POINT OF VIEW

What is Point of view?

Is the perspective from which a story is narrated. The most common points of view used in novels are first person singular (“I”) and third person (“he” and “she”).

Point of View VS. Narrator

The narrator of a story can be a participant in the story, meaning this character is a part of the plot, or a non-participant.
The point of view in a story refers to the position of the narrator in relation to the story.

For example:

If the narrator is a participant in the story, it is more likely that the point of view would be "first person", as the narrator is witnessing and interacting with the events and other characters firsthand.
If the narrator is a non-participant, it is more likely that the point of view would be in third person, as the narrator is at a remove from the events.

Note : Some professors use Narrator and Point of view interchangeably

Types of Point of view

A- First person POV:

The narrator participates in action, but sometimes has limited knowledge/vision.

Features

1. The narrator of the story is also ONE of the characters in the story.

2. Usually the protagonist of the story.

3. This point of view uses the following pronouns: I, me, my, mine, we, us, our.

4. The reader only knows what the ONE character knows. (disadvantage)

5. The reader feels very connected to the story. (advantage)

Notes :

All of the action is processed through the narrator's perspective, and therefore this type of narrator may be unreliable . The choice to write from an unreliable first person point of view gives the reader a chance to figure out what is reality and what is a creation on the part of the narrator.

Example

I saw the 'Closed' sign dangling from the shop window, but I could hear someone moving inside. I stood on tiptoes to look through the glass and saw a pair of eyes staring back at me.

B- Second person POV :

The narrator tells the story as if it is happening to the reader

Features

1. The author addresses the audience;the audience is a participant in the events narrated.

2. Emphasis on you

3. Makes the reader an active participant

4. Hard to sustain for long periods of time

Example

With your back to the autumn sun, you are squatting against the iron railings of the bridge that links the two banks of the dry riverbed north of Pul-i-Khumri.

C- Third person POV:

The narrator is more distant, telling us about the story rather than playing a major part in it.

Features

1. The narrator is not a character in the story.

2. The narrator is an observer who tells the reader about someone else.

3. The narrator uses the third person pronouns. (he, she, him, her, they, them, their)

Types of Third Person POV

Third person omniscient: The narrator is all knowing and gives readers a godlike perspective

Example : Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her. Shay knew Tim would be mad, but she wanted to live her life

Third person limited : Narrator is limited to one character .
Only knows what is going on in the mind and feelings of one character.
The narrator tells thoughts & feelings of one character

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

Third-person objective: The narrator does not reveal any character's thoughts or feelings. Only character's dialogue and actions are narrated.

Example : Tim slammed the door. He walked upstairs & read a note from Shay. He kicked her trash can & started crying.

How to determine Point of View?

Exercise

Determine from which perspective the passage is narrated. If it is third-person, circle the characters' thoughts or feelings are narrated, and Please explain your answers:

Point of view:
1- First-person
2- Second-person
3- Third-person objective
4- Third-person limited
5- Third-person omniscient.

1. The birds were chirping and the sun was shining. Kevin and Juno were sitting on a park bench together. Neither of them was smiling. After a long period of silence, Kevin said, "This isn't going to work. I mean, you're a dog person and I'm a cat person." Juno nodded. A tear rolled down her face. Kevin went on, "If we got married and bought a house, what kind of pet would we get? Some kind of cat-dog? Somebody's going to be unhappy." Juno began sobbing and said, "Ok, let's just end it now. Have fun with your slobbery dogs." She jumped off the bench and ran into the woods.

Point of view: ..............................
Explanation:.....................................................................................................

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2. The dew on the grass made my running shoes damp. It didn't bother me. The sound of my feet hitting the street formed a rhythm, a steady pattern of light thumps. I timed my breathing with the rhythm. These sounds filled my head. I thought of nothing other than the next step and keeping my tempo. I soared over the sidewalks like concrete clouds.

Point of view: ..............................
Explanation:.....................................................................................................

______________________________________________________________

3. Red looked across the prairie. He didn't see anything concerning. He wondered why Texas Joe had hollered like that. Texas Joe turned to him. The ghost that Texas Joe had just seen was gone. Texas Joe swatted at the air. Now he felt crazy. "You have to believe me, Red. It was just here," said Texas Joe. Red scowled at him in disbelief. "What was just here, Joe?" he asked. Red was angry with Texas Joe for disturbing his sleep for no apparent reason.