Point of view (POV) refers to the perspective from which a story is told or the position from which someone observes or considers something. In literature, it specifically denotes the narrator's vantage point in relation to the events and characters of the story. The three primary literary points of view are:
- First person : The narrator is a character within the story, telling it from their own perspective using "I" or "me" (e.g., "I went to the store"). This creates an intimate and personal experience for the reader.
- Second person : The narrator addresses the reader directly as "you," making the reader a character in the story. This is less common but creates a unique interactive effect.
- Third person : The narrator is outside the story, referring to characters as "he," "she," or "they." This can be limited to one character's perspective or omniscient, knowing all characters' thoughts and feelings and providing a broader view of the story
Beyond literature, point of view can also mean a person's opinion or way of thinking about something, reflecting their particular standpoint or attitude
. In summary, point of view shapes how a story is experienced by controlling what information is revealed and how events and characters are interpreted by the reader. It is a fundamental tool for writers to influence narrative intimacy, objectivity, and reader engagement
