Point of View

"Night of the Howling Dogs" is told via the first person point of view. Dylan is both the hero and the narrator. The first person narrative lends an immediacy to the story that is not possible with the more conventional third person omniscient point of view. This immediacy and point-blank quality is desirable and necessary because we, the readers, need to be in Dylan's shoes if we are to appreciate the seriousness and adventure of this landmark event in the youngster's life, namely his coming of age as he makes the passage from boy to man.

The first person point of view differs from the objective point of view, the third person point of view and the omniscient and limited omniscient point s o view in several ways. In a story told through the first person point of view the narrator participates in the action of...