POV character

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Chapters of A Song of Ice and Fire are presented through different POV characters. Point of view is the way a story is written, determining through whose perspective the story is told. George R. R. Martin adheres to third-person narration. In each chapter the reader is presented with the thoughts of one particular character, but not the thoughts of other characters appearing within the chapter. The differing, sometimes conflicting, points of view within A Song of Ice and Fire present a multi-faceted view of the story.

Although most POV characters have been featured in multiple chapters, the prologues of the published books and the epilogues of A Storm of Swords and A Dance with Dragons feature characters whose points of view have only been featured once. Beginning in A Feast for Crows, some chapters are headed with a descriptive title rather than the POV character's name, although Martin has not yet explained why.[1] The Dunk and Egg novellas have thus far been from the perspective of Duncan the Tall.

POV characters by book

A Game of Thrones

A Clash of Kings

A Storm of Swords

  • Arya Stark - 13 chapters
  • Jon Snow - 12 chapters
  • Tyrion Lannister - 11 chapters
  • Jaime Lannister, the Lord Commander of the Kingsguard and the brother of Cersei and Tyrion - 9 chapters
  • Catelyn Stark - 7 chapters
  • Sansa Stark - 7 chapters
  • Davos Seaworth - 6 chapters
  • Daenerys Targaryen - 6 chapters
  • Samwell Tarly - 5 chapters
  • Bran Stark - 4 chapters
  • Chett, a steward of the Night's Watch - 1 chapter (Prologue)
  • Merrett Frey, the ninth son of Lord Walder Frey - 1 chapter (Epilogue)

A Feast for Crows

A Dance with Dragons

  • Jon Snow - 13 chapters
  • Tyrion Lannister - 12 chapters
  • Daenerys Targaryen - 10 chapters
  • Theon Greyjoy - 7 chapters
  • Quentyn Martell, the elder son of Doran - 4 chapters
  • Davos Seaworth - 4 chapters
  • Barristan Selmy, the Lord Commander of Daenerys's Queensguard - 4 chapters
  • Asha Greyjoy - 3 chapters
  • Bran Stark - 3 chapters
  • Jon Connington, the exiled Lord of Griffin's Roost and former Hand of the King - 2 chapters
  • Cersei Lannister - 2 chapters
  • Victarion Greyjoy - 2 chapters
  • Arya Stark - 2 chapters
  • Areo Hotah - 1 chapter
  • Jaime Lannister - 1 chapter
  • Melisandre, a red priestess of R'hllor from Asshai - 1 chapter
  • Varamyr, a skinchanger - 1 chapter (Prologue)
  • Kevan Lannister, a knight and Lord Regent - 1 chapter (Epilogue)

The Winds of Winter (so far confirmed)

Content.png
Warning
This information has thus far been released in a sample chapter for The Winds of Winter, and might therefore not be in finalized form. Keep in mind that the content as described below is still subject to change.
  • Arianne Martell - 2 chapters
  • Barristan Selmy - 2 chapters
  • Tyrion Lannister - 2 chapters
  • Arya Stark - 1 chapter
  • Sansa Stark - 1 chapter
  • Theon Greyjoy - 1 chapter
  • Victarion Greyjoy - 1 chapter
  • Aeron Greyjoy - 1 chapter

Statistics

Statistics, detailing the appearance of POV chapters across the novels.

POV Character A Game of Thrones A Clash of Kings A Storm of Swords A Feast for Crows A Dance with Dragons The Winds of Winter Number of Chapters
Eddard Stark 15 0 0 0 0 0 15
Catelyn Stark 11 7 7 0 0 0 25
Sansa Stark 6 8 7 3 0 1 25
Arya Stark 5 10 13 3 2 1 34
Bran Stark 7 7 4 0 3 0 21
Jon Snow 9 8 12 0 13 0 42
Daenerys Targaryen 10 5 6 0 10 0 31
Tyrion Lannister 9 15 11 0 12 2 49
Theon Greyjoy 0 6 0 0 7 1 14
Davos Seaworth 0 3 6 0 4 0 13
Samwell Tarly 0 0 5 5 0 0 10
Jaime Lannister 0 0 9 7 1 0 17
Cersei Lannister 0 0 0 10 2 0 12
Brienne of Tarth 0 0 0 8 0 0 8
Areo Hotah 0 0 0 1 1 0 2
Arys Oakheart 0 0 0 1 0 0 1
Arianne Martell 0 0 0 2 0 2 4
Asha Greyjoy 0 0 0 1 3 0 4
Aeron Greyjoy 0 0 0 2 0 1 3
Victarion Greyjoy 0 0 0 2 2 1 5
Quentyn Martell 0 0 0 0 4 0 4
Jon Connington 0 0 0 0 2 0 2
Barristan Selmy 0 0 0 0 4 2 6
Melisandre 0 0 0 0 1 0 1

Other POV characters

Dunk and Egg

Game of Thrones (Cyanide RPG)

Game of Thrones - A Telltale Games Series

Behind the Scenes

All prologue and epilogue POV characters so far have had their point of view featured only once, dying at the end of their chapter or, in the case of Chett, shortly afterward. However, George R. R. Martin has stated, "It's the viewpoint character who always dies. I like to break rules. Just when I get it established what the rule is, I like to break it. So maybe the viewpoint character will die in the prologue, and maybe they won't."[2]

References