In three to five sentences, identify and explain the effect of the point of view in this passage. taking livestock is theft, and theft is a felony which carries the death sentence. . it is unlikely that you will be hanged for taking a wild animal such as a rabbit; but, even so, you will get a fine amount­ing to three times the value of the animal as well as three months in prison, and you will have to enter into a bond to guarantee your good behavior in the future; a second offense will be treated more harshly. if a gamekeeper attacks you and you defend yourself, you can be charged with assault. you may find yourself on the gallows if you injure him. –the time traveler’s guide to elizabethan england, ian mortimer

The above passage is from The Time Traveler’s Guide to Elizabethan England by Ian Mortimer. The consequences that are listed for theft of livestock seem a lot more severe when the readers think that they might actually happen to them too.  

By speaking to the reader as a separate person, the author captures their attention, who in different circumstances might not take the punishment of a crime as seriously.

The effect of the point of view in the above passage can be seen in more detail as described below:

•The author combines the second and third person point of view. It gives it a more dramatic effect and the people pay more attention to the words of the author.

•By doing so, the author wants to make certain that his words are both instructional, informative and engaging for the audience.

•The readers feel addressed by being referred to in such a way and their attention is captured which makes it more of a compelling read.

•The readers are, therefore, drawn into the narrative more than they would be if only the third person point of view was written, as it usually is.

•Likewise, the narrator also addresses the impacts for committing various different kinds of offenses which would make them more alert as to the resulting consequences, and they would, more cautiously, avoid doing the offences.

Therefore, the author gets an indeed more dramatic effect by the use of second person point of view in the above passage.

Learn more about The Time Traveler’s Guide here:

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