Final answer:
To determine the point of view of a story, one must look at the pronouns used and the extent of the narrator's knowledge. First-person point of view uses 'I' or 'we', a limited third-person point of view focuses on a few characters using 'he', 'she' or 'they', and an omniscient third-person point of view knows all characters' thoughts and actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Identifying the point of view from which a story is told helps us understand the narrator's position in relation to the events being recounted. There are distinct types of narration which include first-person, second-person, and third-person. Third-person points of view can be further divided into limited and omniscient.
In a first-person narrative, the story is told by a character within the story, using 'I' or 'we'. It is intimately connected to that character's experiences and insights. Examples include narrations like 'I walked down the lonely street' or 'We celebrated our victory.'
Second-person narrative, although rare, directly addresses the reader as 'you', placing them in the center of the action. An example could be 'You turn the corner and see the house.'
In a third-person limited point of view, the narrator stands outside the story, using 'he', 'she', or 'they', and the narrative is confined to what is experienced, thought, or felt by a single character or limited set of characters. An example would be 'She pondered over the strange events of the day.'
In a third-person omniscient point of view, the narrator has a god-like perspective, providing insight into the thoughts and feelings of all characters within the story, not limited by time or space. This is illustrated by phrasing like 'He felt nervous, while across town, she was oblivious to his anxiety.' An omniscient narrator offers a more global understanding of events and characters.
To determine the point of view in a given story, consider the pronouns and knowledge presented. Does the narrator use 'I', suggesting a first-person point of view? Is the narrator detached, using 'he', 'she', or 'they', which suggests a limited or omniscient third-person point of view? And does the narrator seem to know everything, including all characters' thoughts and actions, thereby indicating an omniscient third-person point of view?