Point of View in Stories

Grade 3 · English · Study Guide

Learn how to identify who is telling a story and how it affects what the reader knows.

Point of view in a story refers to who is telling the story and through whose eyes the reader experiences the events. Understanding point of view helps you understand why a story is told the way it is.

In first-person point of view, the narrator is a character in the story. This narrator uses the pronouns 'I,' 'me,' 'my,' and 'we.' The reader only knows what the narrator personally sees, thinks, and feels. The reader cannot know what other characters are thinking unless the narrator tells us.

In second-person point of view, the narrator speaks directly to 'you,' the reader. This is rare in stories but is often found in directions or choose-your-own-adventure books. Pronouns like 'you' and 'your' signal this point of view.

In third-person point of view, the narrator is outside the story and refers to characters as 'he,' 'she,' 'they,' or by name. There are two common types. In third-person limited, the narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of just one character. In third-person omniscient, the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.

Authors choose point of view carefully because it controls what information the reader gets. A story told in first person feels personal and close, while third person can give a wider view of events.

Key terms

point of view

The perspective from which a story is told; who is narrating the events

first person

A point of view where the narrator is a character in the story and uses 'I,' 'me,' and 'my'

second person

A point of view where the narrator speaks directly to the reader using 'you'

third person

A point of view where the narrator is outside the story and uses 'he,' 'she,' or 'they'

narrator

The voice that tells the story to the reader

omniscient

Knowing everything; a third-person omniscient narrator knows all characters' thoughts and feelings

Flashcards

Point of view

The perspective or 'eyes' through which a story is told

First-person POV

The narrator is a character who uses 'I' and 'me'; the reader knows only what the narrator knows

Second-person POV

The narrator addresses the reader directly as 'you'; common in instructions and some adventure books

Third-person POV

The narrator is outside the story and uses 'he,' 'she,' 'they,' or character names

Third-person limited

A third-person narrator who knows the thoughts of only one character

Third-person omniscient

A third-person narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters

Narrator

The voice telling the story; may be a character (first person) or outside the story (third person)

Pronoun clues

Words like 'I/me' (first person), 'you' (second person), or 'he/she/they' (third person) that identify the POV

Questions

1. Which pronoun is a clue that a story is written in first person?

   1. He
   2. She
   3. I
   4. They
   Show answer

   Answer: I

   The pronoun 'I' signals first-person point of view. When the narrator refers to themselves as 'I,' they are a character in the story.

2. In first-person point of view, the reader can know the thoughts and feelings of every character in the story.

   Show answer

   Answer: False

   In first person, the reader only knows what the 'I' narrator personally sees and feels. The narrator cannot read other characters' minds.

3. A narrator who is outside the story and knows the thoughts of all characters is called a third-person ________ narrator.

   Show answer

   Answer: omniscient

   'Omniscient' means all-knowing. A third-person omniscient narrator can access the inner thoughts of every character in the story.

4. A story begins: 'Maya ran across the field. She knew she had to reach the gate first.' What point of view is this?

   1. First person
   2. Second person
   3. Third person
   4. No point of view
   Show answer

   Answer: Third person

   The use of 'Maya' (a name) and 'She' (a pronoun) instead of 'I' shows this is third-person point of view.

5. The author's choice of point of view affects how much information the reader learns.

   Show answer

   Answer: True

   Point of view controls what the reader learns. First person limits information to one character; omniscient gives access to all characters' thoughts.

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