English: Literature, Rhetoric & AP Essays · Module 3 of 13
Point of View & Narrative Voice
Who is telling the story, how much they know, and how their attitude shapes what the reader feels.
First, Second & Third Person POV
- First person uses "I/we" — the narrator is a character in the story, limited to their own knowledge and perspective.
- Third person limited uses "he/she/they" but stays inside one character's thoughts; third person omniscient knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters.
- Second person ("you") is rare in fiction, addressing the reader directly as a participant.
A narrator says, "Sarah knew something was wrong, but across town, Mark had no idea what was coming." What point of view is this?
Solution. Third person omniscient — the narrator knows the thoughts and situations of multiple characters (Sarah and Mark) at once.
Reliable vs. Unreliable Narrators
- A reliable narrator gives the reader accurate, trustworthy information about the story's events.
- An unreliable narrator's account may be distorted by bias, limited knowledge, mental state, or deliberate deception, requiring the reader to read more critically.
A narrator insists they "definitely didn't do anything wrong," but the story's other details suggest otherwise. What kind of narrator might this be?
Solution. An unreliable narrator — their claims conflict with other evidence in the story, suggesting they may be misrepresenting events.
Tone vs. Mood
- Tone is the author's or narrator's attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice and style (e.g. sarcastic, solemn, playful).
- Mood is the feeling created in the reader; tone and mood are related but distinct — an author's tone helps create the reader's mood.
An author describes a character's failure using mocking, exaggerated language. What might this tone create in the reader?
Solution. An amused or critical mood — the tone's mockery is designed to make the reader see the character's failure as ridiculous.
Author's Purpose & Perspective
- Common authorial purposes: to entertain, to inform, to persuade, or to express feelings and ideas.
- An author's perspective — their background, beliefs, and values — shapes how they present a topic, even in fiction.
An author writes a persuasive essay arguing for a new school policy. What is the primary purpose?
Solution. To persuade — the essay is intended to convince readers to support a particular position.
Check yourself
2 of this module's 5 quiz questions. Pick your answers, then check them in the app, with an explanation for every question.
1. Which point of view uses "I" and is limited to the narrator's own knowledge?
2. What is an unreliable narrator?