Second Grade English: Recognizing Different Characters' Voices & Points of View
Every story in the world is told through someone's eyes. The perspective from which a story is narrated is called its point of view. Just as two people standing on opposite sides of a sculpture see completely different shapes, two characters experiencing the exact same event will describe it in entirely different ways based on their feelings, backgrounds, and motivations. In this chapter, you will master the difference between first-person point of view (narrated by "I") and third-person point of view (narrated by "he, she, they"), and learn how to recognize different characters' unique voices when reading dialogue aloud.
First-Person vs. Third-Person Point of View
The narrator is the voice that tells the story. The pronouns the narrator uses reveal the point of view immediately.
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| POINT OF VIEW PRONOUN DETECTOR |
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| |
| FIRST-PERSON POINT OF VIEW: |
| The narrator is a CHARACTER inside the story! |
| Signal Pronouns: I, me, my, we, us, our |
| Example: "I packed my backpack and walked out the door." |
| |
| THIRD-PERSON POINT OF VIEW: |
| The narrator is an OUTSIDE STORYTELLER observing the action! |
| Signal Pronouns: he, she, it, they, him, her, them |
| Example: "Maya packed her backpack and walked out the door." |
| |
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The "Inside the Head" First-Person Advantage
When a story is written in first-person ("I"), you get an intimate peek directly inside the main character's thoughts and secrets. You know exactly what they fear and love. However, you can only know what that character sees with their own eyes!
The "All-Seeing" Third-Person Advantage
When a story is written in third-person, the outside storyteller can describe events happening in different places at the exact same time, showing what multiple characters are doing across the whole kingdom.
Contrasting Characters' Points of View
The most exciting stories feature characters who view the exact same situation in completely opposite ways.
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| ONE EVENT, TWO POINTS OF VIEW |
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| The Event: A sudden, torrential thunderstorm drenches a park. |
| |
| Character 1 (The Duck): |
| "Hooray! The wonderful rain created giant muddy puddles! This |
| is the best afternoon of the whole summer!" |
| |
| Character 2 (The Cat): |
| "Disaster! Cold, disgusting water is ruining my fluffy fur! |
| I must find shelter immediately!" |
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Analyzing Differences in Perspective
Look at the duck and the cat: did the weather change? No! The rain was identical. But the duck loved it while the cat despised it because their needs and instincts are completely different.
Reading Aloud with Character Voices
When reading stories containing dialogue aloud, an expert reader changes their voice to match each character's point of view and personality. A tiny mouse might speak in a high, quick, breathless whisper. A giant bear might speak in a deep, slow, resonant rumble. Using distinct voices helps your audience know who is speaking without having to read every "he said" or "she said" aloud!
Practice Exercises
Exercise 1: Read each excerpt and identify whether it is written in First-Person or Third-Person point of view: Excerpt A: "I tiptoed into the dark attic and searched for my grandfather's wooden chest." Excerpt B: "Leo and Sophia built a sturdy snow fort before the sun set behind the hills."
Exercise 2: Write two short paragraphs describing a fresh snowfall: the first paragraph from the point of view of a child who loves sledding, and the second paragraph from the point of view of a driver whose car is stuck in a snowbank.
Exercise Solutions
Solution to Exercise 1: Excerpt A is First-Person (uses I and my). Excerpt B is Third-Person (uses Leo, Sophia, and they).
Solution to Exercise 2: A student could write: Child's Point of View: "I leaped out of bed and saw the sparkling white snow blanketing the ground. Today is the ultimate sledding day, and I cannot wait to zoom down Blueberry Hill!" Driver's Point of View: "The heavy, icy snow piled high around my car tires, spinning them uselessly. Now I will be completely late for my morning meeting because of this freezing mess."