ENGLISH 7 –

MATATAG
Literary Elements of Point of View

Overview:
In literature, point of view (POV) refers to the lens through which a story is told. It determines
the perspective from which the events, characters, and themes of the narrative are presented.
Understanding point of view is crucial to analyzing how stories are constructed, how information
is revealed, and how readers engage with the narrative.

1. Definition of Point of View

Point of view is the vantage point or narrative perspective from which a story is told. It shapes
the way a reader understands the characters, events, and the overall message of a text.

2. Types of Point of View

1. First Person (I/We)

 Definition: The narrator is a character in the story and uses the pronouns "I" or "we."
 Characteristics:
o The narrator can only share their own thoughts, feelings, and experiences.
o Limited in scope—only the narrator’s perspective is known.
o Provides an intimate, personal connection to the character’s inner world.
 Example:
"I walked down the street, feeling the cold air bite at my skin. I didn’t know what I was
going to do next."
(From the character's point of view.)

2. Second Person (You)

 Definition: The narrator speaks directly to the reader using "you," making the reader a
character in the story.
 Characteristics:
o Rare in literature but used for immersion, often in instructional or experimental
writing.
o Puts the reader in the position of the protagonist or central character.
o Creates a sense of immediacy and direct involvement.
 Example:
"You walk into the room and notice the strange silence. You feel a chill as if someone is
watching you."

3. Third Person Limited (He/She/They)

 Definition: The narrator is outside the story and tells it from the perspective of one
character, using "he," "she," or "they."
 Characteristics:
 o The narrator has access only to one character's thoughts and feelings (limited to
one character’s perspective).
o The reader knows what this one character knows, thinks, and perceives.
o Provides more objectivity than first-person, but still limits knowledge to one
character.
 Example:
"John was terrified as he opened the door. He had no idea what awaited him on the
other side, but something told him it would change everything."

4. Third Person Omniscient (He/She/They)

 Definition: The narrator is all-knowing and can access the thoughts, feelings, and
experiences of multiple characters.
 Characteristics:
o The narrator knows everything about the characters, events, and settings—past,
present, and future.
o Provides a more comprehensive understanding of the world and characters.
o Can shift between different characters’ perspectives.
 Example:
"John was terrified, but Sarah, watching from the corner, felt a sense of dread as well.
Both of them had different fears, but neither knew that the real danger lay outside their
vision."

5. Third Person Objective (He/She/They)

 Definition: The narrator reports only what can be observed externally, without access to
any character’s inner thoughts or feelings.
 Characteristics:
o The narrator describes actions and dialogue but does not delve into characters’
internal experiences.
o Creates a detached, neutral viewpoint.
o The reader only knows what can be seen or heard.
 Example:
"John walked into the room, his footsteps echoing on the tile floor. Sarah stood by the
window, looking out, silent."

6. Stream of Consciousness

 Definition: A narrative mode that attempts to capture the continuous flow of thoughts,
feelings, and sensory experiences of a character.
 Characteristics:
o Often presented in first-person.
o Non-linear, fragmented, and sometimes difficult to follow.
o Aims to reflect a character’s internal experience in real time.
 Example:
"I can't—no, it's too much—there's too much to do—if I just sit here, just a little longer,
then maybe I'll—no, the deadline’s coming—what if I don’t make it?"
3. Factors Influencing Point of View

 Narrator's Knowledge and Reliability:

o Reliable narrator: The narrator is trustworthy and offers an accurate portrayal of
events.
o Unreliable narrator: The narrator may lie, omit, or misinterpret events, creating
a sense of doubt or manipulation. The reader must decide what is true.
o Example: In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway is an unreliable narrator, as he is
biased and emotionally involved in the story.

 Character's Perspective:
o The narrator's perspective shapes how events are framed. A first-person
narrator, for example, can only provide a limited view of the world, creating
potential biases or misunderstandings of other characters.
o Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, Scout Finch narrates the story with a child’s
perspective, affecting how she interprets events.

 Narrative Distance:
o This refers to how close or distant the narrator is from the events of the story. A
close narrative distance may involve detailed descriptions of a character’s
thoughts and emotions, while a more distant narrative style might focus on
external actions and behaviors.
o Example: In a close third-person narrative, we might experience a character’s
thoughts, while in a more distant third-person narrative, we may only see their
actions.

