The elements of literature are the common structural elements that should be included in every story. The elements of literature are Characters, Setting, Narrator, Perspective/Point of view, Plot, Conflict/Problem, Mood, and Theme. Good writers make sure each element is included in the stories that they write to make them interesting and understandable. Good readers learn to recognize each of the elements to understand the meaning or the moral of the story. These elements create the foundation of good stories and if they are missing, the story will feel incomplete and unsatisfying. Also, it will not be very entertaining for the readers.
Point of View/Perspective
Point of view is an element of literature that refers to the perspective that the narrator holds in relation to the events of the story. It allows the reader to understand how the person telling the story knows the things that he/she knows about the story and the characters. For example, if the narrator knows what a character is thinking during the story, that person is telling the story from a different point of view than one who only knows a character’s thoughts based on what the character says or his/her actions and behaviors. It is important to note that story writers choose the point of view of their stories based on how they are able to most effectively convey their message or the moral of the story to the readers.
The phrase point of view can have more than one meaning. Three definitions are listed below.
- The phrase point of view is defined as a particular attitude or way of considering a matter. In this way, the word perspective can be used as a synonym of point of view. It is a mental concept that has to do with what a person thinks or believes about something.
- When a point of view is discussed in a literal sense, as it is when considering works of art, it describes the appearance of viewed objects with regard to their relative position and distance from the viewer.
- A point of view is also an element of literature that describes the narrator's position in relation to a story being told. When used in this way, it can be categorized as either first-person, second-person, or third-person point of view.
This lesson is about point of view as an element of literature.
The three primary points of view are first-person, second-person, and third-person. As the names suggest, each perspective gives an indication of what information the reader can assume is known by the person narrating the story.
First-person Point of View A story narrated in first-person point of view tells a story from their own perspective. They may use the pronouns “I” and “my story” as they tell the story. Readers can best remember that a story written in first-person point of view most often presents first-hand, direct information. Second-person Point of View A story narrated in second-person tells a story about you, the reader or viewer. They may use the words “you” and “your” as they tell the story. Third-person Point of View A story narrated in third-person tells a story about someone else or other people. They may use the pronouns he, she, them, and they as they tell the story. Readers can remember that third-person point of view usually presents information indirectly and about what someone else has said or done.
In each point of view, different types and amounts of information are available to the reader about the story's events and characters.
Examples
Here are some examples to help you further understand point of view. Look at the first photo of Snoopy from the Peanuts comic strip typing on his typewriter.
For this first example, imagine that an author uses this photo to illustrate a story and writes the following three sentences.
“I will begin by typing an outline.” This would be how an author would write the story in the first-person point of view. The author or the narrator could actually be Snoopy himself. Notice the use of the word “I” in the sentence. This indicates what the author or the character (in this case Snoopy) will do him/herself.
“You should use an outline to help you start writing a story.” This is an example of an author or a narrator writing in the second-person point of view. In this example, the word “you” is used. In this way, the author or the narrator is focusing on the reader or the viewer if this is a screenplay for a film or television show. This indicates what the author is telling or suggesting that the reader do.
“Snoopy did not tell anyone what his story would be about. He just sat down and began to write.” This is an example of an author or narrator writing in the third-person point of view. This indicates that the author is telling the story about someone else. The sentences include the pronouns “his” and “he” and present information indirectly about what Snoopy has done.
Here is another example. Look at this photo of Huey and Riley Freeman from The Boondocks comic strip.
First-person example: “Huey, when are we going to eat? I’m hungry!” Second-person example: Don’t assume you know what is on a person’s mind if they do not tell you. Third-person example: Huey and Riley Freeman wondered if they could convince their grandfather to let them go to the concert.
Cars (2006)
Cars is an American animated sports comedy film produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by John Lasseter, who co-wrote it with Joe Ranft, Dan Fogelman, Kiel Murray, Phil Lorin and Jorgen Klubien, the film stars Paul Newman (in his final film role) and Owen Wilson, with an ensemble voice cast consisting of Bonnie Hunt, Larry the Cable Guy, Tony Shalhoub, Cheech Marin, Michael Wallis, George Carlin, Paul Dooley, Jenifer Lewis, Guido Quaroni, Michael Keaton, Katherine Helmond, John Ratzenberger and Richard Petty. Randy Newman composed the film's score, while artists Sheryl Crow, Rascal Flatts, John Mayer and Brad Paisley contributed to the film's soundtrack.
Set in a world populated entirely by anthropomorphic vehicles, the film follows a young self-obsessed racecar named Lightning McQueen who, on the way to the most important race of his life, becomes stranded in a forgotten town along U.S. Route 66 called Radiator Springs, where he learns about friendship and begins to reevaluate his priorities.
Cars ultimately served as the final film independently produced by Pixar after its purchase by Disney in January 2006. It was released on June 9, 2006, and grossed $462 million worldwide against a budget of $120 million. The success of Cars launched a multimedia franchise that includes two sequels: Cars 2 (2011) and Cars 3 (2017), as well as two spin-off films produced by Disneytoon Studios: Planes (2013) and Planes: Fire and Rescue (2014).
Point of View Example in Cars (2006)
The following YouTube video is the introductory scene from the film. Watch the video and focus on the part when you see the announcers Bob Cutlass and Darrell Cartrip (voiced by Bob Costas and Darrell Waltrip) as they give a play by play of the race. Reportedly, the Cars screenplay for the film is written in third-person and this scene is an example.
Here are three ways that we can tell that this part of the screenplay is written from a third-person point of view:
- They announce that "The King" Strip Weathers has been Dynoco’s “Golden Boy” for a long time and wonders if he can win again, using the pronoun he to indirectly talk about him.
- Darrell says, “Chick thought this was his year.” He does not know what Chick is thinking but he most likely heard him say what he thought before and used it in his remarks in this scene.
- They describe Lightning McQueen as a rookie and everyone wonders if he can win.
Your Assignment
Watch the following video of a scene from Cars (2006). In this scene, Mack is transporting Lightning McQueen to a race that will happen across the country in the state of California. As they travel along the highway at night, four troublemaking vehicles pass by them and realize that Mack is having a problem staying awake on the road. Calling him a “nodder,” they begin to harass him by playing soothing music that causes him to completely fall asleep. As he dozes off, he drives over the rumble strips in the road which cause the back of his trailer to open. McQueen rolls out asleep by accident and gets stranded in the middle of the desert while Mack continues driving not knowing he has lost his passenger.
As another way to understand point of view, think about what would happen if each of these characters had been stopped by a state highway patrol officer along that road AFTER Mack lost Lightning McQueen by accident. What do you think each character would say had actually happened from their point of view?
Mack the transporter Lightning McQueen the stranded passenger DJ the troublemaker
Have fun learning!