Exploring Narrative Point of View in Fiction
Navigating the art of storytelling
I don’t often read about why or how authors choose which perspective they want to write in. Before writing this article, I hardly knew anything beyond first and third person. Books I pick up rarely use anything beyond those.
In this article, I want to briefly summarize what each POV does and then dive into how it affects an author’s story. I’ll also include a story that is written in that narration style.
Below is a list of the perspectives I’ll be mentioning throughout the article:
- First-person
- Second-person
- Third-person limited
- Third-person omniscient
- Third-person objective
First-person
I believe it’s safe to assume that most people understand first-person narrative (I, me). The reader experiences the story through the protagonist’s eyes. It’s the most intimate perspective, but you only get their thoughts and emotions. You don’t have the privilege of reading what other characters think.
An author can choose this narration to help the reader emotionally resonate with the characters in the story. A writer can switch up the first-person POV, such as stream of consciousness or unreliable narrator.
Circe by Madeline Miller
Second-person
The second-person point of view, using “you” and “your,” can transport readers to a new world. However, it can be confusing, unsustainable, and may come across as having an ulterior motive, such as moral instruction, if not written well. It can drive the reader to become overwhelmed.
Using second-person narration encourages readers to engage with the story’s themes, creating a sense of personal responsibility to uncover the underlying events. This POV is perfect for authors who want to write a more insightful novel. The second-person narration also helps the authors who challenge the storytelling norms.
You by Caroline Kepnes
Third-person
Third-person limited narration is a popular perspective in literature. The narrator is outside the events and uses names or pronouns, showing the reader what multiple characters are up to. This POV adds complexity by including the inner thoughts of different characters, helping the reader understand the protagonist better.
Third-person limited is for authors who strive for a well-balanced story. It works well with character changing between chapters. The author feeds the reader more information than first-person while still keeping the intimacy of following one character at a time.
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
The narration I see the least of is third-person objective when the narrator can only tell the reader what’s going on, and the intricacies of the characters are unknown. If you love eavesdropping, these types of stories are probably for you. An issue with this POV is not feeling connected to the characters, but it can add intrigue and help with critical thinking.
The third-person objective would be great for mystery writers, forcing readers to interpret what’s happening. This narration style focuses on the characters’ body language and how they interact with their environment. There is typically little commentary from the author with this POV, which can be polarizing for readers.
Hills Like White Elephants by Ernest Hemingway
Last but not least is third-person omniscient, where the narrator is all-knowing. The reader gets to learn the whole world and all of its characters. If you can handle that disconnect and learn to digest loads of information, then this POV could work for you.
Omniscient exists for fantasy or epic saga writers. Authors use this for complex storylines and subplots, such as time travel or multiple timelines, which can be hard to manage in other narration styles.
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
I’m not an author, but I can imagine how hard it is to choose a narration type. Beyond the ones I just explained, authors continuously experiment, changing perspectives in the middle of a book to spice things up. The options are endless. I had a wonderful time deep-diving into the art of storytelling, and I hope you enjoyed going on the journey with me.
Connect with me:
You can become a member by using my link. I will receive a small cut of the membership at no additional cost to you.
