Who’s telling the story here?
In a fiction text, the narrator is telling the story. Who the narrator is will determine the point of view of the book.
There are a few different ways that a narrator might influence or impact the story.
We categorize them in different ways:
1st Person Point of View
3rd Person (Limited, Objective, or Omniscient)
Who is Telling the Story? Narrator or Character?
Narrator
Character
Character’s thoughts and feelings
-about other characters
-about an event
-about themselves
1st Person Pronouns OUTSIDE of the dialogue
Overcomes an internal battle
Not a character in the story
3rd Person Pronouns OUTSIDE of the dialogue
Tells what the characters are doing or fills in the gaps for the reader (similar to a sports commentator on the radio)
The Effects of the Narrator
In the videos, the narrator tells the story but each in a different way. What effect does the point of view have on the reader?
In “Wonder” the narrator’s effect on the reader is…
The reader knows…
… character actions
… character thoughts
… conflict
… character feelings
In “Nanny Mcphee” the narrator’s effect on the reader is…
The reader knows…
… character actions
… character thoughts
… conflict
… character feelings
Told by (highlight)…
… a narrator
… a character
Told by (highlight)…
… a narrator
… a character
First Person Point of View
In this type of point of view, the narrator is a character in the text. They are telling you everything that is happening from their own involvement.
Told by the character in the story
Reader knows the main character’s thoughts and feelings
Pronoun Races! (First Person Edition)
I
my
mine
we
our
me
us
you
you’ll
yours
his
he
them
they
you’re
your
their
she
Directions: The author gives clues about the point of view by using specific pronouns that signal first person. Can you identify them and pull them into the box? Can you beat your classmates? Can you get them all right? On your marks, get set, go!
SS #7
1st-Person Point of View
Sweating through my gown, my nerves were getting the best of me as I waited for the doctor. I had prepared all week for this doctor's appointment. But how does anyone prepare for a life-changing topic like this?
Directions: Move the arrows to show the parts of a 1st-Person point of view.
1st Person
PRONOUN
Character’s THOUGHTS
Character’s EMOTION
1st Person Point of View
Nonfiction / Narratives / Poetry
I've cheated and I've lied
I've broke down and I've cried
I've got nothing to hide no more
I've loved and I've hurt
Broken people down with words
More grace than I deserved, for sure
Known to be crazy, known to be wild
Mama had to suffer a little devilish child
Ain't no stranger to the troubles at my door
I've been at the wrong place at the wrong time
Chasin' all the wrong things most of my life
Been every kinda lost that you can't find
But I got one thing right
Been the kind of guy girl's mamas don't like
Runnin' with the wrong crowd on the wrong nights
'Cause I've been wrong about a million times
But I got one thing right, you
Highlight the first-person pronouns in YELLOW.
Highlight characters’ thoughts in GREEN.
Highlight characters’ emotions in BLUE.
Poetry/Song
Third Person Point of View
This is when the narrator is telling the story but they are NOT a character in the story. There are three different types of third person:
3rd Person Limited
3rd Person Omniscient
3rd Person Objective
The 3 Types of 3rd Person
Third Person Limited
Third Person Omniscient
Third Person Objective
The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of the main character
The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of ALL the characters
The narrator does NOT know the thoughts and feelings of ANY characters
Pronoun Races! (Third Person Edition)
I
my
mine
we
our
me
us
you
you’ll
yours
his
he
them
they
you’re
your
their
she
Directions: The author gives clues about the point of view by using specific pronouns that signal first person. Can you identify them and pull them into the box? Can you beat your classmates? Can you get them all right? On your marks, get set, go!
SS #18
Third Person Limited Point of View
The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of the main character but they are not apart of the story.
Story told by a narrator
Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character
3rd-Person Limited Point of View
Sweating through her gown, Elly’s nerves were getting the best of her as she waited for the doctor. She had prepared all week for this doctor’s appointment. Elly could not stop thinking about how her life would likely change in just a few short moments.
Directions: Move the arrows to show the parts of a 3rd-Person Limited point of view.
3rd Person
PRONOUN
Character’s THOUGHTS
Character’s NAME
Character’s EMOTION
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
The narrator in the story knows ALL of the thoughts and feelings of the characters.
Story told by a narrator
Narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of ALL characters
3rd-Person Omniscient Point of View
Sweating through her gown, Elly’s nerves were getting the best of her. Waiting for the doctor to enter, her mother sat beside Elly feeling the same way. Both women had prepared all week for this doctor’s appointment. They could not stop thinking about how life would likely change in just a few short moments.
Directions: Move the arrows to show the parts of a 3rd-Person Omniscient point of view.
3rd Person
PRONOUN
Multiple Characters’ THOUGHTS
Character’s NAME
Multiple Characters’ EMOTIONS
Third Person Objective Point of View
This type of point of view is used when the narrator does NOT know ANY of the thoughts and feelings of the characters. They just report the actions and the dialogue of the characters involved.
Story told by a narrator
Narrator does not know the thoughts and feelings of any character
3rd-Person Objective Point of View
Elly and her mother waited for the doctor to enter into the room so they could hear the news. Both women had prepared all week for this doctor’s appointment.
Directions: Move the arrows to show the parts of a 3rd-Person Objective point of view. Determine where it would be appropriate for an author to include a character thought and emotion according to what is happening in the text.
No Evidence
of Characters’ THOUGHTS
No Evidence
of Characters’ EMOTIONS
3rd Person Point of View:
Nonfiction / Narratives / Poetry
Sarah Beth is scared to death
'Cause the doctor just told her the news
“Between the red cells and white
Something's not right
But we're gonna take care of you”
“Six chances in ten, it won't come back again
With the therapy we're gonna try
It's just been approved
It's the strongest there is
I think we caught it in time”
Sarah Beth closes her eyes
She dreams she's dancing
Around and around, without any cares
And her very first love is holding her close
And the soft wind is blowing her hair
“Skin (Sarahbeth)' by Rascal Flatts
Highlight the third-person pronouns in YELLOW.
Highlight characters’ thoughts in GREEN.
Highlight characters’ emotions in BLUE.
Poetry/Song
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