ANALYZE POINT OF VIEW
FIRST PERSON (I/me/mine/we)
Definition – see inside and see through the eyes of the main character only; a. participant b. participant and observer  c. observer
Advantages – more personal; more emotional; easier to go back in time; easier to show what it is like to be the main character; feels more immediate
Disadvantages – cannot tell what other characters think; requires a main character who can believably write; can seem immature or unprofessional; main character has to be in all the scenes
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SECOND PERSON (You)
Definition – narrator tells the story to another person without referring to self
Advantages- makes the reader a part of the story, useful for instruction manuals
Disadvantages – difficult to keep up for long and sounds very informal
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THIRD PERSON (He/she/they)
1. OMNISCIENT
Definition – see inside all characters
Advantages more objective, less emotional and personal because all the characters’ thoughts are revealed; shows wider view
Disadvantages – more complex; hard to write
2. LIMITED OMNISCIENT
Definition – see all characters; see inside one
Advantages – focuses on main character but lets reader observe all the characters, unlike first person which only lets us see what the narrator sees; can create suspense
Disadvantages – limits the view; can get boring; have to show other characters thoughts through action
3. OBSERVER
Definition – see all characters but see inside none
Advantages more objective, less emotional and personal
Disadvantages- unemotional; requires reader to be very observant
[This page may be copied for use with students if the following credit is provided: ©2013 Sophie Rosen.]
NARRATIVE POINT OF VIEW
Suggested Lesson:
Teacher: Learn the information and explain it to the class.
Students: Listen and take notes using the form below.
(Worksheet on identifying novel excerpts available upon request.)
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- FIRST PERSON
Definition
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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- SECOND PERSON
Definition
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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- THIRD PERSON
- OMNISCIENT
Definition
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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- LIMITED OMNISCIENT
Definition
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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- OBSERVER
Definition
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Advantages
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Disadvantages
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