Point of View Examples

Point of view refers to the vantage point from which the story is told. There are three different possible points of view:

1. First-person point of view-A character in the story is telling the story. If you see the words "I," "me," or "we," then the story is in the first-person point of view.

2. Second-person point of view-This is less common, but this point of view has the narrator talking to the reader. If you see the word "you," then the story is told in the second-person point of view.

3. Third-person point of view-This is when an external narrator is telling the story. A third-person point of view can be limited-meaning the narrator "follows" one character and we see everything that is happening near that character. Or, the third-person point of view can be omniscient-we know what all characters in the story are doing and thinking.

Examples of the Different Points of View in Literature

Example of First Person Point of View-Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises

"I could picture it. I have a habit of imagining the conversations between my friends. We went out to the Cafe Napolitain to have an aperitif and watch the evening crowd on the Boulevard."

Example of Second Person Point of View-Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go!

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Example of Third Person Point of View-E.B. White's Charlotte's Web

"Wilbur never forgot Charlotte. Although he loved her children and grandchildren dearly, none of the new spiders ever quite took her place in his heart. She was in a class by herself. It is not often that someone comes along who is a true friend and a good writer. Charlotte was both."