A floating eye in the sky looking down at multiple characters walking through a town with dotted lines showing the eye can see into their thoughts.

Interactive LessonGrades 3-5

Narrator's Point of View

Skill: Point of View

Learn how to identify the narrator's point of view, also called narrator's perspective. You will learn first-person, second-person, and the three modes of third-person narration: objective, limited, and omniscient. Available at three reading levels for grades 3 to 12.

Reading Level

Grades 3-5 Grades 6-8 Grades 9-12

Before you begin

Tap to change. You can also toggle these during the lesson.

Point of View

The narrator's position in the story

Every story has a narrator.
Where is the narrator standing?
Let's learn how to spot it!

Narrator vs. Characters

Two roles in every story

Narrator = the one telling the story
Characters = everyone in the story
Sometimes the narrator is also a character in the story.

Dialogue vs. Narration

Look at the narration only.

Dialogue = what characters say (in quotation marks)
Narration = what the narrator says (everything else)
To find the point of view, look at the narration only.

The Core Question

Whose perspective is the narration coming from?

Was the narrator there? = first-person
Is the narrator addressing the reader as "you"? = second-person
Is the narrator outside, telling someone else's experience? = third-person
The pronouns the narrator uses give us the answer.

Three Basic Points of View

Pronouns reveal whose perspective the narration represents.

First-Person: "I, me, my, we, our"
Second-Person: "you, your"
Third-Person: "he, she, they," or character names
Let's look at each one a little more closely...

First-Person

The narrator is in the story. Look for "I" or "we."

Key Clues
"I, me, my, we, our" appear in the narration
Example
I zipped my backpack and raced for the bus. My shoe came untied, but I kept running.

Second-Person

The narration is directed at the reader. Look for "you" or "your."

Key Clues
"you" or "your" appear in the narration
Common in directions, recipes, manuals, and choose-your-way stories
Example
You open the locker. A tiny frog blinks at you from inside your lunchbox.

Third-Person

The narrator is outside the story. Look for "he," "she," "they," or names.

Key Clues
He, she, they, or character names appear in the narration
Example
Jada opened the locker. A tiny frog sat inside her lunchbox.
Third-person has three modes. Let's look at those next.

Three Modes of Third-Person

How much access does the narrator have to characters' inner lives?

Objective = ZERO minds revealed
Limited = ONE mind revealed
Omniscient = TWO OR MORE minds revealed
These three modes apply ONLY to third-person.

Third-Person Objective

Zero minds. The narrator stays outside every character's interior.

Key Clues
No character's thoughts or feelings are revealed.
Readers infer feelings from actions and dialogue.
It reads like a camera watching the scene.
Example
Leo stared at the test paper. He tapped his pencil three times. He raised his hand.

Third-Person Limited

One mind. The narrator gives access to one character's thoughts and feelings.

Key Clues
One character's thoughts or feelings are revealed.
Other characters stay on the outside.
Narrator is LIMITED to one mind.
Example
Leo felt sick. He had not studied. He tapped his pencil and hoped no one would call on him.
Watch Out: first-person and third-person limited both stay close to one character. The difference: the narrator IS that character (first-person) or is OUTSIDE that character (limited).

Third-Person Omniscient

Two or more minds. The all-knowing narrator.

Root Words
OMNI = all | SCIENT = knowing
Key Clues
Two or more characters' minds are revealed.
Example
Leo felt sick about the test. He had not prepared himself. Across the room, Maya felt ready. She had studied for hours.

Signal Words

thought, knew, believed, wondered
felt, wanted, hoped, feared
Inferred is NOT the same as Stated
Actions and Dialogue Do Not Count
He smiled.
"I am scared," he said.

Step-by-Step

Step 1: Focus on narration NOT dialogue.
Step 2: Ask whose perspective the narration is coming from. The pronouns will tell you.
"I, me, we" = first-person
"you" = second-person
"he, she, they," or names = third-person
Mode of Narration
Step 3: Track distinct minds the narrator enters.
0 minds = objective | 1 mind = limited | 2+ minds = omniscient
Now you're ready to practice!

Review

Practice Review

The Note in Locker 23 by Sandra Albers
I pulled open my locker and a small folded note tumbled out. My name was written on the front in neat purple ink. I unfolded it and read: "Meet me by the water fountain at noon. Don't be late." There was no signature. I crammed the note into my back pocket and tried to act normal.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Night of the Gargoyles by Tabitha Haynes
You walk into the dark courtyard. The stone statues look creepy in the moonlight. You hear a loud cracking sound from above you. You look up and see a gargoyle stretching its wings. If you want to run away, turn to page 12. If you want to talk to the monster, turn to page 36.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The Last Slice: a Tale of Terror and Bloodshed by Robin Quan
Mia opened the fridge and saw the last slice of pizza. She wanted it badly. Across the kitchen, her brother Theo looked up from his phone and froze. He had been planning to eat that slice all afternoon. They both lunged for the box at the same time. The plate crashed to the floor.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

Showdown at the Hoedown by Wyatt Holliday
The silver coin sat in the dirt. Two cowboys stared at it. "That is my coin," said Dusty. Tex crossed his arms and spit on the ground. "I saw it first," Tex replied. A tumbleweed rolled between them. Dusty slowly moved his hand toward his lasso. Tex narrowed his eyes.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

How to Operate Your Sky Skipper Hover Sneakers by Devon Ashby
First, you slide your feet into the Sky Skippers and pull the laces tight. Next, you press the green button on the side of the right shoe. You will hear a soft humming sound under your feet. Then you bend your knees and lean forward to take off. Do not try to hover indoors, and always tighten your helmet before you launch.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The Recital by Kaitlyn Sloan
Emma sat on the piano bench. She felt very nervous. Her hands shook a little. Her friend Lily smiled from the front row. "You can do it," Lily said. Emma took a deep breath. She put her fingers on the keys and started to play the song.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The Stakeout by Scott Parks
Trey crouched behind the bush. Liam was beside him with a pair of binoculars. "I see her at the window," Liam whispered. He pointed at the house across the street. A girl with a long braid stood at the window. She held something small and silver in her hand. Then the girl waved at the bush. Trey and Liam dropped flat onto the grass.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The Final Letter by Michael Cho
Leo stood at the microphone. His hands were shaking. He felt terrified that he would misspell the word. "Chrysanthemum," the judge said loudly. Leo looked at the audience. The judge stared back at Leo. Leo took a deep breath. He hoped he could remember the vowels.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The Great Balloon Chase by Nico Smith
We spotted the red balloon before any of us could shout. Kenji was holding the string at the end of his driveway. A sharp gust of wind ripped the string out of his hand. We watched the balloon sail straight over the neighbor's fence. We grabbed our bikes and took off after it. The balloon dipped low over Mrs. Carter's garden, and we yelled at it to come down. It only floated higher. We pedaled harder. None of us wanted to be the one who lost Kenji's birthday balloon.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.

The Double Surprise by Angela Carmichael
Maya decorated the living room with balloons. She was so excited to surprise her friend Chloe. She knew Chloe would love the cake. Outside, Chloe was carrying a giant present. Chloe felt worried that Maya was not home. Little did Chloe know, Maya was waiting right behind the door.

Choose one answer, then add your follow-up response.