4. Impact of Point of View on Reader Experience

 Empathy and Connection:

The choice of point of view directly influences the reader's emotional connection to the
characters. First-person narratives often create a stronger sense of intimacy, while third-
person omniscient can provide a broader, more detached perspective.
 Unreliable Narration:
An unreliable narrator can engage readers in a deeper process of interpretation,
encouraging them to question the truth of what is being presented. This creates suspense
and mystery.
 Multiple Perspectives:
Shifting between multiple points of view (as in multiple third-person limited
perspectives) allows readers to understand events from different angles, often
highlighting conflicts, misunderstandings, or thematic contrasts.

5. Examples of Point of View in Literature

1. First Person:
o The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
 o The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

2. Third Person Limited:

o Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
o Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

3. Third Person Omniscient:

o Les Misérables by Victor Hugo
o Middlemarch by George Eliot

4. Unreliable Narrator:
o The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
o Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

6. Summary

 Point of view shapes how the reader experiences the narrative and interprets characters,
events, and themes.
 There are different types of point of view, each with its own strengths, limitations, and
effects on storytelling.
 Understanding the impact of point of view is essential for analyzing how a story
communicates meaning, influences character development, and constructs reader
engagement.

Discussion Questions

1. How does the choice of first-person or third-person affect our understanding of the
protagonist in a novel?
2. What are the advantages and disadvantages of using an unreliable narrator?
3. How does a shift in point of view (for example, between characters) affect our
understanding of the story’s themes?
Distinguishing the Different Points of View (POV) in Narration

The point of view (POV) in a narrative determines the perspective from which the story is told.
Understanding the distinctions between the various POVs is essential for analyzing how
information is presented and how readers engage with the narrative. Here's a breakdown of the
different types of POVs:

1. First Person

 Definition: The narrator is a character within the story, telling the events from their own
perspective using the pronoun "I" (or "we" if the narrator is part of a group).
 Narrative Voice: The narrator speaks directly to the reader, offering a personal,
subjective account of the events.
 Characteristics:
o Limited Knowledge: The narrator only knows their own thoughts, feelings, and
perceptions.
o Personal Connection: Readers experience the story through the eyes of a
character, often developing a deep connection with them.
o Subjectivity: The account is inherently biased, based on the narrator's emotions,
beliefs, and experiences.
 Example:
"I had never seen anything so beautiful. The colors of the sunset were like nothing I had
ever imagined before. As I stood there, feeling the warmth of the day leave the air, I
knew I would never forget this moment."
o In this example, the narrator directly shares their thoughts and experiences.

2. Second Person

 Definition: The narrator speaks directly to the reader, using the pronoun "you". The
reader is made to feel as though they are a character in the story.
 Narrative Voice: The reader is positioned as the protagonist, actively participating in the
unfolding events.
 Characteristics:
o Direct Engagement: The second-person POV is rare but used to create a strong
sense of immersion or immediacy.
o Uncommon: It is mostly used in experimental writing, instructional texts, or
interactive forms like "choose-your-own-adventure" stories.
o Reader Involvement: By addressing the reader as “you,” the narrative places
the reader at the center of the action.

 Example:
"You open the door slowly, trying not to make a sound. The creak of the hinges echoes in
the quiet house, and you can feel your heart race as you step inside."
 o Here, the reader is directly involved, experiencing the scene as if they were the
character.

3. Third Person Limited

 Definition: The narrator is an outside observer who knows the thoughts, feelings, and
experiences of one character. The narrative uses "he," "she," "they".
 Narrative Voice: The narrator is not a character in the story but is closely tied to a single
character’s perspective, usually focusing on their internal experiences and actions.
 Characteristics:
o Limited Knowledge: The narrator can only describe what the chosen character
knows, feels, and experiences, so the reader has access to the inner world of
only one character.
o Objective Distance: While the narrator can offer a deep understanding of the
character's mind, they do not have access to other characters' inner thoughts.
o Emotional Connection: Like first-person narration, third-person limited provides
a strong connection with the protagonist’s emotional and psychological state, but
from a slightly more objective standpoint.

 Example:
"Emily walked into the room, her heart pounding. She could barely see through the fog of
her own anxiety. She knew this moment would define everything."
o The story is told from Emily's point of view, but the narrator is an outside
observer. We only know Emily’s thoughts and feelings.

