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Point of
View

Learn to identify who is telling the story and how the narrator's perspective shapes what you read on the ISEE.

ISEE Middle Level

What Is Point of View?

Point of view (POV) is the perspective from which a story or passage is told. It determines whose thoughts, feelings, and observations the reader has access to, and it shapes every detail you encounter in a passage.

Why POV Matters on the ISEE

The ISEE Reading Comprehension section frequently asks you to identify who is narrating a passage and how the author's perspective influences the information presented. Recognizing POV helps you:

1
Understand bias. A narrator may only share one side of a story.
2
Interpret tone. The narrator's attitude colors the language used.
3
Answer correctly. Many wrong answers confuse whose perspective is being described.

The Three Main Points of View

First Person
The narrator is a character in the story. Uses "I," "me," "my," "we."
Second Person
The narrator speaks directly to the reader. Uses "you," "your."
Third Person
The narrator is outside the story. Uses "he," "she," "they," "it."

How Each POV Works

First Person "I walked to school." Narrator = Character I, me, my, we Second Person "You walk to school." Narrator speaks to you you, your, yours Third Person "She walked to school." Narrator = Outside he, she, they, it Omniscient Knows all characters Limited Knows one character SIGNAL WORDS First Person: I, me, my, myself, we, our Second Person: you, your, yourself Third Person: he, she, it, they, them

First Person Point of View

In first person, the narrator is a character inside the story. The reader only knows what this one character thinks, feels, and observes. Everything is filtered through their personal experience.

Third Person: Omniscient vs. Limited

Third-Person Omniscient
The narrator knows every character's thoughts and feelings. The narrator can jump from one character's mind to another.
Third-Person Limited
The narrator follows one character closely. We only know that character's thoughts, though the narrator uses "he" or "she."

Narrator vs. Author

Students often confuse the narrator with the author. On the ISEE, these are treated as separate concepts:

Narrator Author
Who? The voice telling the story The real person who wrote it
Fiction Often a made-up character Not necessarily in the story
Nonfiction Usually the author themselves Same person as narrator
ISEE Focus POV, tone, reliability Purpose, argument, opinion

Author's Point of View in Nonfiction

In nonfiction passages, "point of view" often means the author's opinion, attitude, or position on a topic. The ISEE may ask: What is the author's point of view regarding...?

1
Supportive: The author agrees with or promotes an idea.
2
Critical: The author disagrees with or questions an idea.
3
Neutral/Objective: The author presents facts without taking a side.

How to Identify Point of View

1
Check the pronouns. Scan the first few sentences for "I/me" (first person), "you" (second person), or "he/she/they" (third person).
2
Determine whose thoughts you can access. Can you read one character's mind? Multiple characters? None?
3
Ask: Is this fiction or nonfiction? In nonfiction, "point of view" often means the author's opinion or attitude.
4
Look for bias or limitation. Does the narrator reveal only one side? That signals a limited or first-person POV.
5
Eliminate wrong answers. Cross out choices that name the wrong pronoun type or confuse narrator with author.

Example 1: Fiction Passage

Question: From what point of view is this passage told?

1
Pronouns: "I," "my" appear throughout: this is first person.
2
Thought access: We know the narrator's feelings ("heart pounded") but no one else's.
3
Answer: First-person point of view: a character is telling us the story directly.

Example 2: Third-Person Limited

Question: What type of third-person narration is used?

1
Pronouns: "She," "her": this is third person.
2
Thought access: We know what she "wondered" but not what the brother thinks.
3
Key detail: "unaware of her sadness" is the narrator's observation, not from the brother's mind.
4
Answer: Third-person limited: the narrator follows one character's inner world.

Example 3: Author's Perspective

Question: What is the author's point of view on school uniforms?

1
Genre: This is nonfiction, so "point of view" means the author's opinion.
2
Loaded language: "clearly shows," "significant improvements" signal a positive attitude.
3
Answer: The author is supportive of school uniforms, believing they benefit students.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

✕ Confusing Narrator and Author
In fiction, the narrator is a character or voice created by the author. They are not the same person.
✕ Mixing Up Omniscient and Limited
If you can read only one character's thoughts (even in third person), it is limited, not omniscient.
✕ Ignoring Pronoun Evidence
Always check the actual pronouns in the passage. Don't guess the POV from the content alone.

POV Summary Table

Point of View Pronouns Thought Access ISEE Frequency
First Person I, me, my, we Narrator only Very Common
Second Person you, your Reader addressed Rare
Third-Person Limited he, she, they One character Very Common
Third-Person Omniscient he, she, they All characters Common
Author's POV (Nonfiction) varies Author's opinion Very Common

Question 1 of 5

From what point of view is this passage written?

Question 2 of 5

Which point of view is used in this passage?

Question 3 of 5

This passage is most likely told from which point of view?

Question 4 of 5

What is the author's point of view in this passage?

Question 5 of 5

How does the first-person point of view affect what the reader knows?