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

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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.

WatchThink Dig Deeper Discuss
What is the point of view of the following passage? “We were whistling while we worked that morning. Around noon, we stopped for a lunch break. A pale woman with red lips showed up from nowhere. She seemed scared, so we decided to help her.”

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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