Point of View

1. Point of View the position of the narrator in relation to the story

2. First Person Point of View How involved is the narrator? • Narrator is a character in the story • Narrator not reliable

3. First Person Point of View How much does the narrator know about the events, feelings, and/or actions of characters? • Narrator can only tell the story in his/her ownwords, thoughts and feelings

4. First Person Point of View What pronouns are mostly being used? I Me/My We Our Us

5. First Person Point of View What does it look like? “I was scared, so I ran away from the clown.” Example Texts: The Hunger Games

6. Second Person Point of View How involved is the narrator? • Narrator addresses the reader directly

7. Second Person Point of View How much does the narrator know about the events, feelings, and/or actions of characters? • Narrator is limited on what can be said because every reader is different

8. Second Person Point of View What pronouns are mostly being used? You

9. Second Person Point of View What does it look like? “Scared, you run away from the clown.” Example Texts: Half Asleep in Frog Pajamas; Choose Your Own Adventure Books; Self-Help books

10. Third Person Point of View Limited How involved is the narrator? • Narrator is not a character in the story • Reporter of only onecharacter’s thoughts & feelings

11. Third Person Point of View Limited How much does the narrator know about the events, feelings, and/or actions of characters? • Narrator does notknow what is in other character’s minds • Narrator can only tell what is observable about other characters

12. Third Person Point of View Limited What pronouns are mostly being used? He/She Him/Her They/Them *Also uses Characters names

13. Third Person Point of View Limited What does it look like? “Ingrid was scared, so she ran away from the clown.” Example Texts: Percy Jackson: The Lightening Thief

14. Third Person Point of View Omniscient How involved is the narrator? • Narrator is not a character in the story • As if cameras and bugging devices everywhere (In every character’s mind, all places, past, future, etc.)

15. Third Person Point of View Omniscient How much does the narrator know about the events, feelings, and/or actions of characters? • Narrator knows all, sees all, hears all, etc. • Narrator can tell anything (feelings, thoughts, unobservable actions, etc.) about anycharacter. • Narrator can move to different locations because is not tied to one character

16. Third Person Point of View Omniscient What pronouns are mostly being used? He/She Him/Her They/Them *Also uses Characters names

17. Third Person Point of View Omniscient What does it look like? “Ingrid was scared, so she ran away from the clown. What she didn’t know was that the clown was her father, and he wanted to surprise her for her birthday.” Example Texts: Lord of the Rings

18. Example A Mr. Johnson looked at Charles sternly. He simply didn’t know what to do with this boy. Charles had been in Mr. Johnson’s office twice earlier this week. Now here he was again, and this time he was charged with something much more serious. Mr. Johnson shook his head. There really was no doubt in his mind. Charles was guilty. He looked at the police officer standing next to Charles. No question whatsoever--Charles had done it.

19. Example A • Example AisThird Person Limited.The author, not a character, is telling the story. We can see only what Mr. Johnson is thinking. We know what Mr. Johnson thinks, but we do not know what the officer or Charles thinks. We also do not know whether or not Charles is really guilty. Mr. Johnson looked at Charles sternly.He simply didn’t know what to do with this boy. Charles had been in Mr. Johnson’s office twice earlier this week. Now here he was again, and this time he was charged with something much more serious. Mr. Johnson shook his head. There really was no doubt in his mind. Charles was guilty. He looked at the police officer standing next to Charles. No question whatsoever--Charles had done it.

20. Example B I can’t believe what is happening to me. I know that I’ll never convince Mr. Johnson and the cop that I had nothing to do with this. Man! I didn’t do it. Why won’t anyone believe me? I’ve been in trouble before, but I’ve never done anything like this! I’ve got to convince them, or I might as well kiss my life good-bye.

21. Example B Example Bis an example of First Person Point of View. Charles, a character in the story, is telling us what happened to him. We know that Charles is innocent. Ican’t believe what is happening to me. IknowthatI’ll never convince Mr. Johnson and the cop that I had nothing to do with this. Man! I didn’t do it.Why won’t anyone believeme? I’vebeen in trouble before, butI’ve never done anything like this! I’vegot to convince them, or Imight as well kissmylife good-bye.

22. Example C Officer Wiley looked at Charles and scratched his head. All the evidence pointed to Charles’s guilt, but the officer just couldn’t be sure. Mr. Johnson, on the other hand, knew that Charles was guilty as sin. His numerous brushes with authority in the past left no question in his mind at all. Charles hung his head, knowing that this time he would not be able to talk his way out of trouble.

