2.2 Elements of a Story - Conflict and Point of View

Point of View

Stories are usually written in either first person point of view or third person point of view.

What does this mean?

FIRST PERSON POINT OF VIEW

If a story is written in first person point of view, it means the story is written from the main character’s eyes.

Here is an excerpt from The Incredibly Ordinary Danny Chandelier by Canadian author Laura Trunkey:

My stomach drops and my hand shoots off my lap and starts feeling around my pocket before I know what it's doing. I find the gold button and squeeze hard. The plane is tipping to one side and then the other, and Maggie bends over, her head pressed into her knees.

You can tell this is first person because the main character (Danny) refers to himself using the pronouns "my" and  "I." There may be pronouns like '"she" or "he" in first point of view perspective – but the KEY CLUES are seeing "me, myself, and I."

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

If a story is written in third person point of view, it means the story is written from the narrator’s eyes.

Here is an excerpt from Hexed Hair by Canadian author Jennifer Lott:

The two orange cats distracted Eileen by rubbing themselves up against her legs. “Aww, Honey!” she cooed. “Rosey!”

Charlotte decided to finish breakfast. She sat beside Glenda at the table.

Meanwhile, Eileen took the cats into the living room. She pressed the demo button on the electric piano, tapping her fingers over the keys while the tune played itself.

You can tell this is third person because the main characters (Eileen, Charlotte, and Glenda) are referred to with the pronouns "her" and "she." You will not find "me, myself, and I''unless a character is using it in dialogue.

Then go to your Short Story Journal and do Journal #4: Write About an Interesting Day in Your Life.