|
|
Lesson 5
Grado 9
|
Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. We may choose to tell our story in
· first person, using "I" or "we";
· third person ("he," "she," "it"), which can be limited or omniscient; or
· second person, "you," the least common point of view.
As a writer, you must think strategically to choose the point of view that will allow you to most effectively develop your characters and tell your story.
First person limits the reader to one character's perspective. With a book such as On the Road, for instance, the first person point of view puts us right there in the car with Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty; we follow Sal's every exhilarating thought as they careen across the country. First person feel more personal.
What about unreliable narrators and first person? See an example of unreliable narrator from Chang-rae Lee's A Gesture Life.
Though first person can be powerful, as the examples above illustrate, third person is actually the more versatile point of view. Third person allows you to create a much richer, more complicated universe. A book such as Anna Karenina, for example, could only have been written in third person. One reader, Wendy, put it this way: "When I write in first person, I tend to make the story more personal to me, which can limit how far I will go with a character. Third person isn't as much about me, and I can be much freer with the plot flow."
Point of view
Practicing exercise
Question 1
Multiple-choice |
|
third person limited |
|
Select the best answer |
|
the narrator is all knowing. even knowing the thought and feelings of all the characters. |
someone who takes place in the story. |
less important characters |
the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character. narrator is not a character in the story |
Question 2
Multiple-choice |
|
third person omniscient |
|
Select the best answer |
|
the narrator is all knowing; even knowing the thought and feelings of all the characters. |
less important characters |
the person or voice that tells the story |
the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character. narrator is not a character in the story |
Question 3
Multiple-choice |
|
first person point of view |
|
Select the best answer |
|
the narrator is all knowing. even knowing the thought and feelings of all the characters. |
the person or voice that tells the story |
someone who takes place in the story. |
the narrator tells the story that he/she is a part of; uses pronouns like "I" and "me" |
Point of view
Practicing exercise-Answer key
1. the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character. narrator is not a character in the story
2. the narrator is all knowing; even knowing the thought and feelings of all the characters.
3. the narrator tells the story that he/she is a part of; uses pronouns like "I" and "me"
Point of view
Quiz
Q.1) Writing that focuses on the speech, dress attire, mannerisms, and customs of a particular place.
A. mood or atmosphere
B. social conditions
C. place
D. time
E. weather conditions
Q.2) The feeling that is created at the beginning of the story.
A. place
B. time
C. weather conditions
D. mood or atmosphere
E. social conditions
Q.3) Where the action of the story is taking place.
A. time
B. weather conditions
C. place
D. social conditions
E. mood or atmosphere
Q.4) The climate or conditions during the story.
A. social conditions
B. place
C. mood or atmosphere
D. weather conditions
E. time
Q.5) When is the story taking place?
A. weather conditions
B. mood or atmosphere
C. place
D. time
E. social conditions
Q.6) The story is told through the eyes or a child in the _______________ point of view.
.
Q.7) In the _______________ the story is told so that the reader feels as if they inside the head of one character and knows all their thoughts and reactions.
.
Q.8) When the author tells the story in third person is the _______________ point of view.
.
Q.9) The story is told by the protagonist or one of the characters who interacts closely with the protagonist is the _______________ point of view.
.
Q.10) The author can narrate the story using the ______________ point of view.
.
Q.11) The author tells the story in the third person, and it appears as though a camera is following the characters and recording only what is seen and heard is the _____________ point of view.
.
Point of view
Quiz-Answer key
1. B
2. D
3. C
4. D
5. D
6. Innocent eye
7. Stream of consciousness
8. Omniscient limited
9. First person
10. Omniscient
11. Omniscient objective
Point of view
Test
Directions: Read each statement or example below. Choose one (or more) of the following Point of View terms and classify them. Terms: 1st Person, 2nd Person, 3rd Person, 3rd Person - Limited, 3rd Person-Omniscient, Subjective, Objective
1. The author can shift focus from character to character. The author’s narrator shares knowledge of each main character’s thoughts and of events which no single character could be aware.
2. The author, when speaking of the main character, uses pronouns like you and yours.
3. The author picks one character and follows him or her around for the duration of the book.
4. This point of view is the least often used by writers.
5. The author, when speaking of the main character, uses pronouns like I, me, mine.
6. You say, “I’m only going to say this once. I am not going with you to the mall.” You hate doing it but have no intention of admitting to him that the reason is that you want to work on your history project.
7. The author’s narrator shares the thoughts, feelings, and memories of the main character.
8. The author, when speaking of the main character, uses pronouns like he, him, his.
9. Harry said, “I’m only going to say this once. I am not going with you to the mall.”
10. I said, “I’m only going to say this once. I am not going with you to the mall.”
11. The author’s narrator tells only what can be seen and heard. The narrator does not give the reader the internal thoughts or feelings of any of the characters. This type of narration is like a store’s surveillance camera recording the audio and video of the events that occur within its line of sight.
12. Harry told Nathan, “I’m only going to say this once. I am not going with you to the mall.” Harry felt he would loose Nathan’s friendship all together if Nathan knew why he didn’t want to go. Harry was judging Nathan too harshly. Nathan would have helped him study, not ditched him.
13. Harry told Nathan, “I’m only going to say this once. I am not going with you to the mall.” Nathan gave Harry a crooked grin, turned, and walked away. When Nathan was out of sight, he stopped and said, “I’ll bet he wanted to study and he didn’t want me to know it.”
14. The author takes on the personality of a character in the story and has that character narrate the story to the reader.
Point of view
Test-Answer key
- 3rd Person –Omniscient Subjective
- 2nd Person
- 1st Person
- 2nd Person
- 1st Person
- 2nd Person Subjective
- 1st Person, 3rd Person
- 3rd Person
- 3rd Person
- 1st Person
- 3rd Person –Objective
- 3rd Person –Omniscient Subjective
- 3rd Person –Omniscient Objective
- 1st Person
|