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Determining Point of View

This document outlines a 2-step process for determining the point of view of a story: 1. Determine if the narrator is a character in the story based on pronoun use, or an outside observer. This establishes first, second, or third person point of view. 2. For third person point of view, determine if the narrator knows only what can be observed or also knows characters' thoughts, to establish objective, limited, or omniscient third person point of view.

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1K views2 pages

Determining Point of View

This document outlines a 2-step process for determining the point of view of a story: 1. Determine if the narrator is a character in the story based on pronoun use, or an outside observer. This establishes first, second, or third person point of view. 2. For third person point of view, determine if the narrator knows only what can be observed or also knows characters' thoughts, to establish objective, limited, or omniscient third person point of view.

Uploaded by

api-3755154
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Determining Point of View

STEP 1
Is the narrator of the story a character in the story?

YES NO

Is the
narrator
Double Check: NO
giving
Does the narrator
directions?
use first person
pronouns (I, me,
my, mine, we, us, Double Check:
our, ours) when
talking about YES Does the narrator use
himself or herself THIRD person pronouns
in the story? (he, him, his / she, her,
hers / it, its / they,
Double Check:
them, their, theirs) or
Does the narrator
refer to the characters
use SECOND
YES person pronouns
by their names when
talking about them?
(you, your, yours)
when talking TO
the reader?
YES
First Person YES
Point of View
Third Person
Second Point of View
Person
Point of View
Remember, it is very There’s MORE! Go to
RARE for a STORY to be
in 2nd person point of the next step.
view.
Determining Point of View continued . . .

STEP 2
What kind of THIRD person narrator is it?

Does the narrator know the thoughts and/or


feelings of ANY character in the story?

NO YES

Does the narrator know the


A narrator that can thoughts and feelings of ONE
only observe what
character or of SEVERAL
characters say and
major characters?
do but does NOT
know anyone’s
thoughts or
More Than
feelings is . . . ONE One

Third Person
OBJECTIVE A narrator that A narrator that knows
Point of View knows the thoughts the thoughts and
and feelings of only feelings MORE THAN
ONE character ONE character
is . . . is . . .

Third Person Third Person


LIMITED OMNISCIENT
Point of View Point of View

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