Point of View

1. Point of View The perspective from which the story is told.

2. The perspective from which the story is told. • First person or "I." • In the first person point of view, the narrator participates in the action of the story. When reading stories in the first person, we need to realize that what the narrator is recounting might not be the objective truth. We should question the trustworthiness of the accounting. • Third Person Point of View or “he” / “she.” • The narrator does not participate in the action of the story as one of the characters, but lets us know exactly how the characters feel. We learn about the characters through this outside voice. • The third person omniscient narrator knows everything about all characters, motivations, thoughts, and feelings, and gives the reader information.

3. First person Point of View Theseus’ Perspective Islowly walked to the humungous opening of the cave and I roared, “Minotaur, you have met your match!”I unsheathed my gleaming sword and held it high in the air. This would be my finest hour. Could I defeat the infamous Minotaur? I was about to find out. II. Third Person Omniscient Point of View Theseus’ Perspective Theseus slowly walked to the humungous opening of the cave and he roared, “Minotaur, you have met your match!” He unsheathed his gleaming sword and held it high in the air. He reminded himself that this is what heroes live for. Doubt as to whether he could defeat the Minotaur crept into his mind. Theseus fought it back as he stepped into the cave. III. Third Person Omniscient Point of View The Minotaur’s Perspective The Minotaur sat in his cave, prepared to eat the dinner sitting before him. As he was about to take his first bite he heard a faint shout, “Minotaur, you have met your match!” The Minotaur grumbled as he stood up and cast his eyes upon the door. Yet another warrior had come to kill him. He wondered if he would ever find peace. Wasn’t his life depressing enough already? He prepared himself as the sound of footsteps got closer and closer.

4. Third Person Point of View: Princesses’ perspective Silence and stillness enveloped her, as it had for the last hundred years. There was a slight stir in the air and then the creak of rusty hinges moving. An awareness of a presence filtered into her consciousness. Unable to awaken, she incorporated the noises into her dream. The form bent over her; there was a pressure on her lips, a disagreeable pressure. She felt her eyelids flutter; she was waking up at last! She then saw her rescuer. Her savior. How ugly he was, and what an unattractive expression he had on his face. How soon could she get rid of him? She smiled and said, "You've come at last." He smiled a rather unpleasant smile, and rudely sat on the edge of the bed, as if he intended to stay a while.

5. First person Point of View Prince’s Perspective I slowly pushed open the door. In the gloom, I could barely make out someone--or something?--lying on a bed. Then I saw her for the first time--the woman of my dreams! She was beautiful--long, thick red hair, fair skin with a tinge of blush in her cheeks. But why was she wearing such a strange dress? Maybe there had been a masquerade the night before and she had been too tired to take off the dress. I looked at her for a few minutes, awed by her beauty and air of innocence. Then, on a sudden impulse, I leaned over and kissed her on the lips. She stirred, her eyelids fluttered; then she opened her blue eyes, eyes so blue I lost myself in their depths. She smiled and breathed, "You've come at last." Sitting on the edge of the bed, I smiled back, "Yes, I have."And I hoped we wouldn't be leaving soon. III. Omniscient author   Despite his impatience, the prince slowly pushed the door open. He was a very cautious prince; as a child, he never went out in the rain without his boots and umbrella. He looked, with admiration and a touch of some other feeling, at a beautiful young woman asleep; he had always found redheads particularly attractive. He was puzzled by her dress, which looked like the dress his great grandmother was wearing in her state portrait. He stood by the bed. Then, he bent over and kissed her full lips. She stirred, her eyelids fluttered; then she opened her blue eyes and smiled at the prince. She thought he was the handsomest prince she had ever seen. She was in love--again. It had been a long time since she had seen a young man. "You've come at last," she said warmly..The prince was sitting on the side of the bed, as if he intended to stay awhile.

6. Third Person Point of View: Princesses’ perspective Silence and stillness enveloped her, as it had for the last hundred years. There was a slight stir in the air and then the creak of rusty hinges moving. An awareness of a presence filtered into her consciousness. Unable to awaken, she incorporated the noises into her dream. The form bent over her; there was a pressure on her lips, a disagreeable pressure. She felt her eyelids flutter; she was waking up at last! She then saw her rescuer. Her savior. How ugly he was, and what an unattractive expression he had on his face. How soon could she get rid of him? She smiled and said, "You've come at last." He smiled a rather unpleasant smile, and rudely sat on the edge of the bed, as if he intended to stay a while.