Narrator and Point of View (POV) In this lesson, you will learn the answers to these questions: What is a narrator? What types of narrators tell stories? What is point of view (POV)? What clues help us identify point of view (POV)?

What is a narrator?  A narrator is the person who tells the story.  Sometimes a narrator is a character in the story.  Sometimes a narrator is not a character in the story.  The narrator is not the author.  The author created the narrator to tell the story.

Example #1 My mother drove me to the airport with the windows rolled down. It was seventy-five degrees in Phoenix, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue… “Bella,” my mom said to me—the last of a thousand times— before I got on the plane. “You don’t have to do this.” Twilight, Chapter One, by Stephanie Meyer Facts: 1.The narrator is the person saying the words. 2.This narrator is a character in the story: She is in the action, not just watching the action. She talks to another character (the mother). She interacts with another character. 3.This narrator’s name is Bella.

Example #2 Harry Potter was a wizard—a wizard fresh from his first year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And, if the Dursleys were unhappy to have him back for the holidays, it was nothing to how Harry felt. He missed Hogwarts so much it was like having a constant stomachache. Harry Potter, Chapter One, by J.K. Rowling Facts: 1.The narrator is the person telling these words. 2.This narrator is not a character in the story: This narrator watches the action, but is not in the action. This narrator talks about characters, not to them. 3.This narrator tells about the character Harry Potter.

Practice #1 I didn’t have anything to do today so I just headed up to Rowley’s house. Rowley is technically my best friend, but that is definitely subject to change. I’ve been avoiding Rowley since the first day of school when he did something that really annoyed me. Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Chapter One, by Jeff Kinney Practice: 1.Is the narrator in the action or watching it? 2.Does the narrator interact with another character? 3.Is the narrator a story character, or just a narrator? The narrator is in the action. Yes, the narrator interacts with Rowley. The narrator is a story character.

Practice #2 Jack pushed his glasses into place. Who was going to believe any of this? Not his mom. Or his dad. Or his third grade teacher, Ms. Watkins. Only his seven year-old sister, Annie. She’d gone with him to the time of the dinosaurs. Magic Treehouse #2: The Knight at Dawn, Chapter One, by Mary Pope Osborne Practice: 1.Is the narrator in the action or watching it? 2.Does the narrator talk about characters or interact with them? 3.Is the narrator a story character, or just a narrator? The narrator is watching the action. The narrator talks about characters. The narrator is not a story character.

Part Two: Point of View  A point of view is the perspective of the narrator telling the story.  There are three main points of view: First person Second person Third person  The point of view controls how much the narrator knows.

First Person  In first person, a narrator uses pronouns like I, we, me, us, my, and our.  In a story with a first person point of view, the narrator usually knows only his or her own thoughts.

Second Person  In second person, a narrator uses pronouns like you and your.  In a story with a second person point of view, the narrator speaks directly to the reader.

Third Person  In third person, a narrator uses pronouns like he, she, it, his, her, their, and they.  Thoughts of other characters: Third person limited – the narrator knows the thoughts of the main character. Third person omnisicient—the narrator knows the thoughts of all characters in the story. Sometimes a third person narrator only observes and doesn’t know the thoughts of any character.

Practice #2 Jack pushed his glasses into place. Who was going to believe any of this? Not his mom. Or his dad. Or his third grade teacher, Ms. Watkins. Only his seven year-old sister, Annie. She’d gone with him to the time of the dinosaurs. Magic Treehouse #2: The Knight at Dawn, Chapter One, by Mary Pope Osborne Practice: 1.Is the point of view first, second, or third person? 2.Does the narrator know the thoughts of another character? 3.Is the point of view third person limited or third person omnisicient??

Example #1 My mother drove me to the airport with the windows rolled down. It was seventy-five degrees in Phoenix, the sky a perfect, cloudless blue… “Bella,” my mom said to me—the last of a thousand times— before I got on the plane. “You don’t have to do this.” Twilight, Chapter One, by Stephanie Meyer Practice: 1.Is the point of view first, second, or third person? 2.Does the narrator know the thoughts of another character? 3.What is the point of view?