Point of View

Definitions

Words you need to know:◦Narrator: the person telling the story◦Limited: restricted, not a lot known◦Omniscient: having complete and unlimited

knowledge. Knows everything.

Point of view

Point of view is the perspective of the story.

WHO is telling the story. Or WHO is the narrator

First Person Point of View

The narrator is a character in the storyUses words such as I, we, our, us

Example of first person point of view

Max from Freak the Mighty:◦“For a second I think he’s going to hit her, and

then he relaxes and really looks at me……….We can hear her laughing……..Meanwhile Freak is giving me this look like he has no idea what’s going on.”

Third person limited

The narrator is not a character in the story.

The story is told from one character’s point of view.

He, she, they.You know one character’s thoughts and

feelings.

Example of Third person limited

Harry Potter:◦ As Harry squelched along the deserted corridor he came across

somebody who looked just as preoccupied as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering under his breath, ". . . don't fulfill their requirements . . . half an inch, if that . . ."

"Hello, Nick," said Harry.

"Hello, hello," said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking round. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed. He was pale as smoke, and Harry could see right through him to the dark sky and torrential rain outside.

Third person omniscient

The narrator is not part of the storyThe story is told from many character’s

point of view.The narrator tells all the character’s

thoughts and feelings.

Example of third person omniscient

As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet.

The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the man rattled the blades of grass as he tried to hide himself behind the tree.

As the man saw her start up the hill, he moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined.

She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone.

The man thought if he could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she?

The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.