Why Does Point of View Matter?
Have you ever watched a movie with a friend and then talked about it after? Maybe you loved the movie, but your friend didn't like it at all! That happens because you and your friend have different points of view. A point of view is how someone thinks and feels about something.
The same thing happens when we read stories. The person telling the story (the narrator) might see things one way. The characters in the story might see things a different way. And you, the reader, might have your very own thoughts about what is happening! Learning to spot these different viewpoints makes you a super reader.
People have been thinking about point of view in stories for a very long time. Let's look at some important moments!
Here's the big question this lesson will help you answer: When I read a story, how do I know whose thoughts I am reading — and what do I think about it?
Key Ideas to Know
Before we dive deeper, let's learn four important words. These are the building blocks of understanding point of view in stories.
Point of View
Narrator
Character
Reader (That's You!)
See the Three Points of View
The diagram below shows how three different viewpoints can exist in the same story. Each circle represents a different pair of "eyes" looking at the same events. Let's see how they work!
Look at how all three circles overlap in the middle. That means they are all part of the same story — but each one has different thoughts and feelings. The narrator decides what to tell you. The character lives through the events and has their own emotions. And you, the reader, might think something totally different! That's what makes reading so much fun.
How Does It Work?
Now let's learn how to actually find different points of view when you read a story. There are clue words and questions that will help you figure it out!
🔍 Finding the Narrator's Point of View
Ask yourself: Who is telling this story? If you see words like "I" and "me," the narrator is a character in the story. If you see words like "he," "she," or "they," the narrator is someone outside the story. The narrator's point of view is shown by what they choose to describe and the tone (the feeling) of their words.
🔍 Finding the Characters' Points of View
Ask yourself: What does this character think, feel, or want? Look for clue words like "thought," "felt," "wished," "believed," or "wondered." Also look at what a character says in dialogue (the words inside quotation marks). Two characters in the same story can feel very differently!
🔍 Finding YOUR Point of View
Ask yourself: Do I agree with this character? Would I do the same thing? Your point of view comes from your own life, your own experiences, and your own feelings. It's totally okay if you think something different from what the characters or narrator think!
Types of Narrators and How They Change the Story
Not all narrators are the same! The type of narrator changes what you can learn about the characters' feelings. Here are the two main types you'll see in 3rd grade stories.
| TYPE | WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE | WHAT THE NARRATOR KNOWS |
|---|---|---|
| First Person (A character tells the story) | "I walked to school. I felt nervous." | Only knows their own feelings. They might guess what other characters feel, but they can't be sure! |
| Third Person (Someone outside tells the story) | "She walked to school. He waited at the door." | May know what many characters think and feel. Sometimes tells you things no single character knows! |
Here's why this matters: when a first-person narrator tells you what happened, they might be wrong or only see part of the picture. When a third-person narrator tells you something, they often know more than any single character. But you, as the reader, always get to decide what you believe!
In the example above, the narrator thinks the field trip is great. Emma feels differently — she's complaining. And you might think: "I understand both of them. Field trips can be fun AND tiring!" See? Three different points of view!
Worked Example: Finding All Three Viewpoints
Let's read a short story and then find all three points of view together, step by step.
Comparing the Three Viewpoints
Let's put all three types of viewpoints side by side so you can see how they're different — and why each one is important!
| NARRATOR | CHARACTER | YOU (READER) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where are they? | Telling the story (inside or outside) | Living inside the story | Reading from outside the story |
| What do they know? | Decides what details to share | Only knows their own thoughts | Knows everything the narrator tells you |
| Can their view be different? | Yes! May show favorites or leave things out | Yes! Each character sees things differently | Yes! You bring your own life experience |
| How to find it? | Look at how the story is told and its tone | Look at dialogue, thoughts, and actions | Check your own feelings and opinions |
Going Deeper: Why Good Readers Think About This
Now that you know how to spot different points of view, you're already thinking like an amazing reader! But there's even more to explore as you grow.
In 4th and 5th grade, you'll learn to compare stories told from first person ("I") and third person ("she") and understand how the narrator's type changes the whole story. You'll also learn that sometimes narrators aren't completely honest — they might only show you part of the truth!
| WHAT YOU KNOW NOW | WHAT YOU'LL LEARN NEXT |
|---|---|
| The narrator, characters, and you can have different viewpoints | How the type of narrator changes the entire feeling of a story |
| Characters show their feelings through words and actions | How characters can change their point of view over time |
| You can agree or disagree with what's in the story | How to use evidence from the text to explain your point of view |
The skill you're building right now — noticing different viewpoints — is one of the most important reading skills you'll ever learn. It helps you understand not just stories, but also real life! When you listen to a friend, a teacher, or a family member, you're always comparing their point of view with your own. Great job learning this! 🎉
Practice Problems
Time to try it yourself! Read each question carefully. When you're ready, click "Show Answer" to check your thinking.
What We Learned
In this lesson, you learned that every story has different points of view. The narrator is the one telling the story — they might be a character using "I" or someone outside using "he" and "she." The characters are the people living inside the story, and each one has their own thoughts and feelings that you can find by looking at their dialogue, thoughts, and actions. Most importantly, you, the reader, always have your own point of view — and it's perfectly fine if you agree or disagree with what happens in the story!
Remember the three big questions: Who is telling the story? What do the characters think and feel? And What do I think about this? By asking these questions every time you read, you become a stronger, smarter, and more thoughtful reader. You see the story through many pairs of eyes — and that's a superpower! 🦸♂️📚