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 6-8

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 slid into the bus seat just as the doors folded shut. My backpack was still open, but at least I had made it.

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 pull the locker door open and freeze. A tiny frog is sitting in your lunchbox like it has been waiting for you all morning.

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 pulled open her locker and stared at the tiny frog sitting 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 for a full minute. He tapped his pencil three times against the desk, then 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 his stomach drop as the test landed on his desk. He had not studied. He tapped his pencil and hoped Mrs. Patel would not notice the panic on his face.
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 his stomach drop as the test landed on his desk. Across the room, Maya felt a quiet thrill; she had studied this exact problem set all week.

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 yanked open the rusty door of locker 23, and a folded square of paper drifted out and landed at my feet. My name was written on the front in tidy purple ink, with a tiny star drawn next to it. I picked it up and unfolded it slowly, my heart already picking up speed. The message inside said, "Meet me by the water fountain at noon. Bring the book. Don't be late." My stomach did a small flip. What book? I shoved the note into the back pocket of my jeans and shut the locker, but my fingers were trembling against the metal.

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

Night of the Gargoyles by Tabitha Haynes
You step cautiously into the dark courtyard of the abandoned castle. The stone statues look incredibly creepy in the pale moonlight, almost like they are watching you. Suddenly, you hear a loud cracking sound echoing from the roof above you. You slowly look up and see a massive stone gargoyle stretching its bat-like wings. If you want to turn around and run away, turn to page 12. If you want to try communicating with 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 tugged open the fridge and spotted the last slice of pepperoni pizza on its sad little plate. Her stomach growled, and she felt a surge of triumph; she had been dreaming about that slice since lunch. Across the kitchen, her brother Theo glanced up from his phone and froze. He had been counting on that slice all afternoon, and the sight of his sister already reaching for it sent a flash of panic through his chest. They both lunged for the box at the same instant. The plate hit the tile with a heavy clatter.

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

Showdown at the Hoedown by Wyatt Holliday
The shiny silver coin sat in the middle of the dusty road. Two cowboys stared down at it without moving a muscle. "That is my coin, partner," said Dusty, tilting his hat back. Tex crossed his arms over his chest and spit into the dirt. "I saw it first, so I am claiming it," Tex replied. A dry tumbleweed rolled between their boots. Dusty slowly lowered his hand toward his lasso. Tex narrowed his eyes and took a half step backward.

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 snug against your ankles. Next, you press and hold the green ignition button on the side of the right shoe for three full seconds. You will hear a low humming sound and feel a gentle tingle in the soles of your feet. To launch, you bend your knees, lean forward, and shout the activation word "Lift." Do not, under any circumstances, attempt to hover inside your house. Your ceilings are not rated for Sky Skipper traffic, and the warranty does not cover damage to ceiling fans. If you spot another hovering kid, give a friendly wave; you are now part of the Sky Skipper community.

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The Recital by Kaitlyn Sloan
Emma sat on the polished piano bench in the school auditorium, her fingers hovering above the keys. She had practiced for weeks, but now that the moment had arrived, doubt crept in. What if she forgot the notes? What if the audience laughed? Her best friend Lily sat in the front row and gave her a thumbs-up. "You've got this, Emma," Lily whispered. Emma closed her eyes for a second, took a deep breath, and began the first measures of her piece, the familiar melody steadying her nerves.

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

The Stakeout by Scott Parks
Trey crouched behind the hedge in his front yard. Liam was beside him with a pair of cracked binoculars pressed to his eyes. "I see her at the window," Liam whispered. He pointed across the street, where a girl with a long dark braid stood at an upstairs window. She held something small and silver in one hand. She turned her head slowly, scanned the street, and then waved directly at the hedge. Trey and Liam dropped flat onto the grass at the same time. "Don't move," Liam hissed. Across the street, the front door of the house creaked open.

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

The Final Letter by Michael Cho
Leo stood awkwardly at the microphone in the center of the stage. His hands were shaking so much that he had to grip the microphone stand. He felt terrified that he would misspell the final word and disappoint his team. "Chrysanthemum," the judge said loudly into the quiet auditorium. Leo looked out at the audience, but he could not see anything past the bright stage lights. The judge stared back at Leo without smiling. Leo took a deep breath, hoping he could remember the tricky vowels.

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The Great Balloon Chase by Nico Smith
We saw the red balloon escape before any of us could even shout a warning. One second Kenji was standing at the edge of the cul-de-sac, grinning at the small mountain of birthday loot piled by his front step. The next second a sharp gust of wind ripped the string clean out of his hand and sent the balloon sailing high over the neighbor's fence. We dropped our backpacks in the driveway and grabbed our bikes without a word. The balloon dipped low over Mrs. Carter's tomato garden, and we hollered at it as if it might actually listen. Of course it did not. It floated up again, smug and red against the wide blue sky. We pedaled harder, the wind pushing back against our faces, and not one of us was willing to be the kid who lost Kenji's birthday balloon.

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The Double Surprise by Angela Carmichael
Maya decorated the living room with dozens of colorful balloons. She was incredibly excited to surprise her best friend Chloe for her birthday. Maya knew Chloe would absolutely love the chocolate cake she had baked. Outside on the porch, Chloe was struggling to carry a giant, wrapped present. Chloe felt worried that Maya might not even be home to accept the gift. Little did Chloe know, Maya was waiting right behind the front door, giggling quietly to herself.

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