what is second person point of view in literature
What is Second-person Point of View in Literature?
The point of view in which a story is presented by its creator changes the way in which the audience receives and perceives it. Here are the characteristics and examples of second-person point of view in literature.
Generally Used in...
A second-person point of view in literature is mainly used in the non-fiction genre of books, in categories like self-help, do it yourself, adventure, travel, etc.Why Do Authors Use Second-person Point of View?
Writers can improve the involvement of the audience by making use of this technique. This also gives them control over the information that reaches their audience through the narration. When the writer has to address the readers directly, this narration technique is very effective and comes into the picture.Examples of Second-person Point of View in Literature
You are not the kind of guy who would be at a place like this in the morning. But here you are, and you cannot say that the terrain is entirely unfamiliar, although the details are fuzzy. You are at a nightclub talking to a girl with a shaved head.
This type of narration has also been used in 'Happy Endings' by Margaret Atwood, though the use has been only intermittent. Another writer who made use of this style of narration is William Faulkner. He used this point of view of narration in his novel 'Absalom, Absalom'. This literary technique can also be seen in 'If on a Winter's Night a Traveler' by Italo Calvino, and in the poem 'Degrees of Gray in Philipsburg' by composer Richard Hugo.'Bright Lights, Big City' by Jay McInerney
Why Limit the Use in Fiction?
When used regularly in fiction, there are some unwanted effects of the second-person point of view on the readers, along with restricting the options available for an author. As for the readers, it can become a hindrance from completely getting lost in the world created by the writer. When using it intermittently, switch over from the first-person, or the third-person point of view in a gradual manner. If the change is rather abrupt, it will distract the attention of the audience from the story to the writer. It will also break the general rhythm of the reader, which can lead to them pondering upon as to who from the story has addressed them.