Narrative Point of View
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Subject Area: English Language Arts (B.E.S.T.) | Grade Level: 8
Lesson Length: 15 minutes or less
Keywords/Tags: narrative point of view, POV, first person, second person, third person
Lesson Description: In this lesson, students will learn key features of first, second, and third person points of view. After this lesson, students should be able to identify different points of view in narratives and select one in which to write their own narratives.

  • ELA.8.C.1.2 Write personal or fictional narratives using narrative techniques, varied transitions, and a clearly established point of view.
  • Other ELAGSE8W3a. Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.
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Video : A Story's Point of View
Instructions: Please watch the following video as many times as needed before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of the video is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this video content.Please watch the following video as many times as needed before starting to go through other lesson pages. Understanding the content of the video is very important since the lesson activities will be all about this video content.")
Description: In this BrainPOP video, Tim and Moby explain what point of view means and define four types of point of view: first person, second person, third person limited, and third person omniscient.
Quiz : Narrative Points of View
Instructions: Please complete this quiz by choosing the correct answer for each question. You can take this quiz as many times needed.
Question #1

Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
Behind you the module bus.
Before you . . .
Cold. Unimaginable, bone-chilling cold. The sun so small, so far away. The land and the sky bleached of color, drained to faint red or blue tints on varied shades of gray.
You shiver in your vacuum armor. The forced landing has jarred its systems.
From Ken MacLeod, The Restoration Game. Copyright 2011 by Ken MacLeod

Question #2

Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
I like the sound of Rowdy's laughter. I don't hear it very often, but it's always sort of this avalanche of ha-ha and ho-ho and hee-hee. I like to make him laugh. He loves my cartoons. He's a big, goofy dreamer, too, just like me.
From Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian. Copyright 2007 by Sherman Alexie

Question #3

Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
Mr. Campbell, the minister of Essendean, was waiting for me by the garden gate, good man! He asked me if I had breakfasted; and hearing that I lacked for nothing, he took my hand in both of his and clapped it kindly under his arm.
From Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped

Question #4
In first person point of view, the narrator uses pronouns such as I, we, my, and us.
Question #5
In second person point of view, you become a character in the story.
Question #6
What do you call the person in whose perspective (or point of view) the story is being told?
Question #7

Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
Brian shrugged. . . .
But it ate at him. What they were going to do proved nothing. They were playing a game and it struck him that Derek did that—his whole life was that. He knew it was unfair to think of the man that way—he didn't, after all, know him very well. But he acted that way. Like it was all a game and Derek was approaching this whole business that way. Just a game.
From Gary Paulsen, The River. Copyright 1991 by Gary Paulsen

Question #8
In third person omniscient, can the reader go anywhere and know the characters' thoughts and feelings?
Question #9
Is the pronoun "You" associated with second person point of view?
Question #10

Which point of view does the narrator use in the passage?
When he had stood in the doorway with his soldier's clothes on his back, . . . he had seen two tears leaving their trails on his mother's scarred cheeks.
Still, she had disappointed him by saying nothing whatever about retuing with his shield or on it. He had privately primed himself for a beautiful scene. He had prepared certain sentences which he thought could be used with touching effect. But her words destroyed his plans.
From Stephen Crane, The Red Badge of Courage

Description: This quiz will help you identify different types of narrative point of view.
Resources : Extra Practice
Instructions: Please see additional external resources below. Feel free to visit each link to learn more about this lesson.
Flocabulary: Point of View
Watch the video for another description of the narrative points of view. Do any of the tasks if you need more practice identifying the points of view.
Khan Academy
This video may help you understand the differences if you are still struggling.
Quizizz
Practice identifying narrative points of view with this Quizizz assignment.
Gimkit Fishtopia Game
Enjoy catching fish and selling them for coins in this game which allows you to practice defining and identifying the narrative points of view.
Description: These resources may help you understand the concept by explaining it in a different way. Also, there are several tasks you can do if you need more practice with identifying narrative points of view.