Point of View: First and Third Person
Identifying and analyzing narrative perspective
Point of View: First and Third Person
Identifying and analyzing narrative perspective
Language Arts - Grade 6-8
- 1
Read the sentence: "I tightened my backpack straps and stepped onto the crowded bus." Is this written in first person or third person? Explain how you know.
Look for pronouns that show who is telling the story.
This sentence is written in first person because the narrator uses the pronoun "I" and tells the story from their own perspective. - 2
Read the sentence: "Maya tightened her backpack straps and stepped onto the crowded bus." Is this written in first person or third person? Explain how you know.
This sentence is written in third person because the narrator is outside the story and refers to Maya by name and with the pronoun "her." - 3
Read the passage: "I knew I should have studied for the quiz, but I kept telling myself there would be time in the morning. When the paper landed on my desk, my stomach twisted." Identify the point of view and name two clues that support your answer.
A first-person narrator is usually a character in the story.
The passage is written in first person. Two clues are the pronouns "I" and "my," which show that the narrator is telling about their own thoughts and feelings. - 4
Read the passage: "Jalen stared at the locked classroom door. He checked his watch and sighed, hoping his teacher would believe the bus had really broken down." Identify the point of view and explain whether the narrator is inside or outside the story.
The passage is written in third person. The narrator is outside the story because the narrator refers to Jalen by name and uses "he" instead of speaking as Jalen. - 5
Rewrite this sentence from first person to third person: "I opened the mysterious envelope and found a map inside."
Replace "I" with a character name or a third-person pronoun.
A correct rewrite is: "She opened the mysterious envelope and found a map inside." The sentence changes from using "I" to using a third-person pronoun such as "she," "he," or "they." - 6
Rewrite this sentence from third person to first person: "Carlos hid the note in his jacket pocket before anyone could see it."
A correct rewrite is: "I hid the note in my jacket pocket before anyone could see it." The sentence changes from describing Carlos from the outside to having Carlos narrate the action himself. - 7
Read the passage: "The rain rattled against the windows. Emma wished she had brought an umbrella, but Leo was secretly glad for an excuse to stay after school." Is this third-person limited or third-person omniscient? Explain your answer.
Omniscient means the narrator knows what multiple characters think or feel.
This passage is third-person omniscient because the narrator reveals the thoughts or feelings of more than one character, Emma and Leo. - 8
Read the passage: "The rain rattled against the windows. Emma wished she had brought an umbrella. She watched Leo smile, but she had no idea why he seemed so pleased." Is this third-person limited or third-person omniscient? Explain your answer.
This passage is third-person limited because the narrator focuses on Emma's thoughts and feelings but does not reveal what Leo is thinking. - 9
Read the passage: "I did not tell anyone about the broken vase. I swept up the pieces quickly and hoped Grandma would not notice the empty spot on the shelf." What effect does the first-person point of view have on the reader?
Think about how close the reader feels to the narrator's private thoughts.
The first-person point of view helps the reader feel close to the narrator's fear and guilt because the narrator directly shares their actions and feelings. - 10
Read the passage: "Nora did not tell anyone about the broken vase. She swept up the pieces quickly and hoped her grandmother would not notice the empty spot on the shelf." How would the passage feel different if it were written in first person?
If the passage were written in first person, it would feel more personal and immediate because Nora would describe her own guilt and worry directly using words like "I" and "my." - 11
Choose the sentence that is written in third person: A. "I waited by the stage curtain." B. "We could hear the crowd clapping." C. "Tessa adjusted the microphone before her speech." Explain your choice.
First person uses pronouns such as "I" or "we."
Sentence C is written in third person because it uses the character's name, Tessa, and describes her from an outside narrator's perspective. - 12
Choose the sentence that is written in first person: A. "They crossed the bridge at sunrise." B. "I crossed the bridge at sunrise." C. "Lena crossed the bridge at sunrise." Explain your choice.
Sentence B is written in first person because the narrator uses the pronoun "I" to describe their own action. - 13
Read the passage: "Marcus gripped the soccer ball and scanned the field. He could see Aiden waving near the goal, but he was sure the other team expected a pass." What can the reader know because of the third-person limited point of view?
Limited point of view usually follows one character closely.
The reader can know Marcus's thoughts and observations, such as his belief that the other team expects a pass, but the reader does not know what Aiden or the other players are thinking. - 14
Write two original sentences in first-person point of view about a character finding something unexpected in a locker.
Answers will vary, but the sentences should use first-person pronouns such as "I," "me," "my," or "we" and should sound like the character is telling the story. For example: "I opened my locker and found a silver key taped to the door. My hands shook as I pulled it loose." - 15
Write two original sentences in third-person point of view about a character finding something unexpected in a locker.
Do not use "I" unless it appears in dialogue.
Answers will vary, but the sentences should use a character's name or third-person pronouns such as "he," "she," or "they." For example: "Amira opened her locker and found a silver key taped to the door. She glanced down the hallway before pulling it loose."