Etymology Point of View
The term “point of view” originates from the French phrase “point de vue.” It literally means “point of sight.” It first appeared in English in the 17th century as a synonym for “opinion” or “perspective.” With time, “point of view” is used to refer to an individual’s unique perspective or position on a particular topic or issue.
Meanings of Point of View
- Literature: The perspective from which a story is narrated, including:
- First person point of view: Narrated by a character within the story, using pronouns like “I” and “we.”
- Third person limited point of view: Narrated by an external observer, focusing on the thoughts and experiences of a single character.
- Third person omniscient: Narrated by an external observer with knowledge of all characters’ thoughts and experiences.
- Film and Photography: The angle or perspective from which a photographer takes a shot to capture a scene or subject.
- Philosophy: An individual’s subjective experience or interpretation of reality, shaped by their own beliefs, values, and experiences.
- Debate or Argumentation: The position or stance taken by an individual regarding a specific topic or issue.
- General: A particular way of looking at or interpreting something, often influenced by personal experiences, beliefs, or biases.
Definition of Point of View
It is a literary device that refers to a perspective or position of an individual about or on a particular topic, issue, or situation. It refers to a person’s subjective experience, interpretation, or understanding of reality, as well as their attitudes, beliefs, and values.
Types of Point of View
There are four major types in response to what is point of view and what are its types. They are as follows.
| Type of Point of View | Explanation | Example |
| First person point of view | Narrated by a character within the story using “I” or “we.” Provides an intimate look into the narrator’s thoughts and feelings but can be limited to their perspective. | “I walked into the room and saw the most beautiful painting I had ever seen.” |
| Second person point of view | Uses “you” to directly address the reader or another character. Less common in literature, often used in instructional or self-help writing. | “You walk into the room and see the most beautiful painting you have ever seen.” |
| Third-person | Narrated by someone outside of the story using “he,” “she,” or “they.” Can provide an objective and omniscient perspective, but may create a distance between the reader and characters. | “He walked into the room and saw the most beautiful painting he had ever seen.” |
| Third-person limited | Limited to the perspective of one character and only shows their thoughts and feelings. | “She entered the room, mesmerized by the most beautiful painting she had ever seen.” |
| Third-person omniscient | Provides an all-knowing perspective and can show the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. | “As they all gathered in the room, the painting left each of them in awe.” |
Literary Examples of Point of View
| Extract with Reference | Type of Point of View |
| 1. From To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee | First-person |
| The story is told from the first-person point of view of Scout Finch, a young girl growing up in a small Southern town during the 1930s. For example, “When enough years had gone by to enable us to look back on them, we sometimes discussed the events leading to his accident.” – Scout Finch (Chapter 1) | |
| 2. From The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger | First-person |
| The story is told from the first-person point of view of Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy who is struggling with adolescence and societal expectations. For example, “If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like.” – Holden Caulfield (Chapter 1) | |
| 3. From The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald | First-person |
| The story is told from the first-person point of view of Nick Carraway, a young man who becomes involved with the wealthy and mysterious Jay Gatsby. For example, “Gatsby, who represented everything for which I have an unaffected scorn.” – Nick Carraway (Chapter 1) | |
| 4. From Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte | First-person |
| The story is told from the first-person point of view of Nelly Dean, a servant who witnesses the tumultuous relationship between Heathcliff and Catherine. For example, “I wish I were a girl again, half savage and hardy, and free.” – Nelly Dean (Chapter 1) | |
| 5. From Beloved by Toni Morrison | Third-person omniscient |
| The story is told from the third-person omniscient point of view, providing insight into the thoughts and feelings of various characters, including Sethe and her daughter Beloved. For example, “There is a loneliness that can be rocked. Arms crossed, knees drawn up, holding, holding on, this motion, unlike a ship’s, smooths and contains the rocker.” (Chapter 1) |
These examples demonstrate the different ways that point of view can impact the reader’s understanding of the narrative, characters, and themes of a literary work.
Suggested Readings
- Booth, Wayne C. The Rhetoric of Fiction. University of Chicago Press, 1983.
- Cohn, Dorrit. Transparent Minds: Narrative Modes for Presenting Consciousness in Fiction. Princeton University Press, 2008.
- Fludernik, Monika. The Fictions of Language and the Languages of Fiction: The Linguistic Representation of Speech and Consciousness. Routledge, 1993.
- Genette, Gérard. Narrative Discourse: An Essay in Method. Translated by Jane E. Lewin, Cornell University Press, 1980.
- Hühn, Peter et al., editors. The Living Handbook of Narratology. Hamburg University Press, 2014. www.lhn.uni-hamburg.de. Accessed 5 July 2023.
- Rimmon-Kenan, Shlomith. Narrative Fiction: Contemporary Poetics. 2nd ed., Routledge, 2002.
- Sternberg, Meir. The Poetics of Biblical Narrative: Ideological Literature and the Drama of Reading. Indiana University Press, 1987.
- Toolan, Michael. Narrative: A Critical Linguistic Introduction. Routledge, 2015.