4. What’s the
difference?
The
difference
lies in point
of view.
5. Point of View
The narrator’s position in the story.
story
Three main types:
1. First person
2. Second person
3. Third person
Who is
telling the
story?
6. First Person
• Point of view from someone inside of
the story.
• Uses pronouns “I,” “we,” “us,”
“ours”
7. Third Person
• Point of view from someone outside
of the story.
• Uses pronouns “he,” “she,” “they,”
etc.
8. What is second-person, then?
• Second-person point of view uses the
pronouns “you” and “your.”
– “You walk inside and see a terrible sight.”
• Uncommon in literature.
• Most common in written
directions, like recipes and
instruction manuals.
9. Remember:
Character dialogue does not reveal the point of
view. Ignore the use of “I,” “you,” “he,” or
“she” within quotes.
Point of view is only revealed in the narration—
the text outside of quotes that tells the story.
10. Practice
What is the point of view?
Most of the kids ignored Julio. A few of the
girls looked him over with interest, but nobody
spoke or even smiled. They seemed to pay
more attention to the fresh snow that was
falling than to the discussion on polynomials.
11. Practice
What is the point of view?
Most of the kids ignored Julio. A few of the
girls looked him over with interest, but nobody
spoke or even smiled. They seemed to pay
more attention to the fresh snow that was
falling than to the discussion on polynomials.
Third Person
The narrator is not a character in the story. They
are the observer.
12. Practice
What is the point of view?
I’m terrified of water. I took swimming
when I was little like everyone else, but I
never learned.
13. Practice
What is the point of view?
I’m terrified of water. I took swimming
when I was little like everyone else, but I
never learned.
First Person:
We can see the character’s own thoughts
from her perspective.
