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I have retold the story of sleeping beauty using all the major points of view. The first version is told
objectively, without the views and feelings of the author or of the characters in the tale. After the
objective telling of the story, the narratives are all told from the point of view of the writer or of
one of the characters. The italicized text identifies ideas, perspectives, and feelings that indicate
the point of view and distinguish one version of "Sleeping Beauty" from the others.
The facts in each telling of this story are the same; however, depending on the point of view, the facts are perceived and interpreted differently, so that the stories are not alike. As you read them, notice the differences and think about how important the point of view is in a narrative.
I. Objective Point of ViewThe prince slowly pushed open the door; his servant waited in the hall. In the dim light, the prince saw a form lying on a bed. Brushing aside cobwebs, he approached the bed; he left footprints in the thick dust. He looked down at the form, a beautiful young woman; she had long red hair and was wearing on out-of-fashion dress. He stood looking at her for several minutes; then he bent over and kissed her on the lips. She stirred, her eyelids fluttered; then she opened her blue eyes and smiled. "You've come at last," she said. The servant entered the room, and the prince smiled and sat on the bed. II. First person Point of View
III. Omniscient authorThe prince's servant waited in the hallway, relieved at not having to take any risks. Despite his impatience, the prince slowly, very slowly, pushed the door open. He was a very cautious prince; as a child, he never went out in the rain without his boots and umbrella. Brushing aside cobwebs, he grimaced with distaste and approached the bed. He thought of possible dangers. He looked, with admiration and a touch of some other feeling, at a beautiful young woman asleep; he had always found redheads particularly attractive. He was puzzled by her out-of-fashion dress, which looked like the dress his great grandmother was wearing in her state portrait. He stood by the bed for a few minutes, looking around to see if anyone was observing him. No, no one was, he noted with satisfaction. Only then did he bend over and kiss her full on the lips. He was also an unworthy prince. Before he could kiss her again, she stirred, her eyelids fluttered; then she opened her blue eyes and smiled at the prince. She thought he was the handsomest prince she had ever seen. She was in love--again. You must remember that it had been a long time since she had seen a young man. "You've come at last," she said warmly, to encourage him. Curious and bored, the servant entered the room. The prince was sitting on the side of the bed, as if he intended to stay awhile. IV. Limited omniscientThe prince's point of view:The prince slowly pushed open the door. What a filthy room; the dust was so thick he was even leaving footprints; was he ruining his shoes? The servants should be punished for their laziness; maybe beheading one or two would give the rest a proper attitude toward their duties. He brushed spider webs aside; he shuddered at the thought of spiders, disgusting little creatures. He approached the bed; that was one striking redhead lying asleep. It was time to stop and think about his next move. Was anyone around? No? Good. Well, time to act; just standing looking at her wasn't going to accomplish anything. He bent over her and kissed her lips, full. Nice. Maybe he could get in a few more kisses. Just then, she stirred, her eyelids fluttered; she opened her blue eyes and smiled at the prince. "You've come at last," she said. Come at last? What was she talking about? he wondered, as he sat on the bed and smiled back ingratiatingly and hopefully. To his annoyance, the servant entered the room, and disrupted the mood.The princess's point of view: The servant's point of view:
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Point of view: definition || Core Studies 6 page || Melani Home Page