Narrative Point of View in Literature

What is narrative point of view in literature?

Narrative point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told. It determines who is telling the story and how much information the reader has access to. What are the three main types of narrative point of view in literature?

Answer:

The three main types of narrative point of view in literature are first person, second person, and third person.

Narrative point of view refers to the perspective from which a story is told. It is the vantage point from which the author conveys the events of the story to the reader. The choice of narrative point of view can greatly impact the reader's understanding and interpretation of the story.

First person point of view: In this point of view, the story is narrated by a character within the story using pronouns like 'I' and 'we'. This allows the reader to see the events through the eyes of the narrator. The reader only has access to the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of the narrator.

Second person point of view: This point of view is less common and involves the use of pronouns like 'you' to directly address the reader. It creates a sense of immediacy and involvement, but it is not commonly used in narrative storytelling.

Third person point of view: This is the most common point of view in literature. It can be further divided into two subcategories:

• Third person limited: In this point of view, the narrator is an outsider who focuses on the thoughts and feelings of one character. The reader has access to the thoughts and experiences of this character, but not to those of other characters.
• Third person omniscient: In this point of view, the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. The reader has access to the thoughts, feelings, and experiences of multiple characters, providing a broader perspective on the story.

The choice of narrative point of view is an important decision for an author, as it shapes the reader's understanding of the story and the characters. It can create a sense of intimacy or distance, and influence the reader's emotional connection to the narrative.