Point of View Flashcards
Define point of view.
The vantage point from which the story is being told.
What are the three types of point of view?
Omniscient, limited third-person, and first-person.
Describe omniscient POV.
The narrator is not identifiable but is all-knowing; the writer looks into all the characters’ hearts to reveal their thoughts or emotions to us.
Why can omniscient POV be frustrating to the reader at times?
The writer can reveal as much or as little about the characters as they want.
Give a short example of omniscient POV.
Mr. Harris was sad. Mr. Harris was sad because Mrs. Joe was mad at him. Mrs. Joe was mad because he was a good-for-nothing brat.
Describe limited third-person POV.
Narrated by someone outside the story but who sees everything from only one character’s viewpoint. We are taken inside one character’s mind.
Give an example of limited third-person POV.
Mr. Harris was sad because Mrs. Joe was mad at him, and he didn’t know why.
What is the “limitation” with limited third-person POV?
We don’t get to know much about other characters’ thoughts or feelings.
Describe first-person POV.
One of the characters tells the story. The character speaks as “I,” sometimes in their own diction.
What is the limitation with first-person POV?
We only know what that character reports to us.
What is the advantage of first-person POV?
It adds intimacy and immediacy.
