Point+of+View?

Point of view refers to the narration of a story. Literature must be narrated by someone, and a writer must decide who that someone will be. The selection of narrator determines the point of view from which the story will be told, as well as the amount and kind of information a reader will be given.

When contrasting points of view in two stories, you are analysing why each author chose to write in that point of view. What did the author gain by using that particular point of view? You may even compare which point of view is more effective.

Keep in mind the characteristics of each point of view and determine how the author utilized those characteristics to obtain his or her objective.

First person - uses "I" - A character is telling the story. As readers, we cannot know or witness anything the narrator does not tell us. We share all the limitations of the narrator. This technique makes us feel like we’re part of the story because we identify ourselves with the “I” in the story.

Second person - uses "you" - The author speaks directly to the reader. Second person is seldom used. Because it is so novel, it draws attention to itself and sounds artificial.

Third person - uses "he," "she," or "it" - The author is telling about the characters. There are three types of third person narration.

Limited omniscient - We are told the thoughts and feelings of only one character (sometimes, but very seldom, of two or three characters). We do not know what is in the minds of other characters.

Omniscient - We are told everything about the story, including the thoughts and feelings of all the characters, and even information in the author's mind which no character knows.

Dramatic or objective - We are told only what happens and what is said; we do not know any thoughts or feelings of the characters. It is called "dramatic" because it includes the words and actions, just what you would see and hear if it were in a play or film.