Point of View

Narrative Why? In literary fiction, the question of who tells the story, and therefore, how it gets told has assumed special importance. It can be used to: Help create and shape characterization Create suspense Create structure Convey theme/message Many other purposes to be determined by the writer

In literary fiction, the question of who tells the story, and therefore, how it gets told has assumed special importance. It can be used to:

Help create and shape characterization

Create suspense

Create structure

Convey theme/message

Many other purposes to be determined by the writer

How to Determine POV? Asking the questions: Who tells the story? How much is the narrator allowed to know? To what extent does the narrator look inside the characters and report their thoughts and feelings?

Asking the questions:

Who tells the story?

How much is the narrator allowed to know?

To what extent does the narrator look inside the characters and report their thoughts and feelings?

Types of POV Third Person Omniscient Third Person Limited Objective (Dramatic) First Person

Third Person Omniscient

Third Person Limited

Objective (Dramatic)

First Person

Third Person Omniscient Omniscient means “all knowing” Narrator is free to go wherever they wish, to peer inside the minds and hearts of characters at will and tell us what they are thinking or feeling. Narrator interprets and comments on behavior. They know all. They can tell us as much or as little as they please.

Omniscient means “all knowing”

Narrator is free to go wherever they wish, to peer inside the minds and hearts of characters at will and tell us what they are thinking or feeling.

Narrator interprets and comments on behavior.

They know all. They can tell us as much or as little as they please.

Third Person Omniscient Pros Very flexible narration and provides the widest scope for telling a story. Cons It is the most subject to abuse. Constant danger that the narrator is coming between the reader and the story. The shifting of viewpoint from character to character can breakdown coherence and unity in the story.

Pros

Very flexible narration and provides the widest scope for telling a story.

Cons

It is the most subject to abuse.

Constant danger that the narrator is coming between the reader and the story.

The shifting of viewpoint from character to character can breakdown coherence and unity in the story.

Third Person Limited The story is told in the third person but is limited to one or two characters in the story, or “Point of View” characters. Narration may move inside or outside of the characters but may not move to other characters except through the eyes of the POV character.

The story is told in the third person but is limited to one or two characters in the story, or “Point of View” characters.

Narration may move inside or outside of the characters but may not move to other characters except through the eyes of the POV character.

Third Person Limited Pros More closely approximates real life: we normally are not able to understand/know the thoughts and feelings of everyone around us. It becomes a unifying element in the story. Allows the narration to create characterization. Cons Limited field of observation which can make sometimes lead to clumsy plot devices.

Pros

More closely approximates real life: we normally are not able to understand/know the thoughts and feelings of everyone around us.

It becomes a unifying element in the story.

Allows the narration to create characterization.

Cons

Limited field of observation which can make sometimes lead to clumsy plot devices.

Objective/Dramatic The narrator disappears into a kind of roving camera. The camera can go anywhere, but can only record what is seen and heard. It cannot comment, interpret, or enter a character’s mind. Readers become “spectators.”

The narrator disappears into a kind of roving camera. The camera can go anywhere, but can only record what is seen and heard.

It cannot comment, interpret, or enter a character’s mind.

Readers become “spectators.”

Objective/Dramatic Pros Pure interaction between the reader and the text. The narrator is never allowed to draw conclusions so all inferences are made by the reader. No opportunity for the author to offer direct interpretation. Relies exclusively on action and dialogue.

Pros

Pure interaction between the reader and the text. The narrator is never allowed to draw conclusions so all inferences are made by the reader.

No opportunity for the author to offer direct interpretation.

Relies exclusively on action and dialogue.

First Person The narrator is actually a character within the story itself. Narrator tells the story in the first person. May be a major or minor character, protagonist or observer. This choice is usually very important.

The narrator is actually a character within the story itself.

Narrator tells the story in the first person.

May be a major or minor character, protagonist or observer. This choice is usually very important.

First Person Pros Most closely approximates real life. Helps to eliminate barriers between the reader and the text that an intrusive narration can sometimes create. Talented writers can use this to great effect in characterization and irony. Cons Allows no opportunity for direct interpretation by the author. Constant danger that the narrator will exceed their own sensitivity, knowledge, powers of language, etc.

Pros

Most closely approximates real life.

Helps to eliminate barriers between the reader and the text that an intrusive narration can sometimes create.

Talented writers can use this to great effect in characterization and irony.

Cons

Allows no opportunity for direct interpretation by the author.

Constant danger that the narrator will exceed their own sensitivity, knowledge, powers of language, etc.

Exercise For the following stories, identify the point of view and then write an exploration of why that choice was an effective choice by the writer. Everyday Use Miss Brill A Rose for Emily The Lottery

For the following stories, identify the point of view and then write an exploration of why that choice was an effective choice by the writer.

Everyday Use

Miss Brill

A Rose for Emily

The Lottery