Point of view

English

Definition

The perspective from which a story is told, determined by who the narrator is and how much they know. The three main types are first person ("I"), second person ("you"), and third person ("he/she/they"), with third person further divided into limited and omniscient.

Examples

  • First person: The Catcher in the Rye — Holden tells his own story using "I"
  • Third person omniscient: A narrator who knows every character's thoughts, as in many fairy tales
  • Third person limited: Harry Potter — the narrator follows only Harry's perspective

Related Terms

Narrative techniques Narrative terms Character analysis Tone and mood

Study This Concept

Practice point of view with free review games in these units:

English 9 Unit 1: Narrative Writing