Guide to Literary Terms Group

Question:

lisa11
lisa11
Teacher
Middle School

What is second person point of view?

I know first and third person point of view. Is there a second?

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Posted by lisa11 on Saturday April 7, 2007 at 10:56 PM and tagged with guide to literary terms, point of view.

Answers:


  1. jamie-wheeler Teacher
    College - Sophomore

    eNotes Editor

    A second person point of view is a story that is told from the perspective of "you." It is much less common than first and third. Do you remember children's books like the "Animorphs" series or the "Choose Your Own Adventure" tales? They went something like this: "You turn and standing there before you is a wolf. You have to decide to approach it or run away."

    Here's a handy key for you:

    First person: I
    Second person : You
    Thrid Person: He, She, They

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    Posted by jamie-wheeler on Sunday April 8, 2007 at 5:42 AM

  2. drubin
    drubin Teacher
    College - Freshman

    Second-person point of view is a variant of dramatic monologue, in which the speaker addresses a character (usually but not necessarily major), from whose perspective the  plot is narrated and commented upon, with greater or lesser sympathy and insight into circumstances, moral dispositions, passions, and thought. Second-person point of view is rare because difficult to achieve without artificiality. An entire radio series, The Whistler (CBS 1942-55; currently available on XM and Sirius) used this device, for coarse ironic effect.

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    Posted by drubin on Thursday July 24, 2008 at 5:12 PM

  3. winger
    winger Teacher
    Middle School

    Instructions are also generally written in second person with an implied "you".

    Example:

    First put the toothpaste on the toothbrush.  Then put the toothbrush in your mouth and move it up-and-down and side-to-side, making sure that you thoroughly clean all of your teeth (or tooth, if you're from Tennessee).

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    Posted by winger on Wednesday February 18, 2009 at 10:17 AM


  4. locksnbagels Teacher
    High School - 9th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Here's another example of 2nd person POV, taken straight from a student's persuasive essay...which was, of course, supposed to be written in 3rd person:

    You might ask yourself, "Is there reputable research on the existence of extra-terrestrial life?" You could research it yourself, check out a few websites, or you could just read this essay...

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    Posted by locksnbagels on Monday March 16, 2009 at 8:53 PM

  5. nephron
    nephron Student

    Lisa

    you are a middle school teacher who is asking this

    FAIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    A second grader knows this come on

     

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    Posted by nephron on Monday November 16, 2009 at 7:23 PM