Lesson 2: Elements of Fiction
Narration - View Points
This section will cover point of view. When you are reading the stories in the next two lessons think about the viewpoint. Who is telling the story? Who is this person? Why did the author choose this particular person to tell the story? What would the story be like, if it was told in a different viewpoint?
Suggested Writing Assignments
(1) In your notebook, write down the different points of view that are listed below.
Now you will learn about the differen view points writers can use. First person, third person, or omnisicient view points are all used by writers depending on the style they choose.
First person view point uses the pronoun "I. Most detective fiction stories are written in first person. However, some of them are written in third person. The detective is the one who usually tells the story in detective fiction. He is the protagonist. Readers can identify with the protagonist. When stories are told from the detective's point of view, readers can solve the crime right along with the detective. The following passages on view points are found in You Can Write A Mystery by Gillian Roberts.
First Person View Point
Writers "may never violate the idea that you are inside the character. You couldn't, for example, write 'I searched the chest, a frown contorting my mouth' because the character doesn't see that frown." (pg. 39). Writers need to be careful of the way the narrator is speaking. The narrator cannot see the expressions on his/her own face unless he/she is standing in front of a mirror. The narrator is inside the protagonist when the story is written in first person view point. Narrators can feel their muscles or aches, but they cannot see their expressions.
Gillian gives an example that writers could use: "'Every muscle in my face tightened and pulled down.'" Since the narrator is inside the protagonist, they can feel the aching muscles or the face tightening.
In another passage, she mentions how "[first] person is definitely a way to give your detective a unique sound, world view and opinions. The downside is the possibility of your detective's preaching his views too much, so beware." (pg. 40)
Third Person View Point
Third-person point of view is told by someone who moves about throughout the story. There is objective point of view and close third point of view.
Close third point of view. By using close third point of view, you "can actually hear his thoughts and feel his emotions, often without needing the words he thought or he felt." (pg. 38)
Omniscient Point Of View
Omniscient point of view. If writers use omniscient point of view, then the "author can go anywhere in time and space and can be in any character's mind. This point of view option distances the reader. We can't identify with anyone because the God-like author is talking about 'those people,' leading us around, telling us what they think and what they can't know." (pg. 41) This point of view is okay, but readers won't be able to identify with any particular person, like the protagonist. Everything will be known through the eyes of the narrator, who will be able to get into the mind of every character, anywhere, and at any time.
