Point of View

 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

 

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

 

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.)

 

  1. FIRST PERSON

Definition

 

Advantages

 

Disadvantages

 

 

  1. SECOND PERSON

Definition

 

Advantages

 

Disadvantages

 

 

  1. THIRD PERSON
    1. OMNISCIENT

Definition

 

Advantages

 

Disadvantages

 

  1. LIMITED OMNISCIENT

Definition

 

Advantages

 

Disadvantages

 

 

  1. OBSERVER

Definition

 

Advantages

 

Disadvantages

 

 

 

 

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