Examples of Point of View
Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told. It determines who is narrating the story and how much the narrator knows.
Key Takeaway: Point of view affects how readers experience and understand a story.
What is Point of View?
Point of view (POV) is the narrative perspective from which a story is told. It determines the narrator's relationship to the story and how much information they can share with the reader. The choice of point of view significantly impacts how readers experience the story.
Main Types of Point of View:
- First Person (I, me, we, us)
- Second Person (you, your)
- Third Person Limited (he, she, they - limited knowledge)
- Third Person Omniscient (he, she, they - all-knowing)
First Person Point of View
Characteristics:
- Uses "I," "me," "we," "us" pronouns
- Narrator is a character in the story
- Limited to what the narrator knows and experiences
- Creates intimacy and immediacy
Examples:
"I walked down the dark alley, my heart pounding in my chest."
"We couldn't believe what we were seeing."
"My hands trembled as I opened the mysterious letter."
Second Person Point of View
Characteristics:
- Uses "you," "your" pronouns
- Addresses the reader directly
- Creates immersive, interactive experience
- Less common in fiction, more common in instructions
Examples:
"You walk into the room and immediately notice the strange painting on the wall."
"Your heart races as you realize you're not alone."
"You can feel the tension building as you approach the door."
Third Person Limited Point of View
Characteristics:
- Uses "he," "she," "they" pronouns
- Narrator is outside the story
- Limited to one character's thoughts and feelings
- Balances intimacy with objectivity
Examples:
"Sarah felt her stomach drop as she read the email."
"He wondered if he had made the right decision."
"Maria couldn't believe what she was seeing."
Third Person Omniscient Point of View
Characteristics:
- Uses "he," "she," "they" pronouns
- Narrator knows everything about all characters
- Can reveal multiple character's thoughts and feelings
- Provides the broadest perspective
Examples:
"John thought the meeting was going well, but Sarah was secretly plotting against him."
"Both sisters wanted the same thing, but neither knew the other's true feelings."
"The detective suspected the butler, while the butler was actually innocent."
Worksheet: Identify the Point of View
Read each sentence and identify the point of view:
1. "I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the treasure."
Show Answer
First Person - uses "I"
2. "You turn the corner and see a beautiful garden."
Show Answer
Second Person - uses "you"
3. "She felt nervous about the presentation."
Show Answer
Third Person Limited - uses "she" and shows her feelings
4. "Tom wanted to go home, but Mary was having too much fun."
Show Answer
Third Person Omniscient - shows both characters' thoughts
5. "We decided to take the scenic route."
Show Answer
First Person - uses "we"
Tips for Choosing Point of View
Consider your story's needs
Think about what information you want to reveal and how intimate you want the reader to feel with the characters.
Be consistent
Once you choose a point of view, stick with it throughout your story unless you have a specific reason to change.
Consider your audience
Different points of view work better for different audiences and genres.
Practice different perspectives
Try writing the same scene from different points of view to see which works best.