Point of View

Understanding a Writer’s Personacreated by Mrs. Yardley

Definition

The perspective or vantage point from which a story is toldThe choice is deliberate

Participant Point of View

Sometimes called “First-Person” point of viewUses first person pronouns (I, we, me, my, our)The narrator is a character in the story

I saw the clouds.

Pros/Cons of 1st Person

Offers immediacyNarrator is an eyewitnessNarrator can make judgments

Can only tell what he/she observesCannot enter the minds of other charactersObservations may be inaccurate

Non-Participant Point of View

Sometimes called “Third-Person” point of viewUses third person pronouns (he, him, she, her, they, them)Narrator is not a character in the story

He signed his name

Omniscient Narrator

The author can enter the minds of the charactersCan describe what all characters are thinking and feeling

Objective Narrator

Never enters a character’s mindRecords only what is seen and heard (like a hidden camera)Allows inferences to be made by the readers

Objective Example

Sunset Towers faced east and had no towers. This glittery, glassy apartment house stood alone on the Lake Michigan shore five stories high. Five empty stories high.

Omniscient Example

Grace stood before the front window where, beyond the road, beyond the trees, Lake Michigan lay calm and glistening. A lake view! Just wait until those so-called friends of hers with their classy houses see this place.

Omniscient or Objective

The two children stepped out. They squinted down the shadowy passage, searching for a door, a recess, any place where someone could be hiding. Emma’s foot touched an empty jar and it rolled away, filling the passage with a loud rumble.

Omniscient or Objective

On September first the chosen ones moved in. A wire fence had been erected long the north side of the building; on it a sign warned: NO TRESPASSING—Property of the Westing estate. The newly paved driveway curved sharply and double back on itself rather than breach the city-county line.

Omniscient or Objective

The stocky, broad-shouldered man in the doorman’s uniform, standing with feet spread, fists on hips, was Sandy McSouthers. The two slim, trim high-school seniors, shielding their eyes against the stinging chill, were Theo Theodorakis and Doug Hoo. The small, wiry man pointing to the house on the hill was Otis Amber, the 62-year old delivery boy.

Omniscient or Objective

So far so good, Jake thought. This girl was bugged by cursing and smoking. He had news for her. He intended to do a whole lot of both. He took a long drag on his cigarette and blew the smoke at her again. She turned away and moved down to the other end of the porch steps.

Omniscient or Objective

The boy slouching against the porch railing had scarlet spiked hair, a silver ring through one dark brown eyebrow, and too many earrings to count. He was dressed entirely in black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black high-top running shoes—and the look in his eyes was pure mean.

Omniscient or Objective

Not an original bone in his body, E.D. thought. Just a plain ordinary delinquent.

Omniscient or Objective

Charlie realized, to his horror, that he was holding his mother’s magazine. On the cover, a woman in pink underwear held a kitten. Charlie felt very hot. He knew his face must be bright red.

Omniscient or Objective

Blood. Josh could taste it. Smell it. He lay on his side, his left cheek pressed against the earth, the icy rain pinging on his face…He knew he could not stay where he was, but wasn’t at all sure he could stand, much less walk.

Omniscient or Objective

The animal she was chasing was a goat. A smelly one. As fast as it had galloped by, it had left its odor very clearly on the air. Goat and girl disappeared around the bend in the drive, but the shouting and yelping went on, getting fainter and fainter.

Review

Define the term Point of ViewAn author’s choice of POV is ____________.Name 3 characteristics of Participant POVName 3 characteristics of Omniscient POVName 3 characteristics of Objective POVFrom which POV is your current self-selected book written?

Acknowledgements

Text excerpts taken from: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin; Surviving the Applewhites by Stephanie Tolan; Coraline by Neil Gaiman and Midnight for Charlie Bone by Jenny Nimmo