Point of ViewPoint of ViewWho is telling the story?Who is telling the story?First person First person (I ran through the room) an (I ran through the room) an individual experience.individual experience.First person plural First person plural (we ran through the (we ran through the room) a collective experience.room) a collective experience.Third person limited Third person limited (He ran through the (He ran through the room terrified that he would be too late)room terrified that he would be too late)Third person omniscient Third person omniscient – god’s eye – god’s eye view. view. (While John ran feeling exhilarated, Alfred (While John ran feeling exhilarated, Alfred felt felt only tired)only tired)Observer Observer (He ran through the room (He ran through the room sweating sweating and puffing). Only what can be seen.and puffing). Only what can be seen.

• IS THE STORY BEING TOLD IS THE STORY BEING TOLD AS IT HAPPENS (PRESENT AS IT HAPPENS (PRESENT TENSE)?TENSE)?IS IT A MEMORY OR IS IT A MEMORY OR REFLECTION ON EVENTS REFLECTION ON EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN THE THAT HAPPENED IN THE PAST? DOES IT FLIP BACK PAST? DOES IT FLIP BACK AND FORTH?AND FORTH?

Other aspects to consider:Other aspects to consider:

From whose point of view is the story told?From whose point of view is the story told?Weary in every limb, the ant tugged over the snow Weary in every limb, the ant tugged over the snow

a piece of corn he had stored up last summer. It a piece of corn he had stored up last summer. It would taste mighty good at dinner tonight. It was would taste mighty good at dinner tonight. It was then he noticed the grasshopper, looking cold then he noticed the grasshopper, looking cold and pinched.and pinched.

““Please, friend ant, may I have a bite of your Please, friend ant, may I have a bite of your corn?” asked the grasshopper.corn?” asked the grasshopper.

He looked the grasshopper up and down. “What He looked the grasshopper up and down. “What were you doing all last summer?” he asked. He were you doing all last summer?” he asked. He knew its kind. knew its kind.

Third Person LimitedThird Person Limited from the ant’s from the ant’s point of view.point of view.

And this one:And this one:Cold and hungry, I watched the ant Cold and hungry, I watched the ant tugging over the snow a piece of corn he tugging over the snow a piece of corn he had stored up last summer. My feelers had stored up last summer. My feelers twitched, and I was conscious of a tic in twitched, and I was conscious of a tic in my left hind leg. Finally, I could hear it no my left hind leg. Finally, I could hear it no longer.longer.““Please, friend ant,” I asked, “M ay I have Please, friend ant,” I asked, “M ay I have a bite of your corn?”a bite of your corn?”

First PersonFirst Person..

From the grasshopper’s point of view.From the grasshopper’s point of view.

From whose point of view is the From whose point of view is the story told?:story told?:

The ant tugged over the snow a piece of corn he The ant tugged over the snow a piece of corn he had stored up last summer, perspiring in spite of had stored up last summer, perspiring in spite of the cold.the cold.

A grasshopper, his feelers twitching and A grasshopper, his feelers twitching and with a tic in his left hind leg, looked on for some with a tic in his left hind leg, looked on for some time. Finally, he asked “Please, friend ant, may I time. Finally, he asked “Please, friend ant, may I have a bite of your corn?have a bite of your corn?The ant looked the grasshopper up and down. The ant looked the grasshopper up and down. “What were you doing all last summer?” he “What were you doing all last summer?” he snapped.snapped.

objectiveobjective

And finally this one:And finally this one: Weary in every limb, the ant tugged over the snow a Weary in every limb, the ant tugged over the snow a piece of corn he has stored up last summer. It would taste piece of corn he has stored up last summer. It would taste mighty good at dinner tonight.mighty good at dinner tonight.

A grasshopper, cold and hungry, looked on. Finally A grasshopper, cold and hungry, looked on. Finally he could bear it no longer. “Please, friend ant, may I have he could bear it no longer. “Please, friend ant, may I have a bite of corn?”a bite of corn?”““What were you doing all last summer?” asked the ant. He What were you doing all last summer?” asked the ant. He looked the grasshopper up and down. He knew its kind.looked the grasshopper up and down. He knew its kind.

““I sang from dawn till dusk,” replied the I sang from dawn till dusk,” replied the grasshopper, happily unaware of what was coming next. grasshopper, happily unaware of what was coming next. “Well,” said the ant, hardly bothering to conceal his “Well,” said the ant, hardly bothering to conceal his contempt. “Since you sang all summer, you can dance allcontempt. “Since you sang all summer, you can dance all

OmniscientOmniscient

From both (or all) characters’ points From both (or all) characters’ points of view. of view.