In literature, point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told. It is the angle from which the story is seen and presented to the reader.
There are three main points of view:
- First person
- Second person
- Third person
First Person Point of View
In first person point of view, the story is told from the perspective of one of the characters in the story, who refers to himself or herself as “I”.
The reader experiences the story through the eyes of this character and can only know what this character knows. This can make the story feel more personal, but it also limits the reader’s knowledge to what the character experiences.
Example: “I woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.”
Second Person Point of View
In second person point of view, the story is told to the reader using the pronoun “you”. This is the least common point of view in literature and is often used in instructional writing or self-help books.
Example: “You wake up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.”
Third Person Point of View
In third person point of view, the story is told from the perspective of someone outside the story, using pronouns like “he”, “she”, “it” or “they”.
The narrator can be an omniscient narrator who knows everything about the characters and the story, or a limited narrator who only knows some things.
Example: “She woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day.”
Third person point of view can be further classified into different types:
- Third Person Limited: The narrator only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character in the story, but not others.
Example: “He woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. He didn’t know what awaited him later that day.”
- Third Person Omniscient: The narrator knows everything about the characters in the story, including their thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Example: “He woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. Little did he know that he would soon face the biggest challenge of his life.”
- Third Person Objective: The narrator does not reveal any character’s thoughts or feelings but only reports what can be seen or heard.
Example: “He woke up feeling refreshed and ready to start the day. He got out of bed and started getting ready for work.”
Points of View in Literature
The choice of point of view is an important decision that authors make when writing a story. Different points of view can create different effects and emotions in the reader.
First person point of view can create a more intimate and personal connection between the reader and the character.
Second person point of view can create a sense of involvement in the story, making the reader feel like they are part of the story.
Third person point of view can create a more objective and detached perspective, allowing the reader to see the story from a wider viewpoint.
It is important for readers to identify the point of view of a story as it can affect their understanding and interpretation of the story.