Introduction to Literature

Point of View

A.   Point of View

    Point of view is a technical term which describes the relationship between the narrator and the other characters of a story. It is the vantage point from which a writer narrates or tells a story.

Ø First Person ;    the narrator is a character in the story. First Person knows and can tell only what he or she thinks and feels. The first person is I, me, my, mine, we, us, ours.

Example  : I went back to the office, the man followed with groans of pain, and I turned up the lamp.

Ø Second Person ; Usually for instructions uses “You”; from “your” perspective.

Examples ; First, gather your materials.  Add 1 cup sugar to flour.

Ø The Third Person ; Narrator usually isn’t involved tells other's stories. Lots of “He,” “She,” & character names.

There are parts of the third person :

ü Third Person Limited ; In third-person-limited point of view, the narrator plays no parts in the story and knows, can tell what a single character is thinking and feeling.

Example : Tim was mad at Shay.  He blamed her.  Shay just left without saying anything.  She left a note and then left him.

ü Third Person Omniscient ;   Narrator is all knowing. Narrator tells thoughts and feelings of more than one character.

Omni = All                  Scient = Knowing

Example : All of these people had lived very sad and     unfortunate lives