4. Third Person Omniscient

 Definition: The narrator is all-knowing and can access the thoughts, feelings, and
experiences of all characters in the story. The narrator is not a character within the
narrative and can provide insight into events, locations, and characters that no single
individual could observe.
 Narrative Voice: The narrator has a god-like ability to move freely between characters,
settings, and time periods. They know everything—past, present, and future—and can
reveal the inner workings of the narrative as they see fit.
 Characteristics:
o Unlimited Knowledge: The narrator knows everything, including multiple
characters’ thoughts and feelings.
o Multiple Perspectives: The narrator can shift between different characters’
points of view at will, offering a comprehensive understanding of the story.
o Objectivity: While the narrator has access to all information, they can maintain a
certain level of detachment, giving the reader a more objective understanding of
events.

 Example:
"John was nervous, but Sarah, who had been watching him closely, noticed a change in
 his expression. Meanwhile, across the room, Greg was lost in his own thoughts, unaware
of the tension building between the two."
o The narrator reveals the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters, showing
what each one is experiencing.

5. Third Person Objective

 Definition: The narrator is an outside observer who only reports observable actions and
dialogue, without any access to the characters’ internal thoughts or feelings.
 Narrative Voice: The narrator provides a "camera lens" perspective, recording only what
can be seen or heard, much like a news report.
 Characteristics:
o No Inner Thoughts: The narrator does not delve into the characters’ emotions,
motivations, or thoughts; only external behavior is presented.
o Detached and Neutral: The narrative is free from the biases or subjective
viewpoints of any one character, offering a neutral perspective on the events.
o External Focus: Focuses on actions, speech, and description rather than inner
experiences.

 Example:
"John walked into the room. Sarah stood by the window, looking out at the rain. They
exchanged a few words, but the conversation was short and stiff."
o The narrator only describes observable actions without any insight into the
characters’ thoughts or emotions.

6. Stream of Consciousness

 Definition: A narrative technique that attempts to capture a character’s continuous flow

of thoughts, feelings, memories, and perceptions as they occur in real-time.
 Narrative Voice: Often presented in first-person, though third-person can also be used,
stream of consciousness writing strives to depict a character’s mind in an unfiltered, often
fragmented way.
 Characteristics:
o Unfiltered Thoughts: The narrative is often fragmented, disjointed, and chaotic,
mimicking the way thoughts naturally flow.
o No Clear Structure: There may be little to no punctuation, and the narrative may
jump from one thought or image to another without clear transitions.
o Subjectivity: It is highly subjective, focusing on the inner life of a character and
presenting their perceptions in a raw, unprocessed form.

 Example:
"I can't remember—no, wait, it's there, right at the edge of my mind, why can't I just grab
it? The rain’s falling outside. It’s loud. Everything’s so loud, why can’t I—where’s the
time gone? I have to make it to the meeting, but my head’s so full of—"
 o This stream of consciousness gives the reader a direct insight into the chaotic
and fragmented nature of the character's thoughts.

Key Differences at a Glance:

Pronouns Knowledge
POV Type Narrator’s Role Characteristics
Used Access

Subjective, personal,
Narrator is a Only the narrator’s
limited to one
First Person I, we character in the thoughts, feelings,
character's
story and experiences
perspective

Narrator The reader

addresses the experiences the Direct, immersive, rare
Second Person You
reader as the events as in fiction
protagonist themselves

Narrator is outside Only the thoughts,

Limited knowledge,
Third Person the story but feelings, and
He, she, they deep connection with
Limited focuses on one experiences of one
one character
character character

Knows everything:
Narrator is all-
Third Person all characters, Unlimited knowledge,
He, she, they knowing, outside
Omniscient settings, and multiple perspectives
the story
events

Only observable Detached, neutral, no

Third Person Narrator is an
He, she, they actions and access to characters'
Objective external observer
dialogue thoughts

Access to the
Narrator reveals
Stream of I, (sometimes internal, Unfiltered, chaotic,
continuous,
Consciousness third person) fragmented flow of often first-person
unfiltered thoughts
thoughts

Conclusion:

Each type of point of view offers a unique way of telling a story and significantly impacts the
reader's experience. By understanding the distinctions between first-person, second-person, and
third-person perspectives (limited, omniscient, and objective), we can analyze how the choice of
POV influences character development, plot structure, and emotional engagement in literature.