How Point of View, Perspective, and Irony Work Together in Literature and Film
When reading a great story or watching a great film, it’s not just the plot that keeps us hooked—it’s how the story is told. Three key literary elements that shape our experience are point of view, perspective, and irony. Understanding how these elements connect can deepen your comprehension, boost critical thinking, and help you become a more insightful reader or viewer.
What Is Point of View in Literature?
Point of view (POV) refers to the narrator's position in the story. Common types include:
First person: The narrator is a character in the story, using "I" or "we."
Second person: Rare, but uses "you" to put the reader directly into the story.
Third person limited: The narrator or audience knows the thoughts and feelings of one character (we see through their eyes).
Third person omniscient: The narrator or audience knows all characters' thoughts and emotions.
Point of view controls how much the reader knows and shapes how events are experienced.
What Is Perspective in Literature?
Perspective is the lens through which a character sees the world. It's influenced by the character’s background, beliefs, emotions, and experiences.
For example, a wealthy character and a poor character might see the same event—like a fancy dinner—very differently. That's perspective, and it adds depth and realism to fiction.
Understanding a character’s perspective helps readers analyze character motivation, bias, and emotional nuance.
What Is Irony in Literature?
Irony is when there's a difference between appearance and reality, expectation and result, or what is said and what is meant. The main types of irony are:
Dramatic irony: The reader knows something the character doesn’t.
Situational irony: The outcome is the opposite of what was expected.
Verbal irony: A character says one thing but means the opposite.
Irony creates tension, humor, and meaning. It often emerges when point of view and perspective don't align with what the audience understands.
How Point of View, Perspective, and Irony Are Connected
These three literary elements are deeply connected and often work together to create deeper meaning in fiction:
Point of view determines what the reader is allowed to know.
Perspective shapes how characters interpret events.
Irony arises when there’s a gap between what characters understand and what the reader or audience knows.
For example, a story told from a first-person point of view might feature a narrator with a limited or biased perspective. If the reader sees clues the narrator misses, this creates dramatic irony. The result? A more complex and compelling reading experience.
Examples of Point of View, Perspective, and Irony in Literature
Want to see these elements in action? Analyze these classic stories:
“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe (unreliable narrator, dramatic irony)
“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl (situational and dramatic irony)
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck (limited third-person, contrasting perspectives)
Ask yourself:
Who is telling the story (point of view)?
What do they believe or value (perspective)?
Is there a disconnect between what they know and what I, the reader, know (irony)?
How Point of View, Perspective, and Irony Show Up in Film
Understanding point of view, perspective, and irony isn’t just helpful for reading books—it’s also key to watching and analyzing film and television. Directors, screenwriters, and cinematographers use these elements in powerful ways to shape audience understanding.
Point of View in Film
In film, point of view is often conveyed through camera angles, narration, or voiceover. A shot from a character’s eyes (POV shot) gives us their literal view. A narrator telling the story—like in Forrest Gump—offers a more personal lens. Filmmakers carefully choose what the audience is allowed to see or know, just like authors do.
Perspective in Film
A character’s perspective in a film is shown through dialogue, decisions, and visual cues. Think of how a character’s emotions are reflected in lighting, music, or color grading. In The Pursuit of Happyness, for example, we experience the world from the perspective of a struggling father, which helps us emotionally connect with his journey.
Irony in Film
Irony is everywhere in film—especially dramatic irony, where the audience knows more than the characters. Horror movies are famous for this: we scream “Don’t go in there!” because we know what’s behind the door. In comedies, situational irony adds humor, like in Mrs. Doubtfire, where a father disguises himself as a nanny and ends up babysitting his own kids.
In thrillers like Gone Girl or The Sixth Sense, irony is layered through unreliable narrators and hidden perspectives, leading to shocking reveals. These twists only work because filmmakers control who knows what, and when.
A Compelling Story that Makes You Think
Whether you’re reading a novel or watching a film, point of view, perspective, and irony work together to shape how stories are told—and how we understand them. In both mediums, storytellers control what information is shared, whose voice we hear, and how our expectations are challenged. By paying attention to these elements, we become more than just passive readers or viewers—we become active thinkers, constantly interpreting meaning, noticing contradictions, and asking deeper questions. The more we understand how these tools are used, the more we can appreciate the craft behind every powerful story—on the page or on the screen.
