First Person Point of ViewBy: Krista M. Antonis-Wagner27-February-2003

DefinitionsPoint of View The perspective from which an author lets the reader view the action of a narrative; thus, the choice of who tells the story. In first-person narration the narrator tells a story her or she took part in or observed directly; such a narrator usually knows only what has been explicitly revealed, or what he or she has been able to deduce from that. In third-person narration the narrator is not directly involved in the story and so views it from a certain distance. Such a narrator may be omniscient about the characters and their actions and motivations, or his or her knowledge may be limited to what one or a few characters know, or even to the plainly observable speeches and acts of the characters.First-Person - The telling of a story by a person who was involved in or directly observed an action narrated. Such a narrator refers to himself or herself as I and becomes a character in the story, with his or her understanding shaping the readers perception of the events and characters.Third-Person - The telling of a story by a detached, usually anonymous narrator, a voice who refers to all the characters as he, she, and they. Such a narrator may view the story with full omniscience, which may or may not be impartial omniscience; or he or she may have only limited omniscience, seeing through the eyes of only one of a few characters.Omniscient - Literally, all-knowingness; the ability of an author or a narrator (usually a third-person narrator) to tell the reader directly about any events that have occurred, are occurring, or will occur in the plot of a story, and about the thoughts and feelings of any character. (limited or impartial)

Points of View - Perspectives1st person I threw the snowball at Jack.

2nd person - You threw the snowball at Jack.

3rd person He threw the snowball at Jack.

Personal Pronouns1st person - I, we, me, us, my, mine, our, ours

2nd person you, your, yours

3rd person - he, she, it, they, him, her, them, his, hers, their, theirs

THE THREE LITTLE PIGS

Once upon a time there was a mother pig who had three little pigs. The three little pigs grew so big that their mother said to them, "You are too big to live here any longer. You must go and build houses for yourselves. But take care that the wolf does not catch you."

The three little pigs set off. "We will take care that the wolf does not catch us," they said. Soon they met a man who was carrying some straw. "Please will you give me some straw?" asked the first little pig. "I want to build a house for myself." "Yes," said the man and he gave the first little pig some straw.

Then the first little pig built himself a house of straw. He was very pleased with his house. He said, "Now the wolf won't catch me and eat me." "I shall build a stronger house than yours," said the second little pig. "I shall build a stronger house than yours, too," said the third little pig.

The second little pig and the third little pig went on along the road. Soon they met a man who was carrying some sticks. "Please will you give me some sticks ?" asked the second little pig. "I want to build a house for myself." "Yes," said the man and he gave the second little pig some sticks.

Then the second little pig built himself a house of sticks. It was stronger than the house of straw. The second little pig was very pleased with his house. He said, "Now the wolf won't catch me and eat me." "I shall build a stronger house than yours," said the third little pig.

The third little pig walked on, along the road, by himself. Soon he met a man carrying some bricks. "Please will you give me some bricks?" asked the third little pig. "I want to build a house for myself." "Yes," said the man and he gave the third little pig some bricks.

Then the third little pig built himself a house of bricks. It took him a long time to build it, for it was a very strong house. The third little pig was very pleased with his house. He said, "Now the wolf won't catch me and eat me."

The next day the wolf came along the road. He came to the house of straw which the first little pig had built. When the first little pig saw the wolf coming, he ran inside his house and shut the door. The wolf knocked on the door and said, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

"No, no," said the little pig. "By the hair of my chinny chin chin, I will not let you come in." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," said the wolf. So he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed. The house of straw fell down and the wolf ate up the first little pig.

The next day the wolf walked further along the road. He came to the house of sticks which the second little pig had built. When the second little pig saw the wolf coming, he ran inside his house and shut the door. The wolf knocked on the door and said, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

"No, no," said the little pig. "By the hair of my chinny chin chin, I will not let you come in." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," said the wolf. So he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed. The house of sticks fell down and the wolf ate up the second little pig.

The next day the wolf walked further along the road. He came to the house of bricks which the third little pig had built. When the third little pig saw the wolf coming, he ran inside his house and shut the door. The wolf knocked on the door and said, "Little pig, little pig, let me come in."

