Narrative Point of View

From The Wizard of Oz by L Frank Baum

The Scarecrow found a tree full of nuts and filled Dorothy’s basket with them, so that she would not be hungry for a long time. She thought this was very kind and thoughtful of the Scarecrow, but she laughed heartily at the awkward way in which the poor creature picked up the nuts. His padded hands were so clumsy that he dropped almost as many as he put in the basket. But the Scarecrow did not mind how long it took him to fill the basket, for it enabled him to keep away from the fire, as he feared a spark might get into his straw and burn him up.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From Ask a Ninja Presents: The Ninja Handbook by the International Order of Ninjas

Remember, any tool that you can use against an enemy may also be used against you. Therefore it is highly recommended that you build a course with your clan to practice keeping your wits about you when something is trying to set you off course. Ninjas train on special courses that really mess with their perception of space, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own mini gauntlet to increase your skills in your own backyard.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From Harry Houdini: A Photographic Story of a Life by Vicki Cobb

Harry called their grand finale “Metamorphosis,” which means “change in appearance.” Harry would tie Theo’s hands behind his back with a rope, then put him in a sack and tie the top. The tied and bagged Theo was then placed into the trunk which was locked and tied with ropes. A curtain was drawn so that no one could see the trunk, although they could hear Theo banging around inside. With great drama, Houdini told the audience, “When I clap my hands three times—behold a miracle!” He moved behind the curtain, clapped three times, and out stepped Theo, arms raised triumphantly.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From Holes by Louis Sachars

The next morning Mr. Sir marched the boys to another section of the lake, and each boy dug his own hole, five feet deep and five feet wide. Stanley was glad to be away from the big hole. At least now he knew just how much he had to dig for the day. And it was a relief not to have other shovels swinging past his face, or the Warden hanging around.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From To Kill a Mocking Bird by Harper Lee

We lived on the main residential street in town—Atticus, Jem and I, plus Calpurnia our cook. Jem and I found our father satisfactory: he played with us, read to us, and treated us with courteous detachment… Our mother died when I was two, so I never felt her absence. She was a Graham from Montgomery; Atticus met her when he was first elected to the state legislature.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

Siddhartha sat and watched him and remembered how once he had considered this man his friend. He gratefully accepted Vasudeva’s invitation. When they reached the river bank, he helped him to secure the boat. Later, when the sun was beginning to set, they sat on the tree trunk and Siddhartha told him about his origin and his life. The story lasted late into the night. Vasudeva listened with great attention. It was one of Vasudeva’s greatest virtues that, like few people, he knew how to listen. He never thought to interrupt the speaker with praise nor blame—he only listened. Siddhartha felt how wonderful it was to have such a listener who could be absorbed in another person’s life, his strife, his sorrows.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Traveling light is essential to your journey. Before packing anything, ask yourself, “Do I really need this?” Once you’ve compiled your gear, go down the list and ask that question again. Of course, traveling light does not mean just holstering a .45, grabbing some beef jerky and a water bottle, and heading down the road. Equipment will be vital, more so than in any other scenario where you are holed up in a place—a prison, a school, your own home—where supplies are in abundance. The equipment you take with you may be all you have.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From The Magic Finger by Roald Dahl

The farm next to ours is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Gregg. The Greggs have two children, both of them boys. Their names are Philip and William. Sometimes I go over to their farm to play with them. I am a girl and I am eight years old. Philip is also eight years old. Last week something very funny happened. I am going to tell you about it as best as I can.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists by Gideon Defoe

The Pirate Captain cut an impressive figure. If you were to compare him to a type of tree—and working out what sort of tree they would be if they were trees instead of pirates was easily one of the crew’s favorite pastimes—he would undoubtedly be an oak. Living at the sea tended to leave you with ratty, matted hair, but the Pirate Captain somehow kept his beard silky and in good condition, and though nobody knew his secret, they all respected him for it. The Pirate Captain was secretly relieved when he heard the song of a rowdy shanty coming through the roof of the galley.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient

From No Way Out by Peggy Kern

Harold Davis took a deep breath and slowly started to peel the gauze from the wound on his grandmother’s leg. “Hold on, Grandma. I’m almost done,” he said quietly. “Don’t worry, baby. It doesn’t hurt too much,” she replied, wincing slightly. “Just take your time.” Harold glanced up at his grandmother lying on the couch. He could tell she was in pain from the way she gripped the cushions, but still she managed to smile back at him.

• First Person

• Second Person

• Third Person Objective

• Third Person Limited

• Third Person Omniscient