π What is Point of View?
Point of view (POV) is all about who is telling a story. It's the perspective from which the story is narrated. Think of it like looking through a camera lens β the POV determines what you see and how you experience the story.
π§βπ« Why is Point of View Important?
Understanding POV helps you understand the story better! It affects how you feel about the characters and what information you get. Changing the POV can completely change how you interpret a story.
π Types of Point of View
- π₯First Person: Uses pronouns like "I," "me," and "my." The narrator is a character in the story.
- π§βπ€βπ§ Second Person: Uses pronouns like "you" and "your." Makes the reader feel like they are a character in the story. This is less common.
- ποΈ Third Person Limited: Uses pronouns like "he," "she," and "they." The narrator is outside the story and only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character.
- π Third Person Omniscient: Uses pronouns like "he," "she," and "they." The narrator is outside the story and knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.
βοΈ Examples
Let's look at a sentence from different points of view:
| Point of View |
Example Sentence |
| First Person |
I went to the store and bought milk. |
| Second Person |
You walk into the store, the bell above the door ringing loudly. |
| Third Person Limited |
She went to the store, feeling nervous about seeing him there. |
| Third Person Omniscient |
He went to the store, hoping to see her, while she dreaded running into him. |
π Identifying Point of View - Tips!
- π Look for Pronouns: Pay attention to the pronouns used in the narration.
- π§ Consider the Narrator: Ask yourself, "Who is telling the story?"
- π€ Think About the Knowledge: How much does the narrator know about the characters and events?
β
Practice Quiz
Read each sentence and identify the point of view:
- I love to read books every day.
- She walked down the street. She was happy.
- He felt a shiver run down his spine.
- They went to the park. They were having fun, though John secretly wished they had stayed home.
Answers: 1. First Person, 2. Third Person Limited, 3. Third Person Limited, 4. Third Person Omniscient