a turn. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” one of the fathers sighed, leading his son away from the creaky ride.

Which detail from the text best indicates that this story is told in the first person?

Multiple Choice

Where does the story on the previous slide take place?

• in the sky

• in a park

• at a crowded circus

Multiple Choice

Which detail from the text on the previous page best indicates that this story is told in the first person?

• "'You've got to be kidding me...”

• “The carousel lurched into life…”

• “I called out, 'Whoops, sorry!'”

• “A flock of birds startled...”

Unreliable First Person Narrator

In the first person point of view, we sometimes encounter an unreliable narrator. This is a narrator who can't be trusted or speaks with a biased view.

Maybe we suspect his accuracy due to the way he says things, his age, or his lack of understanding.

Multiple Choice

When a narrator speaks in a way to make the reader not trust the details the narrator gives,

we say that he is

• omniscient

• unreliable

• exposition

I’ve never won anything in my life.

I have to tell you—I’ve never won anything in my life. I’ve lost every contest I’ve ever entered. I mean, there was the time I won the school raffle, but that doesn’t count because the prize was so small—only a new book bag. That book bag fell apart right after I used it, so it’s obviously not a good prize. And you can’t count the time I won that quiz on the radio because in that case, there wasn’t even a prize! Just bragging rights! I was the only person listening who knew that Carmelo Anthony owns a camel. And I am not counting the time I won the school spelling bee because I nearly lost it—it was so close, I was two points behind my competitor. So you should believe me when I say I’ve never won a contest, ever, and it’s about time I start.

Multiple Choice

The narrator on the previous page claims to have never won anything before.

Which detail from the passage provides the best evidence that the narrator is unreliable?

• “You should believe me when I say...”

• “That book bag fell apart right after I used it...”

• “I was the only person listening who knew that Carmelo Anthony owns a camel.”

• “I mean, there was the time I won the school raffle, but that doesn’t count.”

Second Person Point of View

In the second person point of view, the narrator is not a character in the story – but “you” are.

Speeches and instruction manuals are often written in the second person. Second person often uses the pronoun “you”.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of second person point of view?

• “Guys,” I said, “I think we may be heading the wrong way.”

• You slowly realize you didn’t step in mud.

• She quickly convinced us that we should follow her.

• We try to welcome all newcomers.

Third Person Point of View

In the third person point of view, the narrator is not a character in the story and exists completely outside of the story.

All characters are described as “he,” “she,” "they," or “it.”

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of third person point of view?

• You could have worn anything you wanted to this costume party.

• I’m probably the only kid in this class who really understands the tuba.

• I watched the leaves fall slowly to the ground, swirling in the wind.

• He’s not the most generous kid, but he is the bravest.

There are three different types of third person point of view.

Does the narrator know the insides of the characters?

Objective:

Limited:

Omniscient:

Third Person Objective

Objective: From this point of view, the narrator isn't a part of the story.

He can tell the reader what happens to the characters in the story. But he can't go into their heads and tell what they're thinking and feeling.

For example, “Anne and Lisa biked through the park in search of their lost cat.”

Third Person Omniscient

Omniscient: From this point of view, the narrator is all-knowing.

He watches all that is happening and can describe the innermost thoughts and feelings of all characters in the story.

For example, : “Anne felt sure they'd find their cat by sundown, but Lisa thought it might take even longer.”

Multiple Choice

When a narrator tells an action that merely leads us to infer an emotion, the narrator is not being omniscient.

When the narrator sees inside the brain and/or heart of a character, he is being omniscient.

Which narrator is displaying omniscience?

• When his toy was taken away, the child cried and buried his face under his blanket.

• The child eyed the new toy eagerly, planning to ask Santa for it.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is the best example of an omniscient third person point of view?

• Karli was anxious about making the cake, but her brother was more confident—he knew things would go well.

• Karli and her brother agreed to make the cake for their father’s wedding and set about buying supplies.

• He asked if I would be willing to be in charge of desserts, and I said I couldn’t possibly begin to answer that question.

Third Person Limited

Limited: Here, the narrator focuses his attention on one character.

The reader knows what's going on with the other characters, but knows what one particular character is thinking.

For example, “As Anne and Lisa biked through the park in search of their lost cat, Lisa worried they might not find him.”

Omniscient vs. Limited

The omniscient narrator tells us about multiple characters' inner thoughts and emotions.

The limited narrator can see the inner thoughts and emotions of only one character, usually the main character. The story "Fine?" was all about Bailey's thoughts, and nobody else's.

Multiple Choice

Ruby walked proudly into the house, happier than she had been in ages. She had finally earned an A on a math test, and she couldn't wait to tell her family about it. Her brother didn't look up when she entered.

What type of Third Person narrator is being used?

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

Third Person Limited

Ruby walked proudly into the house, happier than she had been in ages. She had finally earned an A on a math test, and she couldn't wait to tell her family about it. Her brother didn't look up when she entered.

The narrator gives us three omniscient glimpses into Ruby.

We can make inferences about her brother, using his actions as evidence, but the narrator doesn't say what he thinks or feels.

Multiple Choice

Juan's thoughts wandered to the ski slopes that he would enjoy next winter. If he planned it right, he could save up for new equipment.

His older brother, Manny, never understood Juan's love of skiing. Too cold and sweaty, he thought. Who wants to work up a sweat in cold weather? Manny preferred indoor recreation, like chess or video games, maybe a game of basketball. In a gym.

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

Third Person Omniscient

Juan's thoughts wandered to the ski slopes that he would enjoy next winter. If he planned it right, he could save up for new equipment.

His older brother, Manny, never understood Juan's love of skiing. Too cold and sweaty, he thought. Who wants to work up a sweat in cold weather? Manny preferred indoor recreation, like chess or video games, maybe a game of basketball. In a gym.

This narrator tells us the thoughts and feelings of more than one person. He is all-knowing. Omniscient.

Multiple Choice

The big red dog's strength was evident. Rafael pulled on the dog leash, but Reddy continued pulling Rafael down the street with Rafael stumbling behind. Suddenly, a squirrel darted across their path, and Reddy abruptly changed direction in pursuit. Rafael yelled, "NO!" but there was no stopping Reddy. Rafael lost his grip on the leash. Reddy was gone.

What type of narrator is being used?

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

Third Person Objective

The big red dog's strength was evident. Rafael pulled on the dog leash, but Reddy continued pulling Rafael down the street with Rafael stumbling behind.

Suddenly, a squirrel darted across their path, and Reddy abruptly changed direction in pursuit. Rafael yelled, "NO!" but there was no stopping Reddy. Rafael lost his grip on the leash. Reddy was gone.

We could make some logical inferences about Rafael's thoughts, or Reddy's thoughts, but the narrator doesn't actually know and doesn't tell the reader. So this is third person objective.