LIT 201-200LIT 201-200

The Third Literary Element:

Point of ViewPoint of View

Point of View Point of View is …is …

……the method by which the story is presented, the the method by which the story is presented, the perspective from which we receive all information. perspective from which we receive all information. In a technical sense, POINT OF VIEW means the In a technical sense, POINT OF VIEW means the way the story's narrator (or the person telling the way the story's narrator (or the person telling the story) relates to his/her fictional characters and to story) relates to his/her fictional characters and to his/her story. Sometimes referred to as a story's his/her story. Sometimes referred to as a story's angle or focus, POINT OF VIEW is not an arbitrary angle or focus, POINT OF VIEW is not an arbitrary method used by an author to reveal his character method used by an author to reveal his character or plot; it is, rather, a very carefully planned and or plot; it is, rather, a very carefully planned and special viewpoint.special viewpoint.

The Effect of Point The Effect of Point of Viewof View

The choice of POINT OF VIEW will The choice of POINT OF VIEW will determine to a large extent the determine to a large extent the effect of a story, and depending effect of a story, and depending upon the story's purpose, how upon the story's purpose, how successful its impact will be upon successful its impact will be upon the reader.the reader.

Types of Point of Types of Point of ViewView

There are two basic types of There are two basic types of POINT OF VIEW that authors POINT OF VIEW that authors typically employ in their typically employ in their stories:stories:

FIRST PersonFIRST Person

andand

THIRD PersonTHIRD Person

FIRST PERSON FIRST PERSON NARRATORNARRATOR

 

1. . CHARACTERCHARACTERAs a major characterAs a major characterAs a minor characterAs a minor character

  

2. 2. UNKNOWN STORY TELLER UNKNOWN STORY TELLER

- (Totally removed/not an actual character)- (Totally removed/not an actual character)

THIRD PERSONTHIRD PERSON

1.1. OMNISCIENTOMNISCIENT– (All-Knowing)(All-Knowing)

2.2. LIMITED OMNISCIENTLIMITED OMNISCIENT– (Slanted)(Slanted)

3.3. OBJECTIVE OBJECTIVE – (Camera-like)(Camera-like)

Additional POINTS OF Additional POINTS OF VIEWVIEW

 

SECOND PERSONSECOND PERSON

  

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESSSTREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

An Exercise in An Exercise in Point of ViewPoint of View

With the short storyWith the short story

““BIRTHDAY PARTY”BIRTHDAY PARTY”

by

Katherine Brush

1902-1952

DirectionsDirections

1.1. Read and listen to the short story.Read and listen to the short story.

2.2. List every pronoun in each List every pronoun in each sentence by sentence number.sentence by sentence number.

3.3. What point of view does the What point of view does the author use?author use?

4.4. Explain how you arrived at your Explain how you arrived at your answer.answer.

Break TimeBreak Time

Please take a 15 minute Please take a 15 minute break now. When you return break now. When you return we will begin an in-class we will begin an in-class Point of View essay writing Point of View essay writing exercise. exercise.

IN-CLASS ESSAYIN-CLASS ESSAY(Using blue/green books)(Using blue/green books)

FIRST, FIRST, CHOOSE ONE (1) OF THE SHORT STORIES WE HAVE READ CHOOSE ONE (1) OF THE SHORT STORIES WE HAVE READ

SO FAR IN OUR CLASS.SO FAR IN OUR CLASS.

Point of View

DIRECTIONSDIRECTIONS

At the beginning of your essay, (1) identify the At the beginning of your essay, (1) identify the ORIGINALORIGINAL point of view the point of view the originaloriginal author has author has chosen to use in the version of the story in our chosen to use in the version of the story in our textbook. Be as specific as possible in your textbook. Be as specific as possible in your identification (use the types and subtypes such identification (use the types and subtypes such as 1as 1stst person major character point of view or 3 person major character point of view or 3rdrd person slanted point of view).person slanted point of view).

You may us your book, notes, and handouts.You may us your book, notes, and handouts. 

Next, (2) …

… … identify the identify the newnew point of view with point of view with which you plan to retell the story. I which you plan to retell the story. I would prefer that you choose a totally would prefer that you choose a totally different point of view from the original different point of view from the original even to the extent of changing the even to the extent of changing the pronouns from 1pronouns from 1stst person to 3 person to 3rdrd person person or vice versa for instance.or vice versa for instance.

 

Finally, (3) …Finally, (3) …

… … retell the story retell the story in your own wordsin your own words in that in that new point of view. Just summarize the story new point of view. Just summarize the story in your new point of view; you needn’t be as in your new point of view; you needn’t be as detailed as the original author was, in other detailed as the original author was, in other words. All you are being asked to do in your words. All you are being asked to do in your retelling is to prove you understand the retelling is to prove you understand the differences between the two points of view differences between the two points of view by illustrating that.by illustrating that.

  

Length of essayLength of essay

Please try to limit your Please try to limit your retelling of the story to retelling of the story to no more than one or two no more than one or two Blue Book pages (250-Blue Book pages (250-500 words) at most.500 words) at most.

Time LimitTime Limit

 

Take no more than an hour to complete Take no more than an hour to complete this writing exercise. this writing exercise.

Your A/F grade on this assignment will Your A/F grade on this assignment will be based EQUALLY all three of the be based EQUALLY all three of the items you are being asked to do as items you are being asked to do as indicated above.indicated above.