Narrative Perspective

Authors Point of View

 Dialogue and Narration
Dialogue = when characters speak.
Narration = when the narrator speaks.
Quotation marks separate narration
from dialogue.

Example
Help my cousin Jack said.
1 2
 Identifying Narrative Perspective

It's about the narrator (who tells the story)

We're not looking at dialogue.

We don't care what characters say.
Only the narrator's voice matters.
 Pronoun Case
We are trying to figure out the narrator's
view point on the story.

Perspectives and Signal Words

First-Person

Second-Person

Third-Person
 First-Person
Narrator is a part of the story (character).

Often uses I or we.

Example

I went home. Tim came over. I couldn't play.

 Second-Person
Usually for instructions

Uses You; from your perspective.

Examples

First, gather your materials. Add 1 cup sugar

to flour.
 Third-Person
Narrator tells his or her story.
Three Types of 3rd Person:
1. Limited
2. Omniscient
3. Objective
 Third-Person Limited
Narrator reveals thoughts and feelings
of one character.
Chris liked Elma since the third-grade, but he
had never found the nerve to tell her. But
one sunny day, Chris said to Elma, So you
want to go with me? Emma blushed and
said, Ok Chris smiled.

Tells his internal thoughts

Internal Narration is limited to Chris
 I like Elma.

Ok.
So, you
want to go
Chris with me? Elma

3rd-Person Limited:
One characters thoughts.
 Third-Person Omniscient
Narrator is all knowing.
Narrator tells thoughts and feelings of
more than one character.
Omni = All Scient = Knowing
Example
Tim was mad at Shay. He blamed her.
Shay knew Tim would be mad, but she
wanted to live her life.
 Oh, I like
I like Elma.
Chris.

Ok.
Chris Elma

Want to
go with
me?

3rd-Person Omniscient:
Two or more characters thoughts.
 Third-Person Objective
Narrator does not reveal any characters
thoughts or feelings.
Only characters dialogue and actions
are narrated.
Example
Tim slammed the door. He walked
upstairs and read a note from Shay. No! It
cant be! he wailed. He kicked over the
trash can & started crying.
 So, you
want to go
with me?
Ok.
Chris Elma

3rd-Person Objective:
No characters thoughts.
 Telling the Difference
1. Focus on the narration.
2. Circle any narrated thoughts or feelings.
3. Count each characters thoughts.

Only THIRD-PERSON has these modes.

There is no first or second-person objective,
omniscient, or limited narration.
 Signal Words
for limited or omniscient
Knows/Knew
Feels/Felt
Contemplate/Contemplated
Think/Thought
Understand/Understood
Believe/Believed
Reflects/Reflected
 Video Examples of POV
1st Person Point of View

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZljFwQAwik

3rd Person Limited

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20pgy7WA8oU

3rd Person Omniscient

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3L3NOwWVOzI

3rd Person Objective

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=video+examples+of+POINT+OF+VIEW&docid=608032168149
059829&mid=CB318CC6952FD5D16633CB318CC6952FD5D16633&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1#vie
w=detail&mid=CB318CC6952FD5D16633CB318CC6952FD5D16633