23. Example C Excerpt Cis an example of Third Person Omniscient Point of View. The author is telling the story, but we can see what Officer Wiley, Charles, and Mr. Johnson are thinking. We know that Mr. Johnson believes Charles is guilty, but Officer Wiley has doubts. We still are not sure whether or not Charles is guilty. Officer Wiley looked at Charles and scratched his head. All the evidence pointed to Charles’s guilt, but the officer just couldn’t be sure. Mr. Johnson, on the other hand, knew that Charles was guilty as sin. His numerous brushes with authority in the past left no question in his mind atall. Charleshunghishead, knowing that this time he would not be able to talk his way out of trouble.

24. Example D When I saw them taking Charlie into the office, I lingered outside the door, hoping to find out what he had done this time. Charlie was my best friend, but I was getting a little tired of defending him when I knew he was wrong. He must have done something really big this time to have the cops involved.

25. Example D WhenI saw them taking Charlie into the office, Ilingered outside the door, hoping to find out what he had done this time. Charlie wasmy best friend, but Iwas getting a little tired of defending him whenI knew he was wrong. He must have done something really big this time to have the cops involved. Excerpt Dis an example of First Person Point of View.A friend, one of the characters in the story, is narrating. Since he does not know whether or not Charles is guilty, neither do we.

26. How Point of View Affects the Meaning DIRECTIONS: Write three versions of a short story based upon this scenario. 1. Write the first version using the first-person point of view. 2. Write the second version using the third-person limited point of view. 3. Write the third version using the third-person omniscient point of view. At the end of each story, explain how the use of the particular point of view affects the reader’s interpretation of the story. Scenario: A boy is walking home from school just as it is getting dark. He senses a presence behind him. Nearby, the town grocer is taking out the trash.

27. Scenario: A boy is walking home from school just as it is getting dark. He senses a presence behind him. Nearby, a neighbor is taking out the trash. Rewritten - Point of View: First-Person As I walked home from school, I realized that the block was calmer than ever before. There was neither a siren from the fire station nearby nor noise from the neighborhood kids playing hide and seek. I thought I felt a shadow behind me, but when I looked, it was gone. I quivered as the dark drew on and a feeling of fear overtook me. Effect on Meaning: Because the author uses the first person point of view, we as readers get a clear, vivid sense of the character’s perception of the neighborhood and his growing sense of fear. The use of the first person also limits our understanding, though, because we can only experience what the character experiences. We don’t know why the block is so quiet or who or what, if anyone or anything, might be following him.

28. Scenario: A boy is walking home from school just as it is getting dark. He senses a presence behind him. Nearby, a neighbor is taking out the trash. Rewritten - Point of View: Third Person Limited As Joseph walked home from school, he realized that the block was calmer than ever before. There was neither a siren from the fire station nearby nor noise from the neighborhood kids playing hide and seek. He thought he felt a shadow behind him, but when he looked it was gone. Nevertheless, he quivered as the feeling of fear overtook him while the dark drew on like a creepy monster hovering over the neighborhood. Effect on Meaning: The change to the use of third person pronouns makes this account less personal. However, as in the first person account, we get a clear understanding of the narrator’s perceptions and fear. Also, because we only see through his point of view, we sense that something is wrong, but we don’t know what is causing it.

29. Scenario: A boy is walking home from school just as it is getting dark. He senses a presence behind him. Nearby, a neighbor is taking out the trash. Rewritten - Point of View: Third Person Omniscient Something seemed strange to Joseph as he walked down the calm and quiet block.            At the end of the block, Freddie, the grocer, walked out of his store carrying two heavy trash bags to the dumpster. Suddenly, he spotted Joseph, put down the trash bags, and began following him. Silently, he crept behind the boy, who continued to walk down the street. Joseph felt a shadow behind him, but he was too scared to look right away. Freddie walked closely behind the boy without making a sound. Joseph then slowed his pace in order to quickly turn around to see who was following him. However, simultaneously, the store clerk made a left turn into the alley in order to remain unseen.           Quickening his pace, Joseph continued on his way towards his high-rise apartment building. He was relieved when he finally reached the entrance to the complex. Meanwhile, with a smirk on his face, Freddie retraced his steps and retrieved the trash bags. He knew he had scared Joseph, which he felt the boy deserved because Joseph and his friends had splattered eggs on his store window last week. Effect on Meaning: Because this version is told using a third-person omniscient narrator, we see beyond Joseph’s point of view and learn the cause of his anxiety—Freddie’s attempt to frighten him. As a result, the mood is not as tense and spooky as it is in the first two versions because we see the entire picture and know that nothing horrible is going to happen. In addition, because the author uses the third person omniscient narrator, we don’t see Joseph as a completely innocent victim anymore.