"No, no," said the little pig. "By the hair of my chinny chin chin, I will not let you come in." "Then I'll huff and I'll puff and I'll blow your house in," said the wolf. So he huffed and he puffed and he huffed and he puffed. But the house of bricks did not fall down.

Click on the Wolf to read the Wolfs Version(example of First-Person)Click on the Pig to go to experience a Web Quest on the Three Little Pigs.Click to hear him growl..grrr!

Which story is in first person?(Click on the story to read)1. Araby--James Joyce

2. The Ambitious Guest--Nathaniel Hawthorne

3. The Gift of the Magi--O. Henry

4. The Lady, or the Tiger?--Frank Stockton

What perspective?This story, The Lottery--Shirley Jackson, is being told from the First-Person Point of View? (click on the story to read)

A. TRUE

B. FALSE

INCORRECTTry Again!

CORRECT!This story is being told from the Third-Person Omniscient Point of View.

CORRECT!This story is in the First-Person Narrative Point of View because throughout the story, the narrator uses the pronouns I and me, etc. when referring to himself.

INCORRECTTry Again!The Ambitious Guest by Nathaniel Hawthorne is in Third-Person Omniscient Point of View.

INCORRECTTry Again!The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry is in Third-Person Omniscient Point of View.

INCORRECTTry Again!The Lady, or the Tiger? by Frank Stockton is in Third Person Omniscient Point of View.

Humpty DumptyHumpty Dumpty sat on a wall,Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.All the Kings horsesAnd all the Kings menCouldnt put Humpty together again.

Humptys PerspectiveOne member of the group could opt to be Humpty. Here are some questions to ponder: What would I, as Humpty, be doing on the wall in the first place? How would I fall? Did someone push me? Was there some sort of plot to destroy me? If so, who was in charge of this plot? Why was there a plot against me? Explain the pain that you, as Humpty, would be in to be cracked, literally? How would you react to the fall, if someone had indeed pushed you? Explain the scenario with the kings men and the kings horses. Describe the mass chaos, embarrassment, and confusion. Why would you be impossible to reconstruct? What happens next?

Soldiers PerspectiveAnother member of your group could opt to be a soldier in the king's army. Here are some questions to ponder: What is my ranking in the army? How long have I been in service for the king? Working with the group, and deciding how Humpty would have fallen, how does this affect me as a soldier? Was I part of the conspiracy? Did I know that there was a price on Humpty's head but chose to ignore it? What were my feelings on being asked to assist in aiding the fallen "person?" What about my loyalty to the king? Would it be in question if I chose not to aid this "person?" Did I have friends in the army with me who were part of the plan to destroy Humpty Dumpty? Did I act alone?

Nursery RhymesTime to choose the nursery rhyme you want to recreate using the first person narrative point of view.

Old Woman Who Lived in a ShoeLittle Jack HornerLittle Miss MuffetTom The Pipers SonHey Diddle Diddle (more challenging)Choose your own

Old Woman Who Lived in a ShoeThere was an old woman who lived in a shoe;She had so many children she didnt know what to do;She gave them some broth without any bread,She whipped them all round and sent them to bed.

Little Jack HornerLittle Jack Horner sat in a corner,Eating his Christmas pie.He put in his thumb,And pulled out a plum, and said,"What a good boy am I!"

Little Miss MuffetLittle Miss Muffet,She sat on a tuffet,Eating of curds and whey;There came a big spiderAnd sat down beside her,And frightened Miss Muffet away.

Tom The Pipers SonTom, Tom, the pipers son,Stole a pig and away he run;The pig was eatAnd Tom was beat,And Tom went howling down the street.

Hey Diddle DiddleHey Diddle Diddle!The cat and the fiddle,The cow jumped over the moon;The little dog laughedTo see such sport,And the dish ran away with the spoon.

Choose your own Nursery Rhyme(Click the picture to go to the web site)

Web Scavenger Hunt(Click the picture to go to the site)

AcknowledgementsNumerous internet websites were used to enhance this power point presentationall of the sites are hyperlinked throughout the presentation.Power Point Backgrounds courtesy of www.powerpointart.comMicrosoft clip art and Animation Factory