Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Point of view refers to how a story is narrated or told. It determines whose perspective we experience events from and influences our understanding of characters, events, and themes.
Related terms
First-Person Point of View: When a character within the story narrates using "I" pronouns.
Third-Person Limited Point of View: When an external narrator tells the story from the perspective of one character.
Third-Person Omniscient Point of View: When an external narrator knows and reveals the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters.