LITERARY ELEMENTS

Point of View

P O I N T O F V I E WA K A

P E R S P E C T I V E

First Person

Second Person

Third Person Objective

Third Person Limited

Third Person Omniscient

FIRST PERSON

A story written in the first person is told by an

"I," where "I" can be the main character, a less

important character witnessing events, or a

person retelling a story they were told by

someone else. This point of view is often effective

in giving a sense of closeness to the character. It

can be very easy to get the reader to identify or

sympathize with your main character when the

reader is seeing everything through that

character's eyes. (I, me, my, we, etc…)

I could picture it. I have to go to the

library and study with my so called

friend Susan. I know how it’s going to

be. She is going to sit there and be so

snotty while acts like she knows

everything. She may be better at math

than me, but she is certainly not a

better reader. I don’t even know why I

put up with her. The phone rang; it

was Susan. “When do you want to

meet me at the library?” her agitating

voice pierced through on the other end.

“In 30 minutes,” I replied.

FIRST PERSON EXAMPLES

As I walked up the hill, I

realized that the

atmosphere was just too

quiet. There was no sound

from the cardinal who was

nearly always singing from

the top of the maple tree. I

thought I saw a shadow

move high up on the slope,

but when I looked again it

was gone. Still, I

shuddered as I felt a silent

threat pass over me like a

cloud over the sun.

Second Person In second person, the narrator addresses the

protagonist as "you” and turns the reader into

the character. Often, this kind of story has the

narrator speaking to a younger version of their

self. This point of view is very rare because it is

extremely difficult to pull off. The reader may

feel that they are the one spoken to, and will find

it difficult to accept that they are doing the

things the narrator tells them they are doing.

Most instructions, like those in recipes, are

written in second person.

Second Person Examples

You could picture it. You

have to go to the library

and study with your so

called friend Susan. You

know how it’s going to be.

She is going to sit there

and be so snotty while acts

like she knows everything.

She may be better at math

than you, but she is

certainly not a better

reader. You don’t even

know why you put up with

her. The phone rang; it

was Susan. “When do you

want to meet me at the

library?” her agitating

voice pierced through on

the other end. “In 30

minutes,” you replied.

As you walk up the hill,

you realize that the

atmosphere's just too

quiet. There's no sound

from the cardinal you

know is almost always

singing from the top of

the maple tree. You think

you see a shadow move

high up on the slope, but

when you look again it's

gone. You shudder as you

feel a silent threat pass

over you. You feel cold,

like a cloud just passed

over the sun.

Third Person Objective Characters are referred to as "he" and "she" in

third person. In this case the narrator (who may

be indistinguishable from the author) is not a

character in the story. The narrator can only

relate to the reader what is seen or heard. A

good writer can tell a completely objective story

in such a way that the reader is able to

determine the feelings and sometimes even the

thoughts of the characters through what those

characters say and do, even though the thoughts

and feelings are never described.

Third Person Objective Examples

Carrie and Susan walked into

the city library together.

They took out their math text

and began to study. “Why is

the librarian staring at us?”

Carrie murmured. “I don’t

know,” Susan whispered,

“She probably thinks we are

going to start trouble.” “Why

is it so hard for adults to trust

us?” Carrie asked

disgustedly. “Maybe to her

one bad apple has spoiled the

bunch,” responded Susan.

They two studious young

ladies continued to work on

prime factorization while the

librarian watched carefully.

The girl walked up the quiet

hillside. In the top of the

maple tree, the cardinal

tipped his head back and

drew breath to sing. A dead

branch cracked on the

ground below the bird's

perch. The man stepped on

the branch and rattled the

blades of grass as he moved

behind the tree. He watched

the girl come up the hillside

toward him. Her gaze shifted

quickly and warily from one

shadowy area high on the

slope to another, and she

shuddered.

Third Person Limited The narrator is able to see into the mind of a

single character, usually the main protagonist.

Sometimes the point of view may zoom in so

close to that character that the narrator begins

to use that character's manner of speech and

thought, and sometimes the narrator may step

back to take a more objective view. This point of

view is sort of the "default" in fiction -- it is the

most common because it can be used the most

effectively in the majority of situations.

Third Person Limited Examples

Carrie went to the

library to meet her

friend Susan. She did

not like Susan very

much, although she was

a great person to study

with. They took out

their math texts and

prepared to complete

Miss Shipley’s study

guide. Carrie knew her

parents would be

disappointed if she

failed another test.

As she walked up the hill,

she realized that the

atmosphere was just too

quiet. There was no sound

from the cardinal who she

so often heard singing from

the top of the maple tree.

She thought she saw a

shadow move high up on

the slope, but when she

looked again it was gone.

Nevertheless, she

shuddered as she felt a

silent threat pass over her.

It felt like a cloud creeping

over the sun.

Third Person Omniscient

The narrator knows everything about all main

characters; all thoughts, feelings, and actions

may be related to the reader (or they may be

withheld). There are no secrets in third person

omniscient. The reader can feel like they can

gain insight into all of the main characters.

Usually, but not always, flat or minor characters

are not revealed because it can become too

confusing to the reader to reveal all characters.

Third Person Omniscient Examples

Carrie went to the library

to meet her friend Susan.

Carrie did not like Susan

very much; She found her

annoying. The funny thing

was Susan did not like

Carrie either; she found

her arrogant. They both

knew that they studied well

together, and so they did.

“What are the factors of

17?” Carrie asked. Susan,

in her usual annoying

voice, responded, “17 is a

prime number. It doesn’t

have any factors.

Everybody knows that.”

‘That is why nobody likes

you,’ Carrie thought to

herself.

As the girl walked up the hill, she

realized that the atmosphere was just

too quiet. The cardinal tipped his

head back and drew breath to sing,

but just as the first note passed his

beak he heard the crack of a dead

branch far below his perch high in the

maple tree. Startled, he looked down,

cocking his head to one side and

watching with great interest while the

man rattled the blades of grass as he

tried to hide himself behind the tree.

As the man saw her start up the hill,

he moved quickly into the shelter of

the huge old maple tree. If she saw

him now, everything would be ruined.

She thought she saw a shadow move

high up on the slope, but when she

looked again it was gone. The man

thought if he could stay hidden until

she came within range, she'd have to

talk to him. Wouldn't she? The girl

shuddered as she felt a silent threat

pass over her. It felt like a cloud

creeping over the sun.

The End