Narrator’s Perspective

Point of View

F.O.A. (Bellwork)

• Which point of view makes for the best story? Why?

Assignment

• Do No. 5 on page 801. You need to make a Venn Diagram to answer the question.

• Take 15 minutes to do this quietly.

Narrator

The one who tells the story

CharactersEveryone else in the story

What’s the narrator’s position in the story?

Or, what is the narrator’s POINT OF VIEW.

First-Person Narration

The narrator is involved in the story.

The Story

CharactersI or We

theNarrator

First-Person tells “me” or “my” story.

Example

I went to the store with my friend. The clerk said, “Hi.” We bought candy and left.

Who is telling the story?

In First-Person the narrator is “I” or “we.”

Second-Person Narration

The reader’s actions are narrated.

The Story

Characters(if any)

Youthe

Reader

Second-Person tells “your” story.

Example

You stayed up late last night and now you’re tired, but you need to pass this class.

From whose perspective is the story told?

In Second-Person the perspective of “you” is narrated.

It is mainly used for instruction or directions.

Narrator

Third-Person Narration

The narrator is outside of the story.

The Story

Characters“He”“She”“They”

Third-Person tells “his” or “her” story.Also will refer to characters by name

Example

Chris loved basketball. Everyday he played after school. When it got dark, he watched it on TV.

From whose perspective is the story told?

In Third-Person the perspective of “he” or “she” is narrated.

Dialogue & NarrationDialogue = When characters speak.

Narration = When the narrator speaks.

I went home. My mom said, “Did you get out early?” I said, “No.”

ONLY LOOK AT THE NARRATION,

Or you’ll get confused.

Review

1st Person = Narrator tells the story of “I”

2nd Person = Narrator tells the story of “you”

3rd Person = Tells the story of “he” or “she”

Remember!

“I” am the first-person in the story.“You” are the second-person.“He” and “she” are the third.

“I”First-Person

“He” & “She”3rd-Person

“You”2nd-Person

The Story

Modes of Third-Person Narration

Telling the Story

Dialogue and Narration

Dialogue: characters’ “voices”

Narration: the narrator’s voice

She said, “Hey, you!”

We are interested in narration.

Third-Person Narration

Narrator tells “his” or “her” story.

Three Types of 3rd-Person:

1. Limited

2. Omniscient

3. Objective

What’s the Difference?

Are characters’ inner thoughts narrated?

Does narrator reveal thoughts and feelings?

Character

I feel sad.

Narrator

He felt sad.

3rd-Person Objective

Internal thoughts are not told.

Readers may INFER thoughts and feelings based on actions or dialogue.

Chris slowly walked up to Elma with his hands behind his back. “So… you want to go with me,” he said nervously. Elma blushed. “Ok.” Chris smiled.

Characters’ internal thoughts not narrated.

3rd-Person Objective:No characters’ thoughts.

Chris ElmaOk.

So, you want to go

with me?

3rd-Person Limited

Narrator reveals thoughts and feelings of one character.

Chris liked Elma since the third-grade, but he had never found the nerve to tell her. But one sunny day, Chris said to Elma, “So… you want to go with me?” Emma blushed and said, “Ok” Chris smiled.

• Tells his internal thoughts

• Internal Narration is limited to Chris

3rd-Person Limited:One character’s thoughts.

Chris

I like Elma.

Elma

Ok. So, you want to go with me?

3rd-Person OmniscientOmni = All Scient = Knowing

Omniscient narrators tell more than one character’s thoughts or feelings.Chris had liked Elma since the third-grade. Little did he know that Elma liked him too. They both admired one another from a far, and waited. One day, Chris said to Elma, “So… you want to go with me?” Emma felt her stomach sink. She couldn’t believe it. Blushing, she said, “Ok.” Chris smiled.

Omniscient narrator is all-knowing.

3rd-Person Omniscient:Two or more characters’ thoughts.

Chris

I like Elma.

ElmaOk.

Oh, I like Chris.

Want to go with me?

Telling the Difference

1. Focus on the narration.

2. Circle any narrated thoughts or feelings.

3. Count each characters’ thoughts.

Only THIRD-PERSON has these modes.

There is no first or second-person objective, omniscient, or limited narration.

Signal Words

• Knew

• Felt

• Contemplated

• Thought

• Understood

• Believed

• Reflected

PracticeI will read ten paragraphs from ten books.

You will determine whether the narrator’s perspective is first, second, or third-person in each text.

Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

•  Every day my dad is mad for the first fifteen or twenty minutes after he arrives home from work. I have no idea what his problem is, and he refuses to tell me. Every time I try to ask him what is up with his behavior, he gets mad at me and starts slamming doors for no apparent reason.1. Which point of view does the author use in this story?

• A. first person B. second person

• C. third person D. third person limited

• When you get to be 15 or 16 years old, your life starts to change drastically. You're just a little older, but people are starting to treat you more like they treat adults. Unfortunately, they still treat you like a child too. 2. Which point of view does the author use in this story?

• A. second person B. first person

• C. shifts between first and second person D. third person

• 30. Which passage below is written in first person?

• A. The cat heard a loud crash and looked around. A boy stood completely frozen in shock. The shards of the vase encircled his feet, lying on the ground.

• B. I wanted to tell her that I broke the vase, but I knew Mom would be mad. Instead, I kept quiet and let the cat take the blame. It was easier this way.

Assignment

• Write three paragraphs: One will use third-person limited, and one will use third-person omniscient. The third paragraph will use third-person objective.