Point of View
WARM UP: EXPLAIN HOW AN AUTHOR
DEVELOPS A CHARACTER’S POINT OF VIEW.
Two Points of View on Point of View
 Point of view refers to the way
characters feel about various
people, things, or events in a story.
 Point of view also refers to the
vantage point or perspective from
which the author tells the story.
Explain how the following stories are told
differently:
 Once upon a time there was a princess who
would have been perfectly happy except for one
thing: In a moment of weakness, she had
promised to marry a frog. Her father felt sorry
for her, but he insisted that she keep her word.
 I couldn’t believe that my parents were actually
going to make me marry a slimy, ugly, bulgyeyed frog!
 The princess tried desperately to get out of her
promise.
Point of View
 Omniscient: all knowing, narrator tells about every
character

Once upon a time there was a princess who would have been
perfectly happy except for one thing: In a moment of
weakness, she had promised to marry a frog. Her father felt
sorry for her, but he insisted that she keep her word.
 First person: only know about one character, “I”
 I couldn’t believe that my parents were actually going to make
me marry a slimy, ugly, bulgy-eyed frog!
 Third person limited: narrator tells about one
character; “he”, “she”, “it”, “they”, “the princess”

The princess tried desperately to get out of her promise.
Evaluating Points of View
 Explain the pros and cons of each point
of view.
 Explain how an author might develop
each point of view.
 Which point of view do you prefer?
Why?
Point of View in “Seventh Grade”
 What point of view is “Seventh Grade” told in? How
do you know?
 Why did the author choose the point of view that he
did?
 What questions are unanswered as a result of this
point of view?
 How would it be different if it were told from another
point of view?
During Reading
 While reading “Eleven” by Sandra Cisneros, keep a
double entry journal about Rachel’s point of view
(how she feels about her age, her birthday, her
classmates, the teacher, etc.).
 Label the left hand side “Quotes”. On this side,
write details or quotes from the text that reveal the
character’s point of view.
 Label the right side “Analysis”. On this side,
analyze the quotes. Explain how each one shows
her point of view about her age, birthday,
classmates, teacher, etc.
Point of View in “Eleven”
 What point of view is “Eleven” told in? How do you
know?
 How would it be different if it were told from another
point of view?
 Why did the author choose the point of view that she
did?
 Imagine the story were told by another character or
from another point of view. Explain what you would
change and how it would change the story.
Extended Response Question
Integration of Knowledge and Ideas
In the excerpt from Woman Hollering Creek,
the main character, Rachel, describes her
eleventh birthday and an incident with a red
sweater.
 Identify Rachel's point of view about the
red sweater.
 Analyze her point of view, supporting your
analysis with TWO specific details from the
text.
ERQ Scoring Guide
Score
4
3
2
Description
 Accurately analyzes Rachel's point of view about the red
sweater.
 Accurately supports the analysis with TWO specific details from
the text.
 Accurately analyzes Rachel's point of view about the red
sweater.
 Accurately supports the analysis with ONE specific detail from
the text.
 Generally analyzes Rachel's point of view about the red sweater.
 Generally supports the analysis with ONE detail from the text.
1
 Attempts to analyze Rachel's point of view about the red
sweater.
 Attempts to support the analysis with ONE detail from the text.
0
 Response is totally incorrect or has nothing to do with the
question.
Blank
 No response given at all.