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Q.1 Identify the point of view in stories

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Understanding Point of View

Point of view is who is telling the story. It helps you know whose thoughts, feelings, and ideas you are hearing or reading about.

Examples:
  • Story told by a character in the story: "I went to the park." — This is first-person point of view.
  • Story told by someone outside the story: "She went to the park." — This is third-person point of view.
Remember!

Point of view is not just about pronouns. It’s about whose eyes and mind the story is coming from.

Clues in the Words

You can often tell the point of view by the words the author uses. Look at the pronouns and who is sharing their thoughts or feelings.

How it works:
  • "I love my new puppy." — The word I tells us the narrator is part of the story.
  • "Emma loves her new puppy." — The name and the word her show someone else is telling the story.
Tip

Pronouns like I, me, we, and us usually mean first-person. Words like he, she, they, and them often mean third-person.

Thinking About Feelings

Point of view affects what you know about the characters. In first-person, you hear the narrator’s thoughts and feelings. In third-person, you might learn about more than one character’s feelings.

Examples:
  • First-person: "I felt nervous on the first day of school."
  • Third-person: "Liam felt nervous, but Ava was excited."
Helpful Hint

Ask yourself, “Whose feelings do I know?” This will help you figure out the point of view.

Looking at the Title and Pictures

In early reading, the title and illustrations can give clues about who is telling the story and whose experience it is.

Example:
  • Title: "My Day at the Beach" — The word My shows first-person point of view.
  • Title: "Sofia’s Day at the Beach" — The name shows the narrator might be someone else, telling about Sofia.
Keep in Mind

Pictures often match the narrator’s view. Look at the expressions and actions to understand the perspective.

Why Point of View Matters

Knowing the point of view helps you understand the story better. It shows you how the events and feelings are shaped by the narrator’s perspective.

Example:
  • Two characters in the same event might describe it very differently, depending on how they felt.
  • Point of view helps you decide if the narrator knows everything or only what they personally see and feel.
Final Thought

Point of view is like the lens of a camera — it decides what you see and how you see it.