Point of View 7-1.2

Point of View The author is the person who wrote the story. The narrator is the person who is telling the story. The narrator tells the story from a certain point of view, or perspective. The narrator can be telling the story from the point of view of a character in the story, or the narrator can be telling the story from the point of view of a person outside the story.

Point of View Definition Clues Examples First Person A first-person narrator is always a character in the story. He or she only knows what that character knows, sees, thinks, and feels. This type of character cannot tell you what is happening anywhere else. The narrator uses words such as I, we, us, and our. The narrator only knows what him or herself is thinking. When I walked into the kitchen, I saw Mandy sitting at the table. I had no idea what she was doing there. She looked up and smiled at me when I said, “hello.”

Point of View Definition Clues Examples Omniscient Third Person An omniscient third-person narrator knows everything about all characters and events at all times and is not part of the story. The narrator uses words such as he, she, they, and them. Mandy sat at the table, anxiously waiting for Ted to arrive. When he came in, she smiled at him. He was too nervous to say anything. Limited A limited-third-person narrator is not a part of the story and knows what only one character is thinking (usually the main character.) The narrator tells the story using the words he, she, him, her, they, them. Mandy sat at the table, anxiously waiting for Ted to arrive. Ted came in and stared at her. She was wondering what he was thinking.