Missouri State University
Greenwood Laboratory

Home Links Newsletter Schedule Our Showcase



 

First person:  The person telling the story is the main character, or another character in the book.  They tell the story events from only their point of view, and give the reader insight into himself or herself, revealing thoughts, feelings, and intentions.  The pronouns I, me, and mine are often used. Novels are commonly told in this point of view.  An autobiography would be written in this style, too.

 


Third person:  is the most common narrative used in the literature you read; it is storytelling in which the teller is telling a series of events to an audience.  Novels are commonly told in this point of view.  Pronouns used are he, she, it, they, their, and them.
 

 


Third person omniscient:  The narrator moves from one character to another to provide the reader with their motivations, feelings, thoughts and emotions.  This narrator “knows all the facts” about everyone and everything in the book.  Novels are sometimes told in this point of view.
 

 

Second person:  The narrator uses the pronouns you, your…Most books will not be written in this style unless it is a book of directions, or a “how-to” book. Other examples of second-person narrative are the Choose Your Own Adventure children's books, in which the reader actually makes decisions and jumps around the book accordingly.
 

 

Third person objective:  The narrator has no insight into the characters’ minds.  The narrator uses the pronouns, he, it, she, they and doesn’t know any of the inner thoughts of the characters as he presents the events of the story.  Encyclopedias, informational books, and newspapers are normally told in third person objective.
 

© Shae Johnson,
MSU logo jumping frog
Hop to the Top
Copyright © 2003-2009 Cheryl "Shae" Johnson
URL: http://courses.missouristate.edu/ShaeJohnson

Due to the constant changing state of  websites
and the Internet, if you encounter a problem
or a broken link, please contact me at

 Shae Johnson
Last Modified: November 20, 2009
Greenwood Logo
Greenwood Laboratory School