Point of ViewFirst Person CentralThird Person Limited OmniscientThird Person ShiftingObjectiveStream of Consciousness

Jennifer BennettSanderson High School

Point of View (p.o.v.) Definition:

The relationship between the story and the storyteller (narrator)

The eyes through which we (readers) see the story

Clues to help determine p.o.v.: Is the narrator a character in the story? How much is narr. allowed to know? Can the narr. get inside the characters’ heads

and report their thoughts and feelings?

First Person Central p.o.v.The 1st person p.o.v. narrator— uses first person pronouns (“I”) is the main (central) character in the story—the

protagonist relates the events in which he or she is involved. is close to the action. gives a limited scope of the story, a limited view of

the truth readers can know only what the narrator knows and

chooses to tell us.

First Person Central pov

Reader

N

Third Person Limited p.o.v.Narrator— tells the story through the eyes of one particular

character and refers to that character in the 3rd person (“he” or

“she”). is not a character in the story. reveals only the thoughts of the one character; does not have access to the thoughts of any other

character--limited to his or her perspective. has complete access to the main character’s

thoughts and feelings.

Third Person Limited

Reader

NPro/MC

Third Person Omniscient p.o.v. Author becomes an all-knowing narrator

with a “God’s-eye” viewpoint. Narrator stands outside of the story and has

complete access into the minds of all of the characters.

Narrator is not limited in any way--has access to past, present, and future knowledge that none of the characters may have.

Omniscient POV

past

present

future

N

Reader

Pro/MC

Third Person Shifting Like third person limited p.o.v. but is able

to shift from one character’s perspective to another’s (without making any omniscient connections between them)

Not omniscient-- can only get into one character’s mind at a time cannot tell us anything that each character

doesn’t think, feel, or know for himself/herself

Objective p.o.v. Narrator is not a character in the story; refers to

characters in the third person “Fly on the wall” or camera view

Can only reveal what we would see and hear if we were an invisible observer

Does not go into a character’s mind Maintains extreme objectivity

Does not explain, judge, or evaluate Leaves the readers to find the meaning for

themselves

Stream of Consciousness Often uses “I” like first person p.o.v.—but not the

same perspective— presents a character’s mind in its pre-editor state as it rambles from one level of consciousness to another presents a character’s mind in the raw—without filters,

without regard for logical sequence, chronology, syntax, or punctuation

Often makes no distinction between various levels of reality—between dreams, imaginings, memories, or real sensory perceptions

Character Repository!

More characters/shapes

Grouped Illustrations