Post #3 Point of View

As is described in our red Reader's Handbook, point of view is the vantage point from which a story is told. 

• First peron pint of view is where the story is told by one of the charcters.  We are limited to knowing only what that character knows, thinks and feels.  How do you know if it is first peron point of view?  The character uses pronouns such as I or we and usually participates in much of the action.
• Third person omniscient (all knowing) is where the story is told by a narrator who is not a charcter in the story.  The narrator will relate the thoughts and feelings of all the characters.  We know how everyone thinks and feels.  The narrator will use pronouns such as she, he, and they.
• Third person limited is the most common point of view.  This is where the story is told by a narrator.  However, the narrator will relate the thoughs and feelings of just one character, usually the main character.  We do not know how the other characters are feeling and thinking.  Again, she, he and they will be used as pronouns.

1. Who is telling the story in your novel?
2. What point of view is this?
3. Think about the story from a viewpoint of a different character.  How would the story be different? What details would be left out or added?

The story, The Kid Comes Back by John R. Unis, is told from Roy's point of view.  He is the main character, but he is not telling the story, a narrator is telling it.  So this is called third person limited.  We only know how Roy is feeling and what he is thinking.  He is angry because the mechanics don't seem to be aware of the danger of war.  The story would be different if it were told from the point of view of one of the mechanics because we wouldn't hear how afraid the gunners are up in the war planes.