First Person The narrator refers to him or herself. In first person novels, you’re in the character’s head, seeing the story unfold through their eyes. Pronouns: I, me, my, mine, and we. Examples: I unzipped the long-neglected compartment in the suitcase to find a ring that my grandmother used to wear. We’re not together anymore, but I have a feeling my heart will lead me back soon enough. Second Person The narrator is addressing you, the reader. Novels written in the second person are rare, but they do exist. An author might do this to draw the reader into the story, demanding them to imagine themselves in the world that they’re creating. Pronouns: you, your, and yours. Examples: You can wait in here and make yourself at home. You’re ten years old and you walk into the kitchen to find your mother making your favorite sandwich just for you. Third Person The narrator is talking about other people or persons (not “me” or “you”). Third person novels have a disembodied narrator describing the characters, what they do, and what happens to them. Sometimes the narrator will describe the thoughts and feelings of the character but you (the reader) are not directly seeing the story unfold through that character’s eyes. You are like the outsider looking in on the lives of the characters. Pronouns: he, him, his, himself, she, her, hers, herself, it, its, itself, they, them, their, theirs, and themselves. Examples: Penelope used her prize money to buy her sister a new pair of shoes. James and Lorrie heard a demanding yell. He sighed, she rolled her eyes. They knew what they would soon find in their living room.