Definition Of Author's Point Of View

Diving into literature opens a world of stories, characters, and emotions. But have you ever wondered how the person telling the story affects what you read? This is where understanding the author's point of view comes into play, shaping not only the narrative but also your connection to it.

What is Author's Point of View?

Author's point of view refers to who is telling the story. It's the perspective through which the reader experiences the events, characters, and details within a narrative. Think of it as the lens through which the story is filtered. This lens determines what information is revealed, how it's revealed, and ultimately, how the reader interprets the story.

Understanding the author's point of view is crucial for several reasons:

Comprehension: It helps you understand the narrative more deeply by identifying the source of information and potential biases.
Interpretation: It influences how you interpret events, characters, and themes within the story.
Engagement: It affects your emotional connection to the story and the characters.
Critical Analysis: It allows you to analyze the author's choices and their impact on the overall meaning of the work.

The author's point of view is not simply a technical aspect of writing; it's a fundamental element that shapes the entire reading experience.

Types of Author's Point of View

While many variations exist, the main categories of point of view in literature are:

First Person: The narrator is a character within the story, using "I" and "me" to tell the tale.
Second Person: The narrator speaks directly to the reader, using "you."
Third Person: The narrator is outside the story, referring to characters by name or using pronouns like "he," "she," and "they."

Let's delve deeper into each of these, exploring their characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages.

1. First Person Point of View

In first person, the story is narrated by a character involved in the events. This character is often the protagonist, but they can also be a supporting character or even an observer.

Characteristics:
- Uses "I," "me," "my," "we," "us," and "our."
- Limited to the narrator's knowledge, experiences, and perceptions.
- Offers an intimate and personal perspective.
Advantages:
- Creates intimacy: The reader gains direct access to the narrator's thoughts and feelings, fostering a close connection.
- Enhances credibility: The story feels more authentic and believable because it's told from a personal perspective.
- Allows for unique voice: The author can develop a distinct and memorable voice for the narrator, adding personality to the story.
Disadvantages:
- Limited perspective: The reader only knows what the narrator knows, potentially missing crucial information.
- Potential for bias: The narrator's opinions and prejudices can color the story, making it difficult to get an objective view.
- Unreliable narrator: The narrator may be intentionally or unintentionally misleading, creating ambiguity and suspense.
Examples:
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (narrated by Holden Caulfield)
- The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (narrated by Katniss Everdeen)
- Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (narrated by Jane Eyre)
These novels draw strength from the reader's close identification with the protagonist, allowing the reader to deeply experience their internal struggles and triumphs.

2. Second Person Point of View

Second person is the least common point of view, where the narrator addresses the reader directly as "you." It creates a sense of immediacy and involvement, placing the reader directly into the story.

Characteristics:
- Uses "you," "your," and "yours."
- Creates a sense of direct address and immersion.
- Often used for instructions, choose-your-own-adventure stories, and experimental fiction.
Advantages:
- Immersive experience: The reader feels like they are the protagonist, making the story more engaging and interactive.
- Uniqueness: Stands out from more common narrative styles.
- Emotional Impact: Can create a powerful emotional connection by directly involving the reader in the story's events.
Disadvantages:
- Can feel artificial: Some readers find it unnatural or awkward to be constantly addressed as "you."
- Limited flexibility: Difficult to sustain for long narratives without becoming repetitive or tiresome.
- Risk of alienation: If the reader cannot relate to the "you" character, they may feel disconnected from the story.
Examples:
- "If on a winter's night a traveler" by Italo Calvino
- Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney
- Many choose-your-own-adventure books
These examples effectively use the second person to draw the reader directly into the narrative, blurring the line between reader and protagonist.

3. Third Person Point of View

In third person, the narrator is outside the story and refers to characters by name or using pronouns like "he," "she," and "they." This point of view offers more flexibility than first or second person, allowing the narrator to access multiple perspectives or maintain a more objective distance. There are several variations of third person, each with its unique characteristics:

Third Person Omniscient:
- The narrator knows everything about all the characters and events in the story.
- Can access the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.
- Offers a broad and comprehensive view of the narrative.
Third Person Limited:
- The narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one specific character.
- Provides a more intimate perspective than omniscient, but still limited to a single character's viewpoint.
- Creates a sense of empathy and connection with the chosen character.
Third Person Objective:
- The narrator reports only what can be seen and heard, without revealing the thoughts or feelings of any characters.
- Offers a detached and unbiased view of the story.
- Relies on action and dialogue to convey meaning and emotion.

