Point of ViewPoint of ViewEveryone has one. What is Everyone has one. What is

Yours?Yours?

Point of View, What is it?Point of View, What is it? Point of view refers to the vantage (view)

point from which a story is told. Point of view is the way the author allows you to "see" and "hear" what's going onWhile reading ask yourself who is telling the story?

Why should we care about point of view? How does it help a reader?

First PersonFirst Person

First person point of view is in use when a First person point of view is in use when a character narrates the story with character narrates the story with I-me-my-mineI-me-my-mine in his or her speech. The advantage of this in his or her speech. The advantage of this point of view is that you get to hear the point of view is that you get to hear the thoughts of the thoughts of the NARRATORNARRATOR and see the and see the world depicted in the story through his or her world depicted in the story through his or her eyes.eyes.

Clues: I –Me-My-MineClues: I –Me-My-Mine

Example:Example:

Invitation to the GameInvitation to the Game by Monica Hughes by Monica Hughes ““And we scrounged. Next to And we scrounged. Next to survival, scrounge survival, scrounge was was

probably the most important word in our new probably the most important word in our new vocabulary. We found a store that was throwing out vocabulary. We found a store that was throwing out water-damaged mattresses. Getting them home was a water-damaged mattresses. Getting them home was a problem, since we had to make two trips, leaving problem, since we had to make two trips, leaving Brad and Katie, armed with sticks to guard over the Brad and Katie, armed with sticks to guard over the remained. I truly expected them to be challenged by remained. I truly expected them to be challenged by some gang boss, but they said that the only person some gang boss, but they said that the only person who came by was a scrawny little rat of a girl living who came by was a scrawny little rat of a girl living alone. We let her have one of the mattresses.”alone. We let her have one of the mattresses.”

Second PersonSecond Person Second-personSecond-person point of view, in which the author point of view, in which the author

uses uses youyou and and youryour, is rare; authors seldom speak , is rare; authors seldom speak directly to the reader. When you encounter this point directly to the reader. When you encounter this point of view, pay attention. Why? The author has made a of view, pay attention. Why? The author has made a daring choice, probably with a specific purpose in daring choice, probably with a specific purpose in mind. Most times, second-person point of view draws mind. Most times, second-person point of view draws the reader into the story, almost making the reader a the reader into the story, almost making the reader a participant in the actionparticipant in the action

Instructions and directions are usually written from Instructions and directions are usually written from second-person perspective. second-person perspective.

Example:Example:

Ask a Ninja Presents: The Ninja HandbookAsk a Ninja Presents: The Ninja Handbook by the by the International Order of NinjasInternational Order of Ninjas

““Remember, any tool that you can use against an Remember, any tool that you can use against an enemy may also be used against you. Therefore it is enemy may also be used against you. Therefore it is highly recommended that you build a course with highly recommended that you build a course with your clan to practice keeping your wits about you your clan to practice keeping your wits about you when something is trying to set you off course. when something is trying to set you off course. Ninjas train on special courses that really mess with Ninjas train on special courses that really mess with their perception of space, but that doesn’t mean you their perception of space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own mini gauntlet to increase your can’t make your own mini gauntlet to increase your skills in your own backyard (78).”skills in your own backyard (78).”

Third Person Third Person Third-person point of view is that of an outsider Third-person point of view is that of an outsider

looking at the action. The writer may choose looking at the action. The writer may choose third-third-person omniscient,person omniscient, in which the thoughts of every in which the thoughts of every character are open to the reader, or character are open to the reader, or third-person third-person limited,limited, in which the reader enters only one in which the reader enters only one character's mind, either throughout the entire character's mind, either throughout the entire work or in a specific section. Third-person limited work or in a specific section. Third-person limited differs from first-person because the author's differs from first-person because the author's voice, not the character's voice, is what you hear voice, not the character's voice, is what you hear in the descriptive passages.in the descriptive passages.

Remember, most writers choose this point of view!!Remember, most writers choose this point of view!!

Example:Example: Sideways Stories from Wayside SchoolSideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis  by Louis

SacharSachar Leslie sat in front of Paul. She had two long, brown Leslie sat in front of Paul. She had two long, brown

pigtails that reached all the way down to her waist. pigtails that reached all the way down to her waist. Paul saw those pigtails, and a terrible urge came over Paul saw those pigtails, and a terrible urge came over him. He wanted to pull a pigtail. He wanted to wrap him. He wanted to pull a pigtail. He wanted to wrap his fist around it, feel the hair between his fingers, his fist around it, feel the hair between his fingers, and just yank. He thought it would be fun to tie the and just yank. He thought it would be fun to tie the pigtails together, or better yet, tie them to her chair. pigtails together, or better yet, tie them to her chair. But most of all, he just wanted to pull oneBut most of all, he just wanted to pull one

(Third person limited, only Paul’s thoughts are (Third person limited, only Paul’s thoughts are revealed)revealed)

Example: Example: The Wizard of OzThe Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum by L Frank Baum The Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy’s basket with The Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy’s basket with

them, so that she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this them, so that she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this was very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at was very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at the awkward way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts. His the awkward way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts. His padded hands were so clumsy that he dropped almost as many as he put in padded hands were so clumsy that he dropped almost as many as he put in the basket. But the Scarecrow did not mind how long it took him to fill the the basket. But the Scarecrow did not mind how long it took him to fill the basket, for it enabled him to keep away from the fire, as he feared a spark basket, for it enabled him to keep away from the fire, as he feared a spark might get into his straw and burn him up (49).might get into his straw and burn him up (49).

Narrative Perspective:Narrative Perspective: Third-Person Omniscient Third-Person Omniscient How do you know? How do you know? Dorothy and the Scarecrow's thoughts are Dorothy and the Scarecrow's thoughts are

revealedrevealed

Example:Example: Harry Houdini: A Photographic Story of a LifeHarry Houdini: A Photographic Story of a Life by Vicki Cobb by Vicki Cobb ““Harry called their grand finale “Metamorphosis,” which Harry called their grand finale “Metamorphosis,” which

means “change in appearance.” Harry would tie Theo’s hands means “change in appearance.” Harry would tie Theo’s hands behind his back with a rope, then put him in a sack and tie the behind his back with a rope, then put him in a sack and tie the top. The tied and bagged Theo was then placed into the trunk top. The tied and bagged Theo was then placed into the trunk which was locked and tied with ropes. A curtain was drawn so which was locked and tied with ropes. A curtain was drawn so that no one could see the trunk, although they could hear Theo that no one could see the trunk, although they could hear Theo banging around inside. With great drama, Houdini told the banging around inside. With great drama, Houdini told the audience, “When I clap my hands three times—behold a audience, “When I clap my hands three times—behold a miracle!” He moved behind the curtain, clapped three times, miracle!” He moved behind the curtain, clapped three times, and out stepped Theo, arms raised triumphantly” (31).and out stepped Theo, arms raised triumphantly” (31).

Narrative Perspective: Narrative Perspective: Third-Person Objective Third-Person Objective How do you know? How do you know? No character's thoughts are revealed, only No character's thoughts are revealed, only

their actions and dialogue.their actions and dialogue.