This craft analysis will examine point of view. Point of view is the vantage from which the reader experiences a story. There are three main points of view, which are referred to as first, second, and third person. Stories are typically written in only one of these three.
First Person
In first person point of view, the story is written from the perspective of the narrator. The narrator is at the same time the story-teller and the main character. First person stories are written using the pronoun “I.” Examples of first person stories include Poe’s the Pit and the Pendulum and The Tell-Tale Heart.
An advantage of first person storytelling is the proximity to the main character. Because first person stories are narrated by the main character, his or her thoughts, emotions, and inner workings are revealed frequently. This leads to a richer and more developed character.
A disadvantage of first person storytelling results from its primary strength. Because the story is written from the narrator’s perspective, some of the other characters may seem less developed by comparison. They may fade into the background while the main character takes over.
First person narrators cannot be trusted. Because the narrator is telling his or her own story from his or her own perspective, the events of the story cannot be corroborated by others. For this reason, first person narrators are untrustworthy, and writers who use first person must be careful to acknowledge this.
Second Person
In second person point of view, the story is written from the perspective of the reader. Second person stories use the pronoun “you.” Stories in second person tend to be quite rare, as both readers and writers alike eschew them. Examples of second person stories include Choose Your Adventure tales.
An advantage to second person storytelling is the power it has to place the reader directly into the story. Instead of following the actions of some invented character, second person stories narrate the adventures of the reader. The reader becomes a part of the story and, indeed, the main character.
Second person stories come with disadvantages. They tend to be difficult to write convincingly. Readers may reject the idea of becoming part of a story, or they may not believe they are capable of the actions described in the story.
Third Person
Third person stories are written from the perspective of either one main character (third-close) or from the perspectives of several important characters (third-distant). Third person is the most common point of view in literature. Third person point of view stories use the pronouns “he,” “she,” and “they.”
For third person close stories, imagine that a camera is placed on a character’s shoulder. What unfolds in the story is everything that the camera records. For third person distant, the camera hangs over a scene, recording the actions of several characters at once.
The advantages of third person point of view are numerous. More characters can be brought into the action, each one adding something extra to the story. Third person close perspective offers many of the same advantages of first person perspective without the drawback of locking the point of view on one character.
The biggest disadvantage of third person stories arises from the challenge of transitioning points of view among characters. It should be mentioned that as powerful as third person distant is, great caution should be taken when moving the point of view from one character to another. It can be jarring for a reader if a point of view is suddenly changed within a scene. Transition between different characters’ perspectives using line breaks or another kind of story break.
Conclusion
The three main points of view are first, second, and third person. Each one has its strengths, and each one has its weaknesses. Which one is appropriate for the story you want to tell? It depends on how you want to tell the story. Examine your characters and story scenes. Determine which point of view is most effective for you and for your story.