Question 18 of 20 Multiple Choice: Please select the best answer and click “submit.” The _ point of view offers the reader an “insider’s view” of the thoughts and feelings of one character, using pronouns like he or she to describe that character. A. third-person limited B. third-person omniscient C. second-person D. first-person
The correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is A. third-person limited.
In literature, the third-person limited point of view provides an “insider’s view” into the thoughts and feelings of one character, while still using third-person pronouns like “he,” “she,” or “they.” This narrative style focuses on a single character’s internal experiences, but it doesn’t give the reader access to the thoughts or perspectives of other characters unless they are explicitly shared through dialogue or action.
Explanation:
- Third-Person Limited (A): This point of view is called “limited” because the narrator’s insight is restricted to the mind of just one character. The narrator is not a participant in the story but instead follows the chosen character closely, presenting events, feelings, and thoughts as they occur. For example, a sentence like “He felt nervous as he approached the door” reveals the inner experience of the character, but the reader cannot know what others around him are thinking unless they speak or act in a way that reveals it.
- Third-Person Omniscient (B): This narrator has access to the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters and can move between them at will. An omniscient narrator has full knowledge of all events and characters, offering a broader, less restricted view of the story.
- Second-Person (C): This perspective is rare in fiction and addresses the reader as “you,” placing the reader in the story as if they are the character. An example might be, “You walk into the room and feel a chill.”
- First-Person (D): This point of view uses “I” or “we” and is narrated by a character directly involved in the story, sharing only what they themselves experience.
The key distinction for third-person limited is that, while it uses third-person pronouns, it offers deep insight into only one character’s thoughts, making it more intimate than the omniscient viewpoint but still more distanced than first-person narration.