Point of View

Definitions Words you need to know: ◦Narrator: the person telling the story ◦Limited: restricted, not a lot known ◦Omniscient: having complete and unlimited knowledge. Knows everything.

Point of view Point of view is the perspective of the story. WHO is telling the story. Or WHO is the narrator

First Person Point of View The narrator is a character in the story Uses words such as I, we, our, us

Example of first person point of view Max from Freak the Mighty: ◦“For a second I think he’s going to hit her, and then he relaxes and really looks at me……….We can hear her laughing……..Meanwhile Freak is giving me this look like he has no idea what’s going on.”

Third person limited The narrator is not a character in the story. The story is told from one character’s point of view. He, she, they. You know one character’s thoughts and feelings.

Example of Third person limited Harry Potter: ◦As Harry squelched along the deserted corridor he came across somebody who looked just as preoccupied as he was. Nearly Headless Nick, the ghost of Gryffindor Tower, was staring morosely out of a window, muttering under his breath, "... don't fulfill their requirements... half an inch, if that..." "Hello, Nick," said Harry. "Hello, hello," said Nearly Headless Nick, starting and looking round. He wore a dashing, plumed hat on his long curly hair, and a tunic with a ruff, which concealed the fact that his neck was almost completely severed. He was pale as smoke, and Harry could see right through him to the dark sky and torrential rain outside.

Third person omniscient The narrator is not part of the story The story is told from many character’s point of view. The narrator tells all the character’s thoughts and feelings.

Example of third person omniscient As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the man rattled the blades of grass as he tried to hide himself behind the tree. As the man saw her start up the hill, he moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone. The man thought if he could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she? The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.