Let's examine each of these variations in more detail:

Third Person Omniscient:
- Characteristics:
  - Uses "he," "she," "they," and character names.
  - Unlimited access to all characters' thoughts, feelings, and motivations.
  - Can move freely between different characters and locations.
- Advantages:
  - Provides a comprehensive view: The reader gains a complete understanding of the story's events and characters.
  - Allows for complex plots: The narrator can juggle multiple storylines and perspectives.
  - Creates dramatic irony: The reader may know more than the characters, building suspense.
- Disadvantages:
  - Can feel distant: The narrator's detachment may make it difficult to connect emotionally with the characters.
  - Potential for confusion: Switching between multiple perspectives can be disorienting for the reader.
  - Risk of "head-hopping": Jumping between characters' thoughts too frequently can disrupt the flow of the story.
- Examples:
  - Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
  - Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
  - The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
  These novels use the omniscient perspective to provide a wide-ranging view of society, relationships, and epic events.
Third Person Limited:
- Characteristics:
  - Uses "he," "she," "they," and character names.
  - Focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one specific character.
  - The reader experiences the story through that character's eyes.
- Advantages:
  - Creates empathy: The reader develops a strong connection with the chosen character.
  - Allows for character development: The narrator can explore the character's internal struggles and growth.
  - Maintains a sense of mystery: The reader only knows what the chosen character knows, creating suspense.
- Disadvantages:
  - Limited perspective: The reader may miss crucial information that the chosen character is unaware of.
  - Potential for bias: The character's opinions and prejudices can color the story.
  - Restricted scope: The story is limited to the experiences and perceptions of one character.
- Examples:
  - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling (primarily focuses on Harry's perspective)
  - The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson (primarily focuses on Mikael Blomkvist's perspective)
  - The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (primarily focuses on Offred's perspective)
  These novels use the limited perspective to delve deeply into the protagonist's psychology and experiences, creating a strong emotional connection with the reader.
Third Person Objective:
- Characteristics:
  - Uses "he," "she," "they," and character names.
  - Reports only what can be seen and heard, without revealing thoughts or feelings.
  - Relies on action and dialogue to convey meaning and emotion.
- Advantages:
  - Creates objectivity: The narrator's detachment allows for an unbiased view of the story.
  - Enhances suspense: The reader must infer characters' motivations and emotions from their actions.
  - Allows for ambiguity: The lack of internal monologue can create a sense of mystery and uncertainty.
- Disadvantages:
  - Can feel distant: The lack of emotional connection may make it difficult to engage with the characters.
  - Requires active reading: The reader must interpret the characters' actions and dialogue to understand the story.
  - Limited character development: The narrator cannot delve into the characters' internal lives.
- Examples:
  - "The Killers" by Ernest Hemingway
  - The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane
  - Many detective novels
  These works often rely on stark, descriptive language and detached observation to create a sense of realism and suspense.

How to Identify the Author's Point of View

Identifying the author's point of view requires careful attention to the narrative voice and the information presented. Here are some key questions to ask:

Who is telling the story? Is it a character within the story (first person), the reader (second person), or someone outside the story (third person)?
What pronouns are used? "I," "me," "my," "we," and "us" indicate first person; "you" indicates second person; and "he," "she," "they," and character names indicate third person.
How much does the narrator know? Does the narrator know everything about all the characters and events (omniscient), only the thoughts and feelings of one character (limited), or only what can be seen and heard (objective)?
How does the narrator feel about the characters and events? Is the narrator biased, sympathetic, or detached?
What kind of language does the narrator use? Is the language formal or informal, descriptive or straightforward, emotional or objective?

By answering these questions, you can accurately identify the author's point of view and understand its impact on the story.

The Impact of Point of View on the Story

The choice of point of view has a profound impact on the story in several ways:

Perspective: It determines whose perspective the reader experiences the story through, shaping their understanding of events and characters.
Information: It controls what information is revealed to the reader and when, creating suspense, mystery, or dramatic irony.
Bias: It can introduce bias into the narrative, influencing the reader's perception of characters and events.
Emotional Connection: It affects the emotional connection between the reader and the characters, fostering empathy, sympathy, or detachment.
Reliability: It raises questions about the narrator's reliability, prompting the reader to question their version of events.

For example, a story told from the first-person perspective of a child may be naive and innocent, while a story told from the third-person perspective of a seasoned detective may be cynical and world-weary. A story told from an omniscient point of view may offer a broad and comprehensive view of events, while a story told from a limited point of view may create a sense of suspense and mystery.

