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First person vs. Second person vs. Third person - Rebekah Bergman

1,157,077 Views

28,268 Questions Answered

TEDEd Animation

Let’s Begin…

Who is telling a story, and from what perspective, are some of the most important choices an author makes. Told from a different point of view, a story can transform completely. Third person, first person, and second person perspectives each have unique possibilities and constraints. So how do you choose a point of view for your story? Rebekah Bergman explores the different ways to focus a story.

Watch Think 5 Multiple Choice &
3 Open Answer Questions Dig Deeper Learn More Discuss 1 Guided Discussion &
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Which of these passages is told in third person point of view?

a

Your mother tells you to go visit your sick grandmother. You’re annoyed because you had plans to go to the mall this afternoon, and you’ll probably be late now. Even though you’re supposed to stay on the path, you take the shortcut through the woods.

b

The girl knocks on her grandmother’s door and, when no one answers, she enters. Her sick grandmother lies in the bed. “My,” the girl thinks, “everything about Grandma’s face looks...so big.”

c

My mother told me not to leave the path and cut through the woods, but whatever. I was the one making this walk twice a week, not Mom! Plus, the flowers in the woods were pretty, and I thought Grandma would like them. So that’s why I did it.

d

You sneak into the house before the girl arrives and, in one gulp, you eat the grandmother. Then you put on one of her bonnets and look in the mirror. You look nothing like the grandmother. Your eyes, nose, mouth--everything is much bigger. Still, you think, maybe the girl won’t notice right away.

About TED-Ed Animations

TED-Ed Animations feature the words and ideas of educators brought to life by professional animators. Are you an educator or animator interested in creating a TED-Ed Animation? Nominate yourself here »

Meet The Creators

Educator Rebekah Bergman
Director Jérémie Balais, Jeff Le Bars
Narrator Susan Zimmerman
Animator Jérémie Balais, Jeff Le Bars
Music Fred Roux
Sound Designer Raphaël Pibarot
Director of Production Gerta Xhelo
Editorial Director Alex Rosenthal
Producer Bethany Cutmore-Scott
Editorial Producer Elizabeth Cox
Fact-Checker Eden Girma

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