1. Literary Forms and Narration
Voice and P.O.V.

2. Literary Forms
Imaginative Literature is broken into 3 major literary forms:
POETRY
FICTION
DRAMA
This quarter we will focus on FICTION

3. Fiction Invented narratives written in prose Two types of fiction:
NOVEL
SHORT STORY
Both focus on similar traits:
CHARACTER
SETTING
P.O.V.
PLOT

4. Narration
The act of telling a story and the means by which the telling is accomplished.
VOICE
P.O.V.
CHARACTERIZATION
PLOT
DIALOGUE
SETTING
THEME
TONE
We are focusing in Semester 1 on voice and point of view.

5. Point of View (P.O.V.)
Can be identified by the pronoun that the narrator uses to recount the events.
Has nothing to do with the content of the passage. Think of a camera.
First person (close up)
Second person (turn the camera on you)
Third person (panoramic view)
Omniscient
Limited

6. First Person Has the advantage of immediacy and directness.
Invites the reader to engage with a speaker who seems to be relating first-hand experience.
Has a feeling of freshness and authenticity to the reader.

7. Limitations of First Person
The narrator can relate only what he or she might have witnessed, and then only with the degree of understanding and objectivity appropriate to his or her circumstances and character.
Can you think of any examples?

8. Third Person
The narrator has a much broader view and, usually, an objective perspective on the characters and events.
Falls into three major categories:
Third person omniscient: narrator can enter the consciousness of any character, evaluate motives and explain feelings, and recount the background and predict the outcome of situations.
Can you think of any examples?

9. Third Person
Third person limited: narrator describes events only from the perspective and with the understanding of one, or sometimes, a select few characters.
Can you think of any examples?
Third Person Objective : a third person narrator whose presence is merely implied.

10. Second Person
The narrator addresses the audience directly using the pronoun “you,” and assumes that the audience is experiencing the events along with the narrator.
The implied audience may be the reader, a character who will read this later, or a listener who is never identified, such as a close friend or a therapist in whom the narrator is confiding.
Occurs most frequently as a temporary departure from the other points of view.
Think of Ferris in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” or Deadpool

11. Limitations of Second Person
It is almost more immediate than first person and will remind the reader that she/he is a reader in the process.
Draws attention to the process of narration.
Breaks up the scene by the back-in-forth involvement with the reader.

12. What’s so important about P.O.V.?
It has become increasing important and complex as our society’s interest in the psychological relationships has grown, as well as in the relativity of perceptions.
Ask yourself how the story would be different if it was told in a different POV? What would be lost and what would be gained?
Think about Forrest Gump told from Jenny’s persepective
Ask why the author chose the POV he/she chose?
This will define his/her purpose and message.