Guest Blogger: Amelia K.

Point of view is a very powerful tool for an author. It affects how the plot is laid out, how much readers know about the story, and how they feel towards certain characters.
FIRST PERSON (NARRATIVE): Countless examples of this exist: Turn of the Screw, Catcher in the Rye, and Dracula. There are many facets of the first person narrative. It can be told by major or minor character, the narrator may or may not be conscious of the fact that they are telling a story, and it can be written in stream of consciousness or as a constructed story. Often times in first person, narrators aren’t reliable. For instance Scout in To Kill a Mockingbird is only a child and doesn’t perceive things the way they really happen and Holden from Catcher in the Rye is very biased. The first person point of view gives insight into the narrator’s thought process and motivations, but also makes readers innately biased towards the narrator and biased against those the narrator dislikes.
OMNISCIENT: Just like an omniscient God, some narrators are all knowing. They know the thoughts, motives, and feelings behind every character. This is especially useful to give insight into all characters and parts of the novel. The affect of this is that the readers know a lot more than any of the characters in the novel. Brave New World was told in the 3rd person omniscient point of view which allowed us to be with Bernard, John, Lenina, and other characters. Trying to paint the picture of the future, it was effective for Huxley to choose to be able to see into many character’s thoughts. Omniscient is great for having perspective, but there is no intimacy and bias towards any characters. Also it limits the writer from being able to have mystery and have the reader be in the dark.
LIMITED OMNISCIENT: This is just like the above, but with one character. You would think that this would create bias just as first person does, and it does, but it not as strong of bias. Having the story told about them doesn’t give the same connection as having them tell you the story. The Harry Potter books are told in the limited point of view. Readers get Harry’s feelings and are biased against his enemies. Readers hate Snape, even though in the end he turns out to be good, because Harry hates Snape. If Harry Potter were told from an omniscient point of view readers would know what Dumbledore knows so they wouldn’t hate Snape. Some authors choose to have numerous characters take on the view point in different chapters. This spreads out the intimacy between characters and readers.
OBJECTIVE: This is like most movies and some novels. This is 3rd person, but the narrator can’t see into any thoughts. It is all physical descriptions and plot. This point of view is mysterious and creates a distance between readers and characters.

As you can see, point of view is a tool for authors to get their PURPOSE across. It affects the structure of the novel (is it a journal, a story being read aloud, etc), how the plot is laid out (what information is given from thoughts, should the action wait until after the reader learns about it from another character, etc), and how the reader interprets the novel (who is good and bad, what parts of the novel were important, etc). :]