Do Now

Point of View

Objective: Students will be able to:

define point of view, first person point of view, third person limited point of view, and third person omniscient point of view;

identify the point of view from which a story is told;

analyze the author’s use of a particular point of view

Point of View

the perspective from which the story is told

affects how much we know, whose opinion we get, etc.

Definition:

Significance:

Questions to Ask When Determining POV

Does the narrator tell the story with “I” or “He/She/They”?

Does the narrator tell us any character’s thoughts?

How many main characters’ thoughts do we know?

First Person POV

the narrator is a character in the story

I, me, my, we, us

thoughts/feelings of the narrator only

Definition:

Pronouns:

Readers Know:

First Person POV

Example:

As I walked up the hill, I realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who was nearly always singing from the top of the maple tree. I thought I saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when I looked again it was gone. Still, I shuddered as I felt a silent threat pass over me like a cloud over the sun.

Third Person Limited POV

narrator is not a character in the story, but a reporter of ONE of the character’s thoughts and feelings – outside looking in

he, she, they, etc.

thoughts/feelings of ONE character

Definition:

Pronouns:

Readers Know:

Third Person Limited POV

As she walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet. There was no sound from the cardinal who she so often heard singing from the top of the maple tree. She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone. Nevertheless, she shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

Third Person Omniscient POV

narrator is not in the story, but sees into the minds of ALL characters – outside looking in (omni=all; sci=science=knowledge all knowing)

he, she, they, etc.

thoughts/feelings of all characters

Pronouns:

Definition:

Readers Know:

Third Person Omniscient POV

As the girl walked up the hill, she realized that the atmosphere was just too quiet.

The cardinal tipped his head back and drew breath to sing, but just as the first note passed his beak he heard the crack of a dead branch far below his perch high in the maple tree. Startled, he looked down, cocking his head to one side and watching with great interest while the man rattled the blades of grass as he tried to hide himself behind the tree.

As the man saw her start up the hill, he moved quickly into the shelter of the huge old maple tree. If she saw him now, everything would be ruined.

She thought she saw a shadow move high up on the slope, but when she looked again it was gone.

The man thought if he could stay hidden until she came within range, she'd have to talk to him. Wouldn't she?

The girl shuddered as she felt a silent threat pass over her. It felt like a cloud creeping over the sun.

WE DO

Charlotte and Wilbur were alone. The families had gone to look for Fern. Templeton was asleep. Wilbur lay resting after the excitement and strain of the ceremony. His medal still hung from his neck; by looking out of the corner of his eye he could see it.

“Charlotte,” said Wilbur after awhile, “why are you so quiet?”

“I like to sit still,” she said. “I’ve always been rather quiet.”

“Yes, but you seem specially so today. Do you feel all right?”

YOU DO “A great shadow has departed,” said Gandalf, and then

he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days without count. It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known. But he himself burst into tears. Then as a sweet rain will pass down a wind of spring and the sun will shine out the clearer, his tears ceased, and his laughter welled up, and laughing he sprang from bed… “How do I feel?” he cried.” Well, I don’t know how to say it. I feel, I feel” –he waved his arms in the air– “I feel like spring after winter, and sun on the leaves; and like trumpets and harps and all the songs I have ever heard!”