Wednesday, November 11, 2009

a slow-moving line at the grocery checkout

First person:
This line is taking forever, I should've just gotten my groceries at the gas-station.

Third person limited:
He impatiently waited in line, figgiting restlessly with the nearby magazines.

Third person omniscient:
He regretted his choice as he waited in line anxiously. Sweating fervently, he anxiously waited in line to purchase his groceries.

a traffic jam on an area road

First person:
This traffic is absurd. I shouldve taken my wifes advice and take I-95, now I'll probably be late to work. Hopefully Mr. Goldstein won't be angry.

Third person limited:
It was obvious he was late for work. He loosened his tie to prohibit the sweat from drowning his shirt. Searching frantically around his car, he finally found his phone, presumably to call his boss about being late to work.

Third person omniscient:
He looked around for his phone. Finally he found it. Dialing his boss's number, he whispered a silent prayer.

a person at bat in a championship baseball game

First person:
Just like practice, just like practice, just like practice. I'm not worried at all. I'm the clutch man, the ace, the go-to guy. Don't worry coach, I got this.

Third person limited:
The batter looked confident, a little to over-confident. Nevertheless, he stepped into the box and awaited his fate.

Third person omniscient:
He was prepared, ready to take over. He pumped himself by quoting lines in his head. It was his time.

someone who is giving his or her first public speaking assignment

First person:
My knees feel weak; my palms are sweaty. There is an overwhelming weight on my shoulders, but I need to do this, I need to get an A, it's now or never.

Third person limited:
He was sweating prefusly. Nervous, as if this was his first public speaking assignment. But, he still had to do it, he couldn't run away now, he was already on stage, center-fold

Third person omniscient:
He needed the grade. He didn't want to stand up there, and the fact that he could barely stand didn't help the matter, but it needed to be done. He shakily set his papers down on the podium and crackled the first words out of his speech.

1 comment:

  1. 3rd person omniscient can actually have more information than 1st person, since we do not always realize everything that goes on inside of us. So, make that omniscient narrator more powerful.

    ReplyDelete