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Who's Telling The Story: English 1302 Mrs. Swarthout

This document discusses the four main options a writer has for point of view in a narrative work: 1) single major character in first person; 2) single minor character in first person; 3) second person; and 4) multiple viewpoints. It provides examples and descriptions of each type of point of view, including how pronouns would be used and limitations or strengths of each approach. The document concludes by asking students to rewrite a story from the perspective of a different character as a writing exercise.

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2K views

Who's Telling The Story: English 1302 Mrs. Swarthout

This document discusses the four main options a writer has for point of view in a narrative work: 1) single major character in first person; 2) single minor character in first person; 3) second person; and 4) multiple viewpoints. It provides examples and descriptions of each type of point of view, including how pronouns would be used and limitations or strengths of each approach. The document concludes by asking students to rewrite a story from the perspective of a different character as a writing exercise.

Uploaded by

api-246856658
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Whos telling the story

English 1302
Mrs. Swarthout

The 4 Options a writer has

Single major character: 1st person


Single minor character: 1st person
2nd person
Multiple view point
Omniscient observer

Single Major Character: 1st


person

1st person major character as the


viewpoint:

does not enter into the mind of any other


character
relies on the experiences of the character to
carry the entire story through to its
conclusion.
Operating pronouns are going to be: I, me,
my. whenever the character speaks or
thinks.

1st Person Single Minor


Character

From this view point the author is writing


about the major character from the point of
view of a minor character.
This technique is often used when the
major character is particularly
unsympathetic or has limited appeal to the
reader.
It is possible to use this technique as an
"implied narrator" who never identifies
themselves with a personal pronoun but
provides a subjective and emotionally
diverse interpretation of the events.

2nd Person

Uses the pronoun you.


Used often in narrative writing.

Multiple Viewpoint

Here the writer, as an omniscient (all knowing)


being, enters the minds of two or more
characters and reveals their combined
interpretation of the complications and events
that are central to the plot.
Typically each different viewpoint is written in
either first person or third person.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Omniscient Observer: 3rd


Person

This is the detached third person


narration where the author sits
above the characters and recounts
the story without becoming a
major or minor character. The
writer knows all, sees all, hears all
and feels all that happens in the
story.

What is it?

Reading Death by Scrabble

Writing Skill Activity

With your partner rewrite part of this


story from the wifes point of view.
Attempt to mimic the writers style but
make sure you give the wife a personality
that is distinct from the husband.
What is she thinking during the story?
Write as much as you can before the bell
rings.

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