Describe the point of view of the narrator and how the point of view affects what the reader knows about
The point of view of the narrator is important as it determines the perspective from which the story is told and influences what the reader knows about the events and characters.
There are different types of point of view such as first-person, second-person, and third-person. Let's discuss each in order to understand how the point of view affects the reader's knowledge of the story.
1. First-person point of view: In this point of view, the narrator is a character within the story who tells the events using the pronoun "I." The reader experiences the story through the eyes and thoughts of this character. However, the reader is limited to the thoughts, emotions, and knowledge of the first-person narrator. The narrator can only provide information about their own experiences and perceptions, which may be subjective and unreliable. Therefore, the reader may have a limited and biased understanding of the events and other characters.
2. Second-person point of view: This point of view uses the pronoun "you" to address the reader directly, engaging them in the story as a participant. The reader is directly involved and experiences the story in a more immersive manner. However, this point of view is less commonly used in traditional narrative storytelling and is mostly seen in interactive fiction or instructional writing.
3. Third-person point of view: In this point of view, the narrator is not a character in the story and uses pronouns like "he," "she," or "they" to refer to the characters. Third-person point of view can be limited or omniscient.
a) Third-person limited point of view: The narrator only has access to the thoughts and feelings of one character, usually the protagonist. The reader gets a deeper insight into this character's mind, emotions, and motivations. However, the reader's knowledge is restricted to what this character knows or perceives, preventing a complete picture of all the events and characters in the story.
b) Third-person omniscient point of view: The narrator knows and reveals the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. This omniscient perspective allows the reader to have a broader scope of knowledge and insights into the thoughts, motivations, and actions of different characters. The reader can understand the story from various perspectives, gaining a more comprehensive understanding of the events.
In conclusion, the point of view of the narrator significantly affects what the reader knows about the story. Different points of view provide various insights, limitations, and biases, shaping the reader's understanding of the events, characters, and overall narrative.