Point of View
Point of view is the perspective from which the narrator tells the story to the reader. The narrator speaks in a particular voice. That voice speaks to the reader and tells the story. First person and third person are the most common narrative points of view. Although second person can be used, it is very rare in fiction.
First Person
The narrator is telling the story from his own point of view
“I went to see the new movie Dream House.”
or
“When I was a little girl, the craziest thing happened to me…”
The narrator is telling the story from his own point of view
“I went to see the new movie Dream House.”
or
“When I was a little girl, the craziest thing happened to me…”
Example: Halo (You control the Chief)
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Explanation:
In first person point of view, the author creates a character who tells us everything that's happening. It's important to note that we can't see what other people or thinking, and we can't see things from anyone else's perspective. For example, in Halo, you can't see what the Covenant aliens are doing when they're hiding from you. |
Second Person
“You” is the person doing the action. "You" are being talked about from someone else's perspective.
"You walked down the stairs. You ate Honey Nut Cheerio's for breakfast and dropped a few on the floor. Your dog ate them."
It is awkward for a story to be narrated from “your” perspective, so this point of view is not used very often.
Example: Call of Duty Killcam
Third Person
Narrator is NOT a character in the story—NEVER uses “you”, “we”, etc.
“He went to the store with his friend Jess. They had a great time.”
BUT we get more complicated now. Third person point of view has to be split off based on how many characters' thoughts and emotions the narrator knows.
Let's try a few together. Read each passage and tell me what type of POV it uses.
Hunger Games:
I'm fast. I can sprint faster than any of the girls in our school, although a couple can beat me in distance races. But this forty-yard length, this is what I am built for. I know I can get it, I know I can reach it first, but then the question is how quickly can I get out of there? By the time I've scrambled up the packs and grabbed the weapons, others will have reached the horn, and one or two I might be able to pick off, but say there's a dozen, at that close range, they could take me down with the spears and the clubs. Or their own powerful fists. Still, I won't be the only target. I'm betting many of the other tributes would pass up a smaller girl, even one who scored an eleven in training, to take out their more fierce adversaries.
Halo: The Fall of Reach:
The Covenant used these stocky aliens as cannon fodder. They stood a meter tall and wore armored environment suits that replicated the atmosphere of their frozen home world. They reminded the Chief of biped dogs, not only in appearance, but because their speech—even with the new translation software—was an odd combination of high-pitched squeaks, guttural barks and growls.
The Lovely Bones:
My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. In newspaper photos of missing girls from the seventies, most looked like me: white girls with mousy brown hair. This was before kids of all races and genders started appearing on milk cartons or in the daily mail. It was still back when people believed things like that didn't happen.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
The two men took their allotted places. Most of the eyes around the table followed Snape, and it was to him that Voldemort spoke first.
"So?"
"My lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety of Saturday next, at nightfall."
The interest around the table sharpened palpably. Some stiffened, others fidgeted, all gazing at Snape and Voldemort.
Hunger Games:
I'm fast. I can sprint faster than any of the girls in our school, although a couple can beat me in distance races. But this forty-yard length, this is what I am built for. I know I can get it, I know I can reach it first, but then the question is how quickly can I get out of there? By the time I've scrambled up the packs and grabbed the weapons, others will have reached the horn, and one or two I might be able to pick off, but say there's a dozen, at that close range, they could take me down with the spears and the clubs. Or their own powerful fists. Still, I won't be the only target. I'm betting many of the other tributes would pass up a smaller girl, even one who scored an eleven in training, to take out their more fierce adversaries.
Halo: The Fall of Reach:
The Covenant used these stocky aliens as cannon fodder. They stood a meter tall and wore armored environment suits that replicated the atmosphere of their frozen home world. They reminded the Chief of biped dogs, not only in appearance, but because their speech—even with the new translation software—was an odd combination of high-pitched squeaks, guttural barks and growls.
The Lovely Bones:
My name was Salmon, like the fish; first name, Susie. I was fourteen when I was murdered on December 6, 1973. In newspaper photos of missing girls from the seventies, most looked like me: white girls with mousy brown hair. This was before kids of all races and genders started appearing on milk cartons or in the daily mail. It was still back when people believed things like that didn't happen.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows:
The two men took their allotted places. Most of the eyes around the table followed Snape, and it was to him that Voldemort spoke first.
"So?"
"My lord, the Order of the Phoenix intends to move Harry Potter from his current place of safety of Saturday next, at nightfall."
The interest around the table sharpened palpably. Some stiffened, others fidgeted, all gazing at Snape and Voldemort.
Group Activities
Complete these activities in small groups.
Complete these activities in small groups.
pov_group_activity.rtf | |
File Size: | 47 kb |
File Type: | rtf |
pov_group_activity_2.rtf | |
File Size: | 50 kb |
File Type: | rtf |
Narrative Point of View Comic Strips
Objective: create four comic strips showing four different narrative view points.
Requirements:
1. Each comic strip will contain dialogue (word bubbles) and narration (square narration boxes).
2. Each comic strip should be narrated using one of the following perspectives: first-person, second-person, third-person objective, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient.
3. Make an effort. If you are not good at drawing, create good storylines and use stick men.
Individual Assignments
Complete the following assignments on your own.
Objective: create four comic strips showing four different narrative view points.
Requirements:
1. Each comic strip will contain dialogue (word bubbles) and narration (square narration boxes).
2. Each comic strip should be narrated using one of the following perspectives: first-person, second-person, third-person objective, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient.
3. Make an effort. If you are not good at drawing, create good storylines and use stick men.
Individual Assignments
Complete the following assignments on your own.
pov_individual_1.rtf | |
File Size: | 50 kb |
File Type: | rtf |
pov_individual_2.docx | |
File Size: | 22 kb |
File Type: | docx |
What happened the year that you were born? Were there important events going on in your state or country? For this project, you’ll find out all the answers!
To find out what happened the year you were born, interview family members and adults, and look for details on the Internet. Once you’ve gathered your information, write a paper or create a PowerPoint telling the story of what happened the year of you were born.
Write one page (double-spaced, 12-point font) or create eight slides with plenty of words on them. Use entirely the third person point of view, because you were too young to have experienced any of these things.
Make sure you completely alter ANY information you take from the Internet. If you copy and paste, you get a zero!
Topics you need to hit:
- Your family (STAY IN THIRD PERSON!)
- National (USA) events
- World (other countries) events
- Births (famous people and why they're important)
- Deaths (famous people and why they're important)
Review Game: Jeopardy
jeopardy_template.pptx | |
File Size: | 190 kb |
File Type: | pptx |