Point of View

Point of view is the way in which a story is told.

- First person point of view is when the story is told directly by a character in the story. This is told in an "I watched as she walked through the door." type of way.

- Third person point of view is when the story is told through an outside narrator not related to the story. This is told in the " He said "The doctor ran away" format.

- Omniscient points of view can be both first and second person. This means that the narrator, whether first or third person, knows everything in the story.

- Limited points of view can also be first or third person. This means the narrator, whether first or third person, knows a limited amount of information pertaining to the story,

- Multiple points of view can also be used in stories. This means that omniscient and limited third and first person points of view can be used at different times in the story.

Speak is told through the first person limited view of Melinda Sordino a high school freshman at Merryweather High School. The first person view is shown in sentences and diolouge such as this excerpt from page 42 when Melinda says "I just thought of a great theory that explains everything." the book is solely in an I, she, he first person format. Melinda describes all of the characters, places, and things important to the book. 

The way Melinda sees things is a very straightforward way of thinking. For example her English teacher which she describes as someone who doesn’t comb their hair is known as "Hairwoman" and the main antagonist in the book, Andy Evans, is simply known as "IT" to personify his scariness. Through Melinda’s point of view when things aren’t going her way or she is annoyed at someone she will avoid it in a nice manner. Towards the end of the book when her old "disposable" friend Heather who had just dumped her mid story asks for her help she found an excuse to not help her because she didn’t find it right or necessary to help someone who was mean to her.

• What point of view to you is the best way to tell a story? 
• Are limited and omniscient views better when a narrator tells a story?

- Luca Damasco