English Question

[Syreth]

Does anyone know what dramatic point of view is?

This is really making me a bit frustrated. I'm taking an online English course and for an assignment we're trying to figure out the point of view for short stories (i.e. first-person unreliable, third-person omniscient, etc.). The instructor has referred to a point of view called "dramatic," but I can't find it in any of my 3 English texts or in any online glossaries. I asked my professor and he said, "go to the library." Well, I figured I might ask on here and save myself a trip to the library tomorrow (since it's such a small assignment).

[ShiroiHikari]

"Dramatic" point of view? I've never heard of that. Maybe you could Google it?

[Syreth]

Good suggestion, but I've already tried that about 3 or 4 times. Eh, couldn't hurt to just wing it, right?

[Yumie]

Or you could try wikipedi. It couldn't hurt. But no, I've never heard of the "dramatic" point of view. Wierd.

[Syreth]

I wonder if my prof is just crazy or something. I tried wikipedia too and it didn't give me anything. *sigh* oh well, thanks for your help!

[Radical Dreamer]

I used to know this, I swear. XD If I'm thinking of the correct term, there was an example of this in Romeo and Juliet...Agh...one sec...Ah. Ok, don't hold me to this, but I'm 90% sure the dramatic point of view is when the reader knows things that the characters don't know. For instance, in Romeo and Juliet, the reader knows that Juliet was only sleeping, but Romeo thinks she is dead. I'm now 95% sure that's the right term, but see if you can check up on it, just in case! Hope this helped!

[ClosetOtaku]

Could he have been speaking of "dramatic irony"? This is the omniscient point of view.

An omniscient viewpoint is one from which....the writer can develop several plot threads, building suspense by letting the reader see how all the pieces will come together....when the reader knows something the characters don't, this is called "dramatic irony", and it can be quite effective.

-- From "Writing Popular Fiction" by Dean R. Koontz

[Radical Dreamer]

Could he have been speaking of "dramatic irony"? This is the omniscient point of view.

An omniscient viewpoint is one from which....the writer can develop several plot threads, building suspense by letting the reader see how all the pieces will come together....when the reader knows something the characters don't, this is called "dramatic irony", and it can be quite effective.

-- From "Writing Popular Fiction" by Dean R. Koontz

Whoo!! I win at school!! I remember things from 9th grade English! *feels accomplished*

[Syreth]

Well, the assignment itself had to do with point of view, not irony, so I'm pretty sure that rules out dramatic irony. I have a theory... maybe it's just when a short story gives the actions and dialogue of the characters like a play, rather than giving insight into the thoughts of the characters or other information like that. Thanks for your help, guys.

[Phantom_Sorano]

Well, Syreth, I believe I can help you...I am an aspiring English teacher....a dramatic point of view....think of a soap opera....your main character must put into view that makes the surroundings around them dramatic....understand?

[Syreth]

Hmm... I'm still a bit unclear, actually. So if the view is dramatic, then it's a dramatic point of view? What do you mean by dramatic?

Well, I think I'm actually in the clear, but thanks for your help anyhow. I completed the assignment and made what I think is a fair guess at which story is in the mysterious "dramatic point of view." I guess I might share if I was right or not for the slightly curious.

[Syreth]

Lucky guess it seems. Basically, as far as I can tell, the dramatic point of view is a short story that could easily be made into a play -- reporting actions and dialogue, but not the character's thoughts, etc. If anyone cares....