This document provides an overview of different points of view that authors can use including first person, third person limited, third person omniscient, and third person limited-omniscient. Examples are given for each point of view to illustrate how the perspective and knowledge of the narrator differs. The lesson goal is for the reader to learn about these points of view and how they impact the reading experience.

1. You will be learning First Person Third Person Limited Third Person Omniscient Point of View Lesson Goal: In today’s lesson you will be learning the different points of view authors use to write their stories, and how varying viewpoints can impact the readers.

2. First Person Point of View From the perspective of the narrator The narrator uses “I” or “me” in the prose I took my dog to the park. The boy had a crush on me.

3. Third Person Limited A narrator from an outside source In a third person limited story, the narrator will use pronouns like she and he, or the narrator will use character’s names. In a third person limited story the character sees the scene and can report what he or she sees, but the narrator cannot look into the characters’ minds. She was looking at him. Jenny punched Tom.

4. Third Person Omniscient An all-knowing narrator that is able to see into the minds of all of the characters as well as observe the scene. Omniscient means all-knowing! This type of narrator is the most powerful Donna realized that she was falling in love with him. He was falling in love with her too!

5. Third Person Limited-Omniscient The narrator can see into the minds of ONLY SOME of the characters, but not all of them. The narrator is also viewing the situation from the outside. Consider the definition…if omniscient means all knowing, then a limited omniscient narrator knows a lot…but not all! Donna realized that she was falling in love with him, but she did not know how he felt.