Narrator

Omniscient Narrator

First-Person Narrator

Unreliable Narrator

Third-Person-Limited Narrator

Your Turn

What Do You Need to Know About Narrator and Voice?

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Tone and Voice

Tone

Voice

When you read a story, the narrator—or storyteller—controls everything you know about the characters and events.

Narrator

A writer’s choice of a narrator determines the point of view of the story—the perspective from which the story is told.

Three main types of narrators—or points of view—are

• omniscient,

• first-person, and

• third-person limited.

Narrator

• almost never refers to himself or herself directly,

When the omniscient point of view is used, the narrator

• is not a character in the story,

• knows all, and

Narrator: Omniscient Narrator

• can tell us what every character thinks and feels.

How can youtell this is an omniscient narrator?

Narrator: Omniscient Narrator

Quick CheckOne day, a young woman looked out her apartment window and saw a man playing a saxophone. “Cool,” she thought as she swayed to his tune. A big brown dog joined the man and howled along with the music.

Then a man in pajamas yelled from another window, complaining that the noise woke him up and he was going to call the police. This man, who worked the night shift and had to sleep all day, liked cats better than dogs anyway. The young saxophonist left.

How can youtell this is an omniscient narrator?

Narrator: Omniscient Narrator

Quick Check

The narrator isn’t a character in the story. The narrator knows what multiple characters are doing, thinking, and feeling.

One day, a young woman looked out her apartment window and saw a man playing a saxophone. “Cool,” she thought as she swayed to his tune. A big brown dog joined the man and howled along with the music.

Then a man in pajamas yelled from another window, complaining that the noise woke him up and he was going to call the police. This man, who worked the night shift and had to sleep all day, liked cats better than dogs anyway. The young saxophonist left.

A first-person narrator

• is a character in the story,

• talks to us using first-person pronouns, such as I and me, and

• reveals only what he or she thinks and experiences.

Because the writer has adopted a personality and is not the speaker, a first-person narrator is sometimes called a persona.

Narrator: First-Person Narrator

How can youtell this is a first-person narrator?

Narrator: First-Person Narrator

Quick Check

When I went to bed that night, I had no idea what the morning would bring. I only knew the knot in my stomach as I tossed and turned. Though I was sure that Nana’s surgery would go well, doubts tormented me.

The next morning, I tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen and saw the relief on my father’s face. I heaved a huge sigh of relief, and the muscles in my face relaxed.

How can youtell this is a first-person narrator?

Narrator: First-Person Narrator

Quick Check

The narrator is a character in the story and uses first-person pronouns.

Also, we know only what the narrator thinks and feels.

When I went to bed that night, I had no idea what the morning would bring. I only knew the knot in my stomach as I tossed and turned. Though I was sure that Nana’s surgery would go well, doubts tormented me.

The next morning, I tiptoed downstairs to the kitchen and saw the relief on my father’s face. I heaved a huge sigh of relief, and the muscles in my face relaxed.

Always question whether a first-person narrator is credible, or can be trusted.

An unreliable narrator is biased about or ignorant of what has actually occurred.

Narrator: Unreliable Narrator

In the third-person-limited point of view, the narrator

• limits what we know about other characters, and

Narrator: Third-Person-Limited Narrator

• focuses on one character’s thoughts and reactions,

• uses third-person pronouns when talking about that character,

• plays no part in the story.

How can you tell this is a third-person-limited point of view?

Narrator: Third-Person-Limited Narrator

Quick Check

At seven o’clock, they sat down to dinner. Frederick took his seat at the head of the table, proud host of their first dinner party. Looking across the dining table, however, he noticed that someone was missing. Where was Suzanne?

Embarrassed, Frederick excused himself and left his guests to serve themselves.

Where had Suzanne gone?

How can you tell this is a third-person-limited point of view?

Narrator: Third-Person-Limited Narrator

Quick Check

The narrator uses third-person pronouns, focuses on only one character’s thoughts and actions, and limits what we know.

At seven o’clock, they sat down to dinner. Frederick took his seat at the head of the table, proud host of their first dinner party. Looking across the dining table, however, he noticed that someone was missing. Where was Suzanne?

Embarrassed, Frederick excused himself and left his guests to serve themselves.

Where had Suzanne gone?

Tone and Voice

At some point, you may have been told to watch your tone of voice.

Your tone—your attitude—affects your voice, or how you sound to other people.

Writers use tone and voice to show attitude and to make their writing distinctive.

A story’s tone—the attitude its speaker takes toward a subject, character, or audience—can be

humorous

Tone and Voice: Tone

serious

loving

What other tones might a speaker or writer take?

In the following passage, notice how individual words and phrases contribute to the tone.

Tone and Voice: Tone

Sonia lifted the puppy to her chest and stroked his soft fur