Definition
Objective point of view, sometimes called the camera-eye or dramatic point of view, reports only what could be seen or heard. The narrator does not state characters' private thoughts or interpret their feelings.
Example
He set the cup down hard. She left without answering gives external action only, like a silent film without voice-over.
Related terms
Common mistakes
- Slipping in words like "angry" or "nervous" that require access to inner states.
- Assuming objective POV must be cold; restraint can still carry strong emotion through behavior.