POV character

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. The Dunk and Egg novellas have thus far been from the perspective of Duncan the Tall.

POV Characters

Major POV Characters

• Eddard Stark - Lord of Winterfell, Warden of the North and Hand of the King
• Catelyn Stark - Wife of Eddard Stark
• Daenerys Targaryen - Daughter of King Aerys II Targaryen and his wife Rhaella
• Tyrion Lannister - Second son of Lord Tywin Lannister, brother of Queen Cersei, a dwarf
• Jon Snow - Bastard son of Eddard Stark, a member of the Night's Watch
• Bran Stark - Second son of Eddard Stark and his wife Catelyn
• Sansa Stark - Elder daughter of Eddard Stark and his wife Catelyn
• Arya Stark - Younger daughter of Eddard Stark and his wife Catelyn
• Theon Greyjoy - Son of Lord Balon Greyjoy of Pyke and the Iron Islands, a ward and hostage to Eddard Stark
• Davos Seaworth - A landed knight in service to Stannis Baratheon, captains the Black Betha, a former smuggler
• Jaime Lannister - Twin brother of Queen Cersei, brother of Tyrion Lannister, knight of the Kingsguard
• Samwell Tarly - Elder son of Lord Randyll Tarly, steward of the Night's Watch, a craven
• Cersei Lannister - Queen of the Seven Kingdoms, twin sister of Jaime Lannister
• Brienne of Tarth - Daughter of Lord Selwyn Tarth of Evenfall Hall on the island of Tarth, a warrior woman

Minor POV Characters

• Aeron Greyjoy - Brother of Balon Greyjoy, a priest of the Drowned God
• Victarion Greyjoy - Brother of Balon Greyjoy, Lord Captain of the Iron Fleet, and captain of the Iron Victory
• Arianne Martell - Daughter and heir of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne
• Asha Greyjoy - Daughter of Balon Greyjoy and captain of the Black Wind
• Areo Hotah - Captain of the Guard of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne
• Arys Oakheart - A knight of the Kingsguard
• Quentyn Martell - Elder son of Prince Doran Martell of Dorne
• Barristan Selmy - A former knight of the Kingsguard
• Jon Connington - Former Lord of Griffin's Roost, former Hand of the King, posing as a sellsword named Griff
• Melisandre - A red priestess of R'hllor from Asshai

Prologue POV's

All POV characters in prologues die at the end of the chapters or (in the prologue of aSoS) shortly after.

• Will, a man of the Night's Watch. aGoT
• Maester Cressen, Stannis Baratheon's Maester. aCoK
• Chett, a member of the Night's Watch. aSoS
• Pate, a novice in the Citadel of Oldtown. aFfC
• Varamyr, a wildling skinchanger. aDwD

Epilogue POV's

All POV characters in epilogues die at the end of the chapters.

• Merrett Frey, ninth son of Lord Walder Frey, aSoS
• Kevan Lannister, Lord Regent, aDwD

Appearances in the Books

A Game of Thrones

• Eddard Stark - 15 chapters
• Catelyn Stark - 11 chapters
• Daenerys Targaryen - 10 chapters
• Tyrion Lannister - 9 chapters
• Jon Snow - 9 chapters
• Bran Stark - 7 chapters
• Sansa Stark - 6 chapters
• Arya Stark - 5 chapters
• Will - 1 chapter (Prologue)

A Clash of Kings

• Tyrion Lannister - 15 chapters
• Arya Stark - 10 chapters
• Jon Snow - 8 chapters
• Sansa Stark - 8 chapters
• Bran Stark - 7 chapters
• Catelyn Stark - 7 chapters
• Theon Greyjoy - 6 chapters
• Daenerys Targaryen - 5 chapters
• Davos Seaworth - 3 chapters
• Maester Cressen - 1 chapter (Prologue)

A Storm of Swords

• Arya Stark - 13 chapters
• Jon Snow - 12 chapters
• Tyrion Lannister - 11 chapters
• Jaime Lannister - 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 - 1 chapter (Prologue)
• Merrett Frey - 1 chapter (Epilogue)

A Feast for Crows

• Cersei Lannister - 10 chapters
• Brienne of Tarth - 8 chapters
• Jaime Lannister - 7 chapters
• Samwell Tarly - 5 chapters
• Arya Stark - 3 chapters
• Sansa Stark - 3 chapters
• Aeron Greyjoy - 2 chapters
• Victarion Greyjoy - 2 chapters
• Arianne Martell - 2 chapters
• Asha Greyjoy - 1 chapter
• Areo Hotah - 1 chapter
• Arys Oakheart - 1 chapter
• Pate - 1 chapter (Prologue)

A Dance with Dragons

• Jon Snow - 13 chapters
• Tyrion Lannister - 12 chapters
• Daenerys Targaryen - 10 chapters
• Theon Greyjoy - 7 chapters
• Quentyn Martell - 4 chapters
• Davos Seaworth - 4 chapters
• Barristan Selmy - 4 chapters
• Asha Greyjoy - 3 chapters
• Bran Stark - 3 chapters
• Jon Connington - 2 chapters
• Cersei Lannister - 2 chapters
• Victarion Greyjoy - 2 chapters
• Arya Stark - 2 chapters
• Areo Hotah - 1 chapter
• Jaime Lannister - 1 chapter
• Melisandre - 1 chapter
• Varamyr Sixskins - 1 chapter (Prologue)
• Kevan Lannister - 1 chapter (Epilogue)

The Winds of Winter (so far confirmed)

• 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 Tully	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