Point of View
How Much Do You Know?
What Is Point of View?
Point of view is the vantage point from which a writer tells
a story.
•Every story has a narrator, who may be a character in
the story or an outside observer.
•The narrator provides the only information readers
have about the characters, events, and places in a
story.
•The amount of information given depends on the
narrator’s point of view.
Points of View
The three main points of view are
•first person
•third person limited
•omniscient
First-Person Point of View
•In first-person point of view, the narrator is one of the
characters.
•The first-person narrator
•uses first-person pronouns (I, we)
•participates in the action of the story
•tells only what he or she knows
•may lack objectivity or perception about events or other
characters in the story
•may be an unreliable source of information
First-Person Point of View
•A first-person narrator may be unreliable for many
reasons. He or she may
•be naïve or unaware of important information
•present a dishonestly flattering self-portrait by omitting or
altering some events
•be mentally disturbed or otherwise impaired
•When reading a first-person narrative, watch for signs
that the narrator’s version of events disagrees with
what actually happened in the story.
First-Person Point of View
As my father maneuvers the car out of the parking lot, I
tell myself he might be ill, mentally ill, even though I have
never detected anything wrong beyond his prison nightmares.
I am trying to piece it together, this sudden yet familiar picture
of a parent’s vulnerability. When I was ten years old and my
father had the chicken pox, I overheard him say to a friend on
the phone, “The doctor tells me that at my age chicken pox
can kill a man.” This was the first time I realized that my father
could die. I looked up the word kill in every dictionary and
encyclopedia at school, trying to comprehend what it meant,
that my father could be eradicated from my life.
from “The Book of the Dead” by Edwidge Danticat
From “The Book of the Dead” by Edwidge Danticat. Copyright © 1999 by Edwidge Danticat. Originally published in The New Yorker, June 1999. Reproduced by
permission of Edwidge Danticat and Aragi Inc.
Third-Person-Limited Point of View
•In third-person-limited point of view, the narrator is
outside the story but zooms in to focus on the thoughts
and feelings of one character in the story.
•The third-person-limited narrator
•uses third-person pronouns (she, they)
•plays no part in the story’s action
•tells only what the chosen character knows
Third-Person-Limited Point of View
Light flashed on her closed eyelids, and a deep roaring shook
her. Cornelia, is that lightning? I hear thunder. There’s going to be a
storm. Close all the windows. Call the children in. . . . “Mother, here
we are, all of us.” “Is that you, Hapsy?” “Oh, no, I’m Lydia. We drove
as fast as we could.” Their faces drifted above her, drifted away.
The rosary fell out of her hands and Lydia put it back. Jimmy tried to
help, their hands fumbled together, and Granny closed two fingers
around Jimmy’s thumb. Beads wouldn’t do, it must be something
alive. She was so amazed her thoughts ran round and round. So,
my dear Lord, this is my death and I wasn’t even thinking about it.
My children have come to see me die. But I can’t, it’s not time.
from “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” by Katherine Anne Porter
“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” from Flowering Judas and Other Stories by Katherine Anne Porter. Copyright 1930 and renewed © 1958 by Katherine Anne Porter.
Reproduced by permission of The Permissions Company on behalf of Barbara Thompson Davis, Literary Trustee for Katherine A. Porter.
Omniscient Point of View
•In the omniscient point of view, the narrator is outside
the story but knows what all the characters are thinking
and feeling as well as what is happening in other
places.
•The omniscient narrator
•uses third-person pronouns (she, them)
•is not part of the story’s action
•can tell readers about the motives, weaknesses, hopes,
childhoods, and futures of many characters
•may comment directly on the characters’ actions
Omniscient Point of View
The next day, the whole village of Milford talked of little else
than Parson Hooper’s black veil. That, and the mystery
concealed behind it, supplied a topic for discussion between
acquaintances meeting in the street, and good women
gossiping at their open windows. It was the first item of news
that the tavern keeper told to his guests. The children babbled
of it on their way to school. One imitative little imp covered his
face with an old black handkerchief, thereby so affrighting his
playmates, that the panic seized himself, and he well nigh lost
his wits by his own waggery.*
from “The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne
*waggery: joke.
Evaluating Point of View
Once you’ve identified a story’s point of view, you can
evaluate what effect it has on the story. Ask yourself the
following questions.
•How much does the narrator know and understand?
Does the narrator provide insight into characters and
events?
•Does the narrator remain objective?
•What information might the narrator keep from
readers? Why?
•How would the story be different if it were told from
another point of view?
What Have You Learned?
Match these passages with the point of view they use.
Omniscient
Third person limited
First person
_________________—
Third person limited
Bill glared across the room at Elsi,
wondering how could she be so heartless.
First person
_________________—
I couldn’t believe she was sitting there
ignoring me. I held my gaze, willing her to
look up at me.
_________________—
Omniscient
Elsi wished Bill would look away. She didn’t
want to hurt his feelings. Bill was
determined to meet her eye, though. He
wanted her to acknowledge him.
The End