Author's Point of View

Author's Point of View

Point of View & Perspective in a story.

Point of View

POV determines who is telling the story and the perspective of the narrator.

Narrator

• The person telling the story.

• The author can be the narrator or a character in the story.

Multiple Choice

Why is it important to identify the point of view in a story?

• To know the setting

• Identify the character

• To understand the perspective of the story being told.

• To find the solution.

First Person Point of View

When a story is being told from the perspective of a character in the story.

First Person

• Look for pronouns and dialogue.

• I, Me, Us, We

• Ex. I cannot wait to get ice cream after school today, with my friends!

Multiple Select

Check all pronouns for 1st person.

• He

• She

• Me

• Us

• I

Third Person

When a story is told from the perspective of a narrator who is not in the story.

3rd Person

• There are two kinds - Limited & Omniscient

• He, She, Him, Her, They, Them

• Limited: The narrator has insight into the thoughts and feelings of ONE character.

• Omniscient: The narrator has insight into the thoughts and feelings of ALL characters.

Multiple Select

Check all the keywords to identify 3rd person point of view.

• I

• She

• We

• Him

• They

Multiple Choice

How many forms of 3rd person are there?

• Three

• Two

• One

Example 1

“We’re going to put on a play, Miriam!” Zakir announced, waving his hands in my face. I immediately began to think of what part I’d like to play. I thought at first I’d like to play a witch or a goblin—I’d been working for weeks on an eerie, low-sounding screech that I was sure would steal the show. But I knew Zakir was secretly afraid of things like that—he’d never agree to a play about the occult. And, I remembered, the only audience for the play was our father, and he would quietly reprimand me for being insensitive to my brother’s phobias. I could already hear his gentle scolding. "Don't tease him, Miriam," he would say. I thought of playing a queen, but maybe there wouldn’t be enough to do with that part. Our little sister, Dinah, would probably insist on wearing the house’s toy crown, too. I looked around our living room, spying a pair of green tights doubled down between the couch cushions. A wrestler? Maybe.

Multiple Choice

What is the point of view?

• 1st person

• 3rd - Limited

• 3rd - Omniscient

Example 2

Sam and Kevin were leaving school when Sam's mom called, worried the boys were getting hungry. Sam all of a sudden got super excited and ran home without saying anything. Kevin was confused but thought he would follow, knowing the phone call must have meant something important!

Multiple Choice

What is the point of view?

• 1st person

• 3rd Limited

• 3rd Omniscient

Example 3

As Anne and Lisa biked through the park in search of their lost cat, Lisa worried they might not find him.

Multiple Choice

What is the point of view?

• 1st person

• 3rd Limited

• 3rd Omniscient