Point of View

• The character or observer who tells the story. The narrator.

• A skilled author can suppress his own feelings and get across the feelings of the narrator in the story~ telling the story as the narrator would see it.

• In persuasive writing, you may get to use your own point of view (opinion) in order to try to get your audience to believe or do something.

First Person* The narrator takes part in the story.

* The author uses pronouns like I, me, and mine.

Second Person• You use the second person point of view to address the reader. • Use pronouns like you, your, yourself, yours.• Not a popular perspective.• Imperative form ~ a command ~• For example: Before you go to London, leave your keys under the doormat. I will miss

you. • Mrs. Webb’s book: You, Being Beautiful ~ by Roizen and Oz

Third Person

* The narrator is not part of the story. The author uses pronouns like she, he him, her, they

Omniscient ~ All Knowing

• The author knows everything about all of the characters and events in the story.

• Example: John thought he could cheat Dave. Dave did not trust John. (The reader knows what both characters are thinking.)

Omniscient ~ Limited

• The narrator sees into the minds of some, but not all of the characters in a text.

• For example: John thought he could cheat Dave; but he could tell by the look in Dave’s eyes that Dave did not trust him.