Reaching for a Higher Perspective: Exploring Elements of Multiple Perspectives in Literature and Writing

In three parts, this thesis for the Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing dives into perspective in writing and in life. After a statement from the author, the critical essay defines and analyzes a craft used in fiction novels: writing from multiple perspectives. First, the author describes the three basic perspectives and their uses in fiction writing. Next, a history of the development of multiple points of view leads the reader from ancient epics to modern novels. Finally, the author\u27s analysis of William Faulkner\u27s novel, As I Lay Dying, gleans a broader understanding of writing clearly and effectively from multiple points of view in a novel. The final section, a novella-length fiction piece, presents a fantasy town from two different perspectives. Using craft elements of time and perspective shifts, the author explores themes of faith, love, and friendship through a unique fictional lens