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Omniscient PoV??
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Total Posts: 79
Last Online: 7th Mar 2002 23:14:00
Registered: 15th May 2004 00:00:00
What is it?
I have been told that what I think is omniscient is actually third person... unlimited or something like that. From my understanding, omniscient is where the author switches from one person's PoV to another's all within the one paragraph, not confining the scene to just one person's perspective. That could be, and probably is, completely wrong, but no one has been able, or willing, to explain it further.
An example would be cool.
Asteroid B-612
I have been told that what I think is omniscient is actually third person... unlimited or something like that. From my understanding, omniscient is where the author switches from one person's PoV to another's all within the one paragraph, not confining the scene to just one person's perspective. That could be, and probably is, completely wrong, but no one has been able, or willing, to explain it further.
An example would be cool.
#2 - 21st Jan 2002 18:38:00
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Have never heard of this term but it makes sense. The word means an "extensive knowledge" - almost godlike in fact. So you are probably correct in saying the O/POV is very much that third all knowing person situation...all of us need to beware that when we put our readers into that perspective that we don't allow our voice to come through because we are indeed that O/POV.
Any help?
Any help?
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Total Posts: 57
Last Online: 26th Sep 2002 21:35:00
Registered: 15th May 2004 00:00:00
I have such trouble grasping point of view as explained when I read about it. I think omniscient point of view is like a godlike person above, narrating, and they know all but have nothing to do with plot. They only refer to he and she, never I. They can explain plot that even the characters are not aware of, so they are sort of a constant, reliable friend to the reader.
Yes they can bounce around to point of view of any character, but its doubtful they would do this in one paragraph as its so confusing to the reader.
I think Tolkien wrote this way in LOTR. He wrote as if he were Bilbo telling events as they were told to him by those who lived the adventure, but telling it after it was all over and with their thoughts depending on who's point of view. So as narrator he got in the heads of characters, but also he would step back and explain history, or some ironic event the actual characters were not aware of (like what others in the fellowship were doing somewhere else right then or that so and so had been in that very spot 3 months before and such).
There is also a limited omniscient point of view that is similar but the narrator only goes into one character's mind. I'm not sure how that works. I would think they know the whole story and can step back and describe land and events, but when they zoom in they can only go into one character's head.
You know, now that I think about it, Tolkien did 'The Hobbit' this very way. Unlike the trilogy where we get into Frodo's and Sam's and some of the other's heads, in 'The Hobbit' we only are ever in Bilbo's head.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate!
Yes they can bounce around to point of view of any character, but its doubtful they would do this in one paragraph as its so confusing to the reader.
I think Tolkien wrote this way in LOTR. He wrote as if he were Bilbo telling events as they were told to him by those who lived the adventure, but telling it after it was all over and with their thoughts depending on who's point of view. So as narrator he got in the heads of characters, but also he would step back and explain history, or some ironic event the actual characters were not aware of (like what others in the fellowship were doing somewhere else right then or that so and so had been in that very spot 3 months before and such).
There is also a limited omniscient point of view that is similar but the narrator only goes into one character's mind. I'm not sure how that works. I would think they know the whole story and can step back and describe land and events, but when they zoom in they can only go into one character's head.
You know, now that I think about it, Tolkien did 'The Hobbit' this very way. Unlike the trilogy where we get into Frodo's and Sam's and some of the other's heads, in 'The Hobbit' we only are ever in Bilbo's head.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate!
#4 - 24th Jan 2002 19:43:00
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Omniscient is the 'godlike' figure in stories. Indifferent, referring to characters as 'he,she'. The omniscient POV means that the figure who is narrating is all-knowing. (This is what we learnt in English)
In Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet, the beginning of the film is omniscient. This is the scene when the helicopter flies around and captures the chaos below.
In Baz Luhrmann's Romeo and Juliet, the beginning of the film is omniscient. This is the scene when the helicopter flies around and captures the chaos below.
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Last Online: 7th Mar 2002 23:14:00
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Thanks guys. Still not sure on the exact nature of it though. Seems to me that there is not a lot of difference, then, between omniscient or third person.
For example, I have several scenes that are initially told from the PoV of a minor character, and as their thoughts turn to one of the major characters, so does the PoV. It switches, sort of in the space of a paragraph, from one person to another.
I don't know much about the 'technical' side of writing, never have taken a class or workshop, but from what I have picked up from other forums is that the above scenario is not wrong, but not completely 'right' either. I have gotten the impression that one scene should be told from only ONE PoV, not two or three, and that if you do tell it from more than one PoV, that is omniscient.
I am probably completely wrong here, and as it is the actual writing that is important, not the 'classification' of it, I suppose I shouldn't worry, huh??Asteroid B-612
For example, I have several scenes that are initially told from the PoV of a minor character, and as their thoughts turn to one of the major characters, so does the PoV. It switches, sort of in the space of a paragraph, from one person to another.
I don't know much about the 'technical' side of writing, never have taken a class or workshop, but from what I have picked up from other forums is that the above scenario is not wrong, but not completely 'right' either. I have gotten the impression that one scene should be told from only ONE PoV, not two or three, and that if you do tell it from more than one PoV, that is omniscient.
I am probably completely wrong here, and as it is the actual writing that is important, not the 'classification' of it, I suppose I shouldn't worry, huh??
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Last Online: 26th Sep 2002 21:35:00
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I don't know the answer to that. 
">
You did ask about POV though!
I like knowing, and I liked thinking about it because lots of writers write from a certain POV to make a point. It makes me think creatively, like... 'what if' I wrote a story that started first person, then because of some event in the plot turned to omniscient!? Cool. Sort of like Wizard of Oz going black and white to color.
Some writers are great with no schooling, some with all the schooling they can get. Some people tell me to read as much of what I like to write as I can, other people tell me not to, so I'll be original. If you already have a natural grasp of point of view without analysing it, then go with that.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate!
"> You did ask about POV though!
I like knowing, and I liked thinking about it because lots of writers write from a certain POV to make a point. It makes me think creatively, like... 'what if' I wrote a story that started first person, then because of some event in the plot turned to omniscient!? Cool. Sort of like Wizard of Oz going black and white to color.
Some writers are great with no schooling, some with all the schooling they can get. Some people tell me to read as much of what I like to write as I can, other people tell me not to, so I'll be original. If you already have a natural grasp of point of view without analysing it, then go with that.
I have not yet begun to procrastinate!
#7 - 27th Jan 2002 23:07:00
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First person is really, really hard. I remember when Sara D was working on Threshold I think, she used to write to me about the difficulty of it. I didn't really appreciate it then because I was not writing all those years ago. I do now though. If you write in first person then you can only tell the reader what you see and know. You can't express opinions or ideas of others, or even what's going on elsewhere...unless you become very creative and find a trick. By this I mean you could have a character like Cloot who reports back to you or perhaps you have a way of "seeing" outside of yourself and so on.
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