NEW WORDS
• What is a stereotype?
• What is perspective?
• How are these words important in The Outsiders?
NOW:
1) Read the lyrics to “The In-Crowd.”
2) Turn and talk with a partner. Discuss the questions at
the bottom of the page.
POINT OF VIEW
WHAT IS POINT OF VIEW?
Point of view is the perspective from which a writer tells a story.
 A writer tells a story through the voice of a narrator.
 Narrator=the one who is telling a story.
 A narrator may be an outside observer or a character in the
story.
 Everything you learn about the characters, events, and places in a
story depends on the narrator’s point of view.
POINTS OF VIEW
The different points of view in literature are:
 First-person
 Second-person
 Third-person
Third-person limited
Third-person omniscient
FIRST-PERSON POINT OF VIEW
 In the first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the
story.
 Pronouns: I, me, mine, ours, and us
 The first-person narrator
 participates in the action of the story
 can tell us only what he or she is feeling, thinking, or observing
 may or may not be honest about what’s going in the story
FIRST-PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Example:
“It was times like these when I thought my father, who hated guns and had
never been to any wars, was the bravest man who ever lived.” - To Kill a
Mockingbird by Harper Lee
•This shows first-person point of view because the narrator is telling the story.
The narrator is also telling us her opinions directly.
FIRST-PERSON POINT OF VIEW: UNRELIABLE
NARRATOR
• Sometimes, with first-person point of view, we
have an “unreliable narrator.” This is when we
don’t know whether the narrator is telling the full
truth or not.
Example:
“I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life.
It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a
magazine, even, and somebody asks me where
I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera.
It's terrible.”—J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the
Rye
NOW:
• You will receive an excerpt from The Outsiders.
• You will receive a character’s name.
• You will rewrite that excerpt from that
character’s perspective.
•
*Do not just rewrite the excerpt, word for word!!! Add in what you
think that character’s thoughts and feelings would be.
Second-Person Point of View
Rarely used in novels; usually used for letters, emails, directions, etc.
Most TV commercials use this viewpoint.
Uses pronouns: you, yours.
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•
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Example:
“You walk down 5th Avenue everyday on your way to work. Today, on a whim,
you stop at the flower stall and buy a red carnation. The saleslady helps
you pin it to your lapel. You pay her and merge back into the crowd.”
•
This shows second-person point of view because “you” is used.
Third-Person Point of View:
• Told from a narrator’s viewpoint.
• Uses: He, she, him, her, it, them, its, theirs,
his, and hers
Two types of Third-Person:
1. Limited
2. Omniscient (all knowing)
THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW
 In the omniscient point of view, the narrator plays no part in the
story but can tell us what all the characters are thinking and
feeling as well as what is happening in other places.
 The omniscient narrator:
 can tell us as much or as little as the writer permits
 may tell us what all—or only some—of the characters are
thinking, feeling, and observing
 may comment on the story’s meaning, characters, or events
THIRD-PERSON OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW
EXAMPLE
Jill was scared to admit that she liked Jim, but little did she know,
he liked her too. In fact, as she spent her days trying to think up creative ways
to avoid him, Jim was planning out creative ways to ask her to the school
dance.
Jill was scared to admit she liked Jim, and feared his reaction more than
anything. She spent her days avoiding him, too embarrassed to even speak
with him. What if he hated her?
THIRD-PERSON-LIMITED POINT OF VIEW
 In the third-person-limited point of view, the narrator plays no part in the story but
zooms in on the thoughts and feelings of one character.
 The third-person narrator
 views the actions from the vantage point of a single character
 can tell us only what that single character is thinking, feeling, and observing
THIRD-PERSON-LIMITED POINT OF VIEW
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
J.K. Rowling uses third person limited in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. The
reader witnesses what Harry sees and knows his thoughts and feelings but without ever
hearing first-person narration from Harry. Check out the excerpt below.
Harry had taken up his place at wizard school, where he and his scar were famous ...but
now the school year was over, and he was back with the Dursleys for the summer, back to
being treated like a dog that had rolled in something smelly.
The Dursleys hadn't even remembered that today happened to be Harry's twelfth
birthday. Of course, his hopes hadn't been high?
In this excerpt from the novel, we are able to know how Harry Potter is feeling, what he's
thinking, and what is happening. We follow him closely, unable to know what the Dursleys
are thinking or feeling about having Harry with them for the summer. But, it is clear what
Harry thinks and feels about them.
WHY IS POINT OF VIEW IMPORTANT?
 The narrator’s point of view determines what and how much you learn
about the story’s characters, events, and places.
 It’s important to evaluate the knowledge of the narrator. Ask yourself:
 How much does this narrator know and understand?
 How much does this narrator want me to know?
 How would this story be different if someone else were telling it?
 Can I trust this narrator?
UNRELIABLE NARRATOR
• Sometimes, the person telling a story is
untrustworthy. He/she may lie, leave out
information, or exaggerate events in the
story. This is an UNRELIABLE NARRATOR.
• Do you think Isabel is an unreliable
narrator? Why or why not?
NOW:
You will receive a paragraph from The Outsiders.
You will rewrite this paragraph in different points of view.
Then, you will rewrite the paragraph from the perspective of a
character (other than Ponyboy) that I give you.
POINT OF VIEW
From your perspective, do you think that Johnny
will have to go to jail for his crime? Write “yes” or
“no” on your Post-It, and briefly explain why. Then,
stick the Post-It on your board.
DO YOU THINK THE FOLLOWING GROUPS THINK
JOHNNY IS GUILTY, OR INNOCENT?
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The Greasers
The Socs
The kids at school
Johnny’s parents
DO YOU THINK THAT JOHNNY AND PONYBOY
NEED TO HIDE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES?
WHY OR WHY NOT?
NOW:
• You are going to create a “Wanted” poster for
Johnny. Pretend you are the police creating this
poster.
• Consider the police officers’ point of view.
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Who will they think is guilty, at this point?
Do they know Johnny’s point of view?
What do you think the Socs told the police?
Do the police know exactly what happened that night?