Point of View Practice – Answer Key
Identify the POV used in each excerpt. Base your analysis on the excerpt, not prior knowledge of the story.
Point of View
First person/ subjective
Excerpt
From “The Ransom of Red Chief” by O. Henry
Just then we heard a kind of war whoop, such as David might
have emitted when he knocked out the champion Goliath. It was a
sling that Red Chief had pulled out of his pocket, and he was whirling
it around his head.
I dodged, and heard a heavy thud and a kind of a sigh from
Bill, like a horse gives out when you take his saddle off. A rock the
size of an egg had caught Bill just behind his left ear. He loosened
himself all over and fell in the fire across the frying pan of hot water
for washing the dishes. I dragged him out and poured cold water on
his head for half an hour.
Third person limited/subjective
From “Pandora’s Box”
Epimetheus could not understand why the gods had become
concerned about him. He was dazzled by Hermes, and it was some
time before he could believe that the exquisite creature brought by
the messenger god was meant for him. Even after Hermes departed
in a flashing cloud and Pandora stood blushing beside him, he was
perturbed. He remembered how often his brother Prometheus had
warned him, “Do not trust the gods. And beware especially of Zeus
and anything he may send you.” However when Pandora looked in
his eyes and smiled, he was, as Aphrodite predicted, enchanted and
ensnared.
Explanation
“I” shows that it is the main
character telling the story. The
narrating character gives
feelings of that character
through his word choice.
“He” shows that there is an
outside narrator telling the
story; we can see the thoughts
and feelings of Epimetheus.
Third person objective
From “Loo-Wit, the Firekeeper”
For many seasons the two peoples remained at peace. They passed
freely back and forth across the great stone bridge. One day, though,
the people to the north looked south towards the Willamette and said,
“There lands are better than ours.” One day, though, the people to the
south looked north toward the Klickitats and said, “Their lands are
more beautiful than ours.” Then, once again, the people began to
quarrel.
Third person objective
From “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own children, speaking
of planting and rain, tractors and taxes. They stood together, away
from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and
they smiled rather than laughed. The women, wearing faded house
dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk. They greeted
one another and exchanged bits of gossip as they went to join their
husbands. Soon the women, standing by their husbands, began to call
to their children, and the children came reluctantly, having to be called
four or five times. Bobby Martin ducked under his mother's grasping
hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones. His father spoke up
sharply, and Bobby came quickly and took his place between his
father and his oldest brother.
First person/subjective
From Anthem by Ayn Rand
It was when I read the first of the books I found in my house that I
saw the word “I”. And when I understood this word, the book fell
from my hands, and I wept, I who had never known tears. I wept in
deliverance and in pity for all mankind.
“They” shows that there is an
outside narrator. Readers can
only see what characters say
and do, and must infer thoughts
and feel.
“They” shows that there is an
outside narrator. Readers can
only see what characters say
and do, and must infer thoughts
and feel.
“I” shows that it is the main
character telling the story. The
narrating character reveals his
feelings when he says, “I wept in
deliverance and in pity”.