Paper 2: Character and Point of View

For Paper Two, the student will identify one characteristic (personality trait) of the protago-

nist that is important to the story and will examine how it is revealed through

the author’s chosen literary point of view.

Paragraph one is developed as in Paper One with a thesis statement pre-

senting the relationship between character and point of view. Remember you

are discussing the literary fiction element point of view, not point of view as

it is used in daily conversation. A character may have a view point, but that is

not literary point of view as in first person- major character, third person-

omniscient, etc.

Memorize the four literary points of view.

The character paragraph needs to examine a characteristic of the protago

nist that is important to the story. Details from the story are necessary for

support.

The point of view paragraph will identify, with support, the author’s chosen

literary point of view.

The concluding paragraph needs to establish the relationship between the

characteristics and the point of view.

Write objectively.

Discuss character and point of view directly. Use the terminology you have

been studying.

Sample thesis: The self-sacrificing character of Roselily, in “Roselily” by Alice

Walker, is revealed through the first person-major character point of view.