Point-of-view

Review 1st person P-o-V: The narrator is a character in the story. Uses pronouns like, “I,” “me,” “my.” 3rd person P-o-V: The narrator is outside of the story. Uses pronouns like, “he,” “she,” “him,” “her,” “they.”

Key Idea The point-of-view restricts the amount of information you get as a reader. Example: In first person, you learn what happens as the character experiences it. You view it from only their eyes.

Example Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “now, Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t care. “Rachel,” Mrs. Price says. She says it like she’s getting mad. “You put that sweater on right now and no more nonsense.” “But it’s not—” “Now!” Mrs. Price says. What impression of Mrs. Price does Rachel give the reader?

Example But the worst part is right before the bell rings for lunch. That stupid Phyllis Lopez, who is even dumber than Sylvia Saldivar, says she remembers the red sweater is hers! I take it off right away and give it to her. How does first- person point of view affect what you know about Sylvia and Phyllis?

Why do authors choose first person or third person?

First person Allows for a personal, engaging voice Advantages Disadvantages Allows for a personal, engaging voice Helps readers connect to the main character Great for emotional topics or stories without much action Difficult to describe the main character You don’t know the other characters’ motivations The reader can’t “see” anything the narrator doesn’t witness

Third person More objective Narrator can cover all the characters Advantages Disadvantages More objective Narrator can cover all the characters Helps readers get in on the action Good for complex storylines with many subplots Less personal May lack character development because it focuses on action It can become confusing to the reader if too much “head hopping” occurs

Switch the Point of View The train whistle blared. I swallowed and looked down the tracks. “We’ve got to get this car moved!” I screamed. He heard a creak on the staircase. His eyes popped open and he held his breath, listening for another sound. The house stayed silent. Relaxing, Charlie closed his eyes. He heard it again.

1st  3rd 3rd 1st Mrs. Price says loud and in front of everybody, “Now, Rachel, that’s enough,” because she sees I’ve shoved the red sweater to the tippy-tip corner of my desk and it’s hanging all over the edge like a waterfall, but I don’t care. “Rachel,” Mrs. Price says. She says it like she’s getting mad. “You put that sweater on right now and no more nonsense.” “But it’s not—” “Now!” Mrs. Price says. Around town, the vote wasn’t even close. Everyone wanted Moose to carry the ball. “Look, son,” Coach Williams said to the Moose on the practice field the Thursday before the Benton Heights game, “this has gone far enough. Fun is fun. A joke is a joke. But let’s drop it.” “Just once,” the Moose pleaded. Coach Williams looked at the Moose and didn’t answer. The Moose didn’t know what that meant.