Every idea is spoken or written from a particular point of view. Be it speeches, novels, stories, academic papers or poems, every genre is presented from one point of view or another. Point of view refers to the perspective of the writer or speaker who originally puts the content forward. Learn more about what point of view is, the different points of view and how to use it in your writing in this article.
Table of Contents
- What Is Point of View?
- Different Points of View
- How to Effectively Make Use of Point of View?
- A Few Pro-Tips for the Writer in You
- Examples of Different Points of View
- Frequently Asked Questions on Point of View in Writing
What Is Point of View?
Point of view is a term that refers to the viewpoint taken by the author to narrate a story. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms defines ‘point of view’ as “the position or vantage-point from which the events of a story seem to be observed and presented to us”.
Different Points of View
Point of view is classified into three, namely,
- The first-person point of view
- The second-person point of view
- The third-person point of view
First-Person Point of View
Any information presented in the first-person point of view is the author’s sentiment about whatever is being discussed. According to the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms, “A first-person narrator’s point of view will normally be restricted to his or her partial knowledge and experience, and therefore will not give us access to other characters’ hidden thoughts”. The genre that always uses the first-person point of view is autobiographies. It is written mainly with the use of pronouns such as ‘I’, ‘me’, ‘we’, ‘us’, ‘my’, ‘mine’, ‘our’, ‘ours’, ‘myself’, and ‘ourselves’.
Second-Person Point of View
When writing or speaking in the second-person point of view, the writer/speaker addresses the reader/listener. This point of view makes them feel included in whatever is happening. For instance, when it is a persuasive speech, article or essay, the target audience is encouraged to take some action in order to bring a change in the course of action. It is characterised by the use of pronouns such as ‘you’, ‘your’, ‘yours’ and ‘yourself’.
Third-Person Point of View
Third-person narration is when there is a narrator (a character who is not part of the story) or a character in the story who narrates what is going on in the story. The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms describes a third-person narrative as one in which the narrator “stands outside the events but has special privileges, such as access to characters’ unspoken thoughts,
and knowledge of events happening simultaneously in different places”.
A third-person point of view is identified with the usage of pronouns such as ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, ‘they’, ‘his’, ‘hers’, ‘him’, ‘her’, ‘their’, ‘theirs’, ‘himself’, ‘herself’, ‘themselves’, etc.
How to Effectively Make Use of Point of View?
Before you start writing, mull over the kind of effect you would like to create in your writing. Each point of view impacts your audience in a different way. Here are some pointers you need to look for before you arrive at a particular point of view.
- Use the first-person point of view if you want your audience to be focused on the personal life and behaviour of the narrator. This is when the narrator is the protagonist.
- Another reason to use the first-person point of view is when the narrator has first-hand information about the central character in the story.
- Though the second-person point of view is the least-used point of view in fiction, it is effective as it involves the reader in everything that is happening and keeps the reader a lot more engaged and entertained.
- Also considered the toughest one to maintain in fiction, the second-person point of view offers a space for the reader’s personal reflection about what they are reading.
- The second-person point of view works best in nonfictional works, such as speeches, persuasive essays, directional essays, articles, blogs and so on.
- The third-person point of view is much more supple than the first and second-person points of view. It gives the narrator the opportunity to apprise the reader about every single character in the story. It is a subjective approach, and there is no limit to the details they would like to explore and reveal.
- When writing in the third-person point of view, the narrator can also align themselves with just one character, in which case, it becomes limited.
- In some cases, the third-person point of view can be used to convey a more neutral and objective idea about the characters.
A Few Pro-Tips for the Writer in You
When you sit down to write, for the first time especially, you might wonder which point of view to write in and the approach you would like to take; what kind of environment your story should be set in; what kind of character you need; what theme you should be focusing on; and how, when and where you want your story to begin and end. All of this is natural. Do not be worried about it. Just trust your gut. Your instinct will tell you how the story should unfold. Never doubt yourself, and do not be discouraged if you face writer’s block at any point.
If you need inspiration, try reading works of different genres or books by your favourite authors. You can also explore various writing styles and develop your own style. Furthermore, try analysing who the target audience is and the techniques the writer has used to appeal to them. Comprehend the trends and devise an idea of how you would like to create your piece.
Examples of Different Points of View
Example 1:
In the series, ‘Young Sheldon’, adult Sheldon keeps narrating everything that happens and also presents his thoughts and opinions about the same. This is an example of the first-person point of view.
This is how the narration begins.
“I’ve always loved trains. In fact, if my career in theoretical physics hadn’t worked out, my backup plan was to become a professional ticket taker.”
Example 2:
Below is an excerpt from Barack Obama’s ‘Back-to-School’ speech. It is an example of the use of the second-person point of view.
“Every single one of you has something you’re good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is. That’s the opportunity an education can provide.
Maybe you could be a good writer – maybe even good enough to write a book or articles in a newspaper – but you might not know it until you write a paper for your English class. Maybe you could be an innovator or an inventor – maybe even good enough to come up with the next iPhone or a new medicine or vaccine – but you might not know it until you do a project for your science class. Maybe you could be a mayor or a Senator or a Supreme Court Justice, but you might not know that until you join student government or the debate team.”
Example 3:
In the movie, ‘The Beauty and the Beast’, Cogsworth is the third-person narrator who introduces the protagonist.
“Once upon a time, in a faraway land, a young prince lived in a shining castle. Although he had everything his heart desired, the prince was spoiled, selfish, and unkind. But then, one winter’s night, an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered him a single rose in return for shelter from the bitter cold. Repulsed by her haggard appearance, the prince sneered at the gift and turned the old woman away, but she warned him not to be deceived by appearances, for beauty is found within…”
Frequently Asked Questions on Point of View in Writing
What is point of view?
Point of view is a term that refers to the viewpoint taken by the author to narrate a story. .
What is the definition of point of view?
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literary Terms defines ‘point of view’ as “the position or vantage-point from which the events of a story seem to be observed and presented to us”.
What are the different points of view?
There are three different points of view, namely,
- First-person point of view
- Second-person point of view
- Third-person point of view