Why Authors Choose a Specific Point of View

Authors choose a specific point of view for various reasons, depending on the story they want to tell and the effect they want to create. Some common reasons include:

To create intimacy: First person can create a close connection between the reader and the narrator, fostering empathy and understanding.
To build suspense: Limited third person can create suspense by restricting the reader's knowledge to what the chosen character knows.
To offer a broad perspective: Omniscient third person can provide a comprehensive view of the story's events and characters, allowing for complex plots and themes.
To create objectivity: Objective third person can create a sense of detachment and realism, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions.
To experiment with narrative voice: Second person can be used to create a unique and immersive reading experience.

The choice of point of view is a deliberate artistic decision that shapes the entire narrative.

Examples of How Point of View Changes a Story

To illustrate the impact of point of view, consider how a familiar story might change if told from a different perspective.

Take the story of Cinderella. Told from Cinderella's first-person point of view, the story emphasizes her suffering, resilience, and ultimate triumph. The reader empathizes with her plight and celebrates her happy ending.

But what if the story were told from the point of view of one of the stepsisters? The stepsister's perspective might reveal her own insecurities, ambitions, and resentment towards Cinderella. The reader might see her as a flawed but sympathetic character, rather than a purely evil one.

Or what if the story were told from the third-person objective point of view? The reader would only see the characters' actions and hear their dialogue, without knowing their thoughts or feelings. The story would become more ambiguous and open to interpretation, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions about the characters' motivations and the meaning of the events.

These examples demonstrate how the choice of point of view can fundamentally alter the story, shaping the reader's understanding, interpretation, and emotional connection.

Point of View and Unreliable Narrators

An unreliable narrator is a narrator whose credibility has been compromised. They might be biased, ignorant, mentally unstable, or intentionally deceptive. The use of an unreliable narrator can add layers of complexity and intrigue to a story, challenging the reader to question the narrator's version of events and seek out the "truth" for themselves.

Unreliable narrators are most commonly found in first-person narratives, where the reader is entirely dependent on the narrator's perspective. However, they can also appear in third-person limited narratives, where the narrator's bias or limited knowledge can distort the reader's understanding of the story.

Examples of novels with unreliable narrators include:

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (narrated by Nick Carraway)
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (narrated by Nick and Amy Dunne)
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart (narrated by Cadence Sinclair Eastman)

In these novels, the reader must carefully analyze the narrator's words and actions to uncover the truth behind the story.

Mastering Point of View in Your Own Writing

Understanding point of view is not only essential for analyzing literature but also for crafting compelling stories of your own. Here are some tips for mastering point of view in your writing:

Choose the right point of view for your story. Consider the story you want to tell and the effect you want to create. Do you want to create intimacy, build suspense, offer a broad perspective, or create objectivity?
Be consistent with your chosen point of view. Avoid switching between different points of view within the same scene or chapter, as this can confuse the reader.
Develop a distinct narrative voice. Give your narrator a unique personality, tone, and style of speaking.
Use point of view to reveal character. Show the reader who your characters are through their thoughts, feelings, actions, and dialogue.
Consider using an unreliable narrator. If you want to add complexity and intrigue to your story, experiment with an unreliable narrator.
Practice, practice, practice. The more you write, the better you will become at mastering point of view.

Point of View: Key Takeaways

The author's point of view is the perspective from which the story is told.
The main types of point of view are first person, second person, and third person (omniscient, limited, and objective).
The choice of point of view has a profound impact on the story, shaping the reader's understanding, interpretation, and emotional connection.
Authors choose a specific point of view for various reasons, depending on the story they want to tell and the effect they want to create.
An unreliable narrator is a narrator whose credibility has been compromised, adding complexity and intrigue to the story.
Mastering point of view is essential for crafting compelling stories of your own.

FAQs About Author's Point of View

Q: Can a story change point of view?
- A: Yes, a story can change point of view, but it should be done deliberately and with purpose. Frequent or abrupt changes in point of view can confuse the reader.
Q: Which point of view is the most common?
- A: Third person limited is one of the most common points of view in modern fiction, offering a balance between intimacy and flexibility.
Q: Is first person always the best choice for creating intimacy?
- A: While first person can create intimacy, it's not always the best choice. A skilled author can also create intimacy through third person limited by focusing on the thoughts and feelings of a single character.
Q: How can I avoid "head-hopping" in third person omniscient?
- A: To avoid head-hopping, focus on one character's perspective at a time and use clear transitions when switching between characters.
Q: What is the effect of using the objective point of view?
- A: The objective point of view creates a sense of detachment and realism, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions about the characters and events.

Understanding and mastering author's point of view empowers you to not only appreciate literature on a deeper level but also to become a more effective and compelling storyteller yourself.