Point of View

Jean Craighead George tells her novel “Frightful’s Mountain” from the third-person limited-omniscient point of view, primarily following the actions and activities of her main character and principal protagonist, Frightful. Because Frightful is the main character of the novel, it is only fitting that most of the novel be about her trials, tribulations, and successes. But, because she is a falcon, and cannot understand all the actions of human beings (and human beings cannot necessarily understand her thought processes either), the third-person narrative mode is used. It is also used because, while Frightful may be the main character, many situations in the novel require other people to be present or engage in discussions and activities when Frightful is not around to see them. Such is the case, for example, when Leon Longbridge speaks to the children of Delhi about the governor’s letter. The limited-omniscient...