2. First Person
◦ First Person - In this point of view, a character (typically the protagonist, but not
always) is telling the story. You'll notice a lot of "I" and "me" or "we" in first
person narrations.
◦ First person narration allows you to "get personal" with your audience. It's as if one of the characters is
speaking directly to his or her audience; we're able to listen in on their thoughts. The audience will
understand how the narrator is feeling and how he or she interprets the events taking place around them.
Let's take a look at a few samples of this form.
◦ E.g I had seen little of Holmes lately. My marriage had drifted us away from each other. My own
complete happiness…
3. Second Person
◦ Second Person - In this point of view, the author uses a narrator to speak to the reader. You'll
notice a lot of "you," "your," and "yours" in second person narration.
◦ Second person point of view isn't quite as popular in literature. It takes on more of an instructional tone. It
uses a lot of "you should" or "you can." That said, it can forge a nice bond with the audience because it
treats the reader like they're part of the story. Our first sample comes from a popular book that went on to
become a movie and a play.
◦ E.g. You are amongst them, of course. Your curiosity got the better of you, as curiosity is wont to do. You stand in the
fading light, the scarf around your neck pulled up against the chilly evening breeze, waiting to see for yourself exactly
what kind of circus only opens once the sun sets.
4. Third Person
◦ Third Person - In this point of view, an external narrator is telling the story. You'll notice a lot of
"he," "she," "it," or "they" in this form of narration.
◦ Third person narration is quite popular. It allows the author to open up the hearts and minds of several
characters. With this form of narration, you could have two lovers, for example, who don't remain a mystery
to the audience. Both of their thoughts and feelings are exposed to the reader and the reader is now able
to take the journey to discovery or heartbreak.
◦ E.g. He shoved at his hair, wished he could delude himself so he could just go back to sleep, but he knew if he
closed his eyes again, he'd be right back in the little library, right back beside the body of his murdered wife.
