Point of View = who is telling the story
Tip: When determining the POV, ignore the dialogue; only FOCUS on the NARRATION!
Tip: Even though other pronouns may be used in the narration, as soon as you see a 1st person pronoun (me, my, I, our, we), that means it is written in 1st person!
1st person = narrator is in the story is typically the protagonist (I, me, we, our)
2nd person = narrator speaks to reader (you, your)
3rd person = narrator is not in the story but is an outsider (he, she, they, him, her)
3rd person omniscient - narrator is all-knowing (shows thoughts/actions of several characters)
3rd person limited - the narrator knows the thoughts/actions of only one character, usually the protagonist
Listen to this short Flocabulary song to learn about Point of View.
Try out these flashcards to help you remember each point of view.
Use the pdf file below to review different point of views.
point_of_view_pp.pdf | |
File Size: | 252 kb |
File Type: |
Practice determining the point of view with the examples below:
War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells
We were driving along the road from Treguier to Kervanda. We passed at a smart trot between the hedges topping an earth wall on each side of the road. The driver jumped down heavily from the box. He flicked his whip and climbed the incline, stepping clumsily uphill by the side of the carriage, his eyes on the ground. After a while he lifted his head, pointed up the road with the end of the whip, and said: "The idiot!" I was startled by his outburst.
1st person -- we get to hear the thoughts of the narrator, who is in the story.
Ask a Ninja Presents: The Ninja Handbook by the International Order of Ninjas
Remember, any tool that you can use against an enemy may also be used against you. Therefore it is highly recommended that you build a course with your clan to practice keeping your wits when something is trying to set you off course. You can make your own mini gauntlet to increase your skills in your own backyard.
2nd person -- the narrator is speaking to the audience (uses "you" and "your")
Starfire Angels by Melanie Nilles
Raea gasped and scanned the shadows around her. Her crystal pendant glowed faintly like the aquamarine splotches on the backs and palms of her hands, but it all faded to nothing before she could blink. Impossible. She couldn't have seen what she thought she saw.
3rd person limited -- the narrator is NOT is in the story; we get to hear Raea's thoughts.
A Retrieved Reformation by O. Henry
“Annabel,” said Jimmy, “give me that rose you are wearing, will you?” Hardly believing that she had heard him right, she unpinned the flower from her dress and placed it in his hand. Jimmy Valentine put on his coat and walked outside the railing toward the front door. As he went he thought he heard a faraway voice that he once knew.
3rd person omniscient -- the narrator is NOT in the story; first we hear Annabel's thoughts, then we hear Jimmy's thoughts.