Point of View and Suspense

Lesson Plan - Get It!

Audio:

When reading stories, you may have noticed that some narratives are told from different perspectives or points of view.

The points of view most often used by authors are:

• third-person observant
• third-person omniscient
• first person

As you watch What is Point of View?, from Chungdahm Learning, take notes on the major characteristics of each:

Your notes should include the following:

Third-person Observant - The narrator shows the characters but doesn't tell the reader what they are thinking. The narrator simply observes, like a camera.

Third-person Omniscient - The narrator shows what happens and what the characters are thinking and feeling. The narrator is all-knowing, like a god.

First Person - The narrator is a character in the story and, therefore, can only know what (s)he knows and feels.

• Which point of view do you think works best for the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet?

Point of View and Suspense

The suspense of a story is what causes readers to hold their breath waiting to see what happens next. If the intensity of the suspense is great enough, the reader will not be able to put the book down until the outcome is revealed.

• How do you think the point of view of a story is linked to its suspense?

A first-person narrative creates a bond between the reader and the main character. We are right there with this character asking the same questions. Whenever a revelation occurs, the reader is just as surprised as the character. This creates suspense.

• What about the third-person narratives? How can they create suspense?

Jot down your prediction, and then watch this Mizzou Academy video to learn how Dramatic Irony connects point of view and suspense:

• Was your prediction close to what the video revealed?

Writers create suspense for readers by making them concerned for the main character, escalating tension, and creating an impending danger. The point of view through which the story is told allows writers to do this in different ways.

Head over to the Got It? section to review what you have learned so far.