Final answer:
The point of view in a story defines the perspective from which the story is told, including first-person, second-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient. Rewriting a narrative paragraph using different points of view can help understand how point of view shapes a narrative.
Step-by-step explanation:
The point of view in a novel or short story refers to the perspective through which the story is told. This can include:
First-person narration, which uses 'I' and 'me' and is told from the perspective of a character within the story.
Second-person narration, using 'you', directly addresses the reader and includes them as a character in the narrative.
Third-person limited narration, which focuses on what one character, or a few characters, know, think, and observe. It uses 'he', 'she', 'it', and 'they'.
Third-person omniscient narration, where the narrator has an all-knowing perspective on all characters and events in the story.
To understand the differences between first-person, third-person limited, and third-person omniscient points of view, it is helpful to rewrite a paragraph from a personal narrative in both third-person perspectives. In limited third-person, focus solely on one character's perspective, while in omniscient third-person, include insights into all characters' thoughts and motivations. Reflecting on how the point of view changes the narrative can lead to a deeper understanding of how each POV can shape a reader's experience of the story. Some narratives may gain a more intimate feeling with first-person or limited third-person, while others benefit from the broader scope of omniscient third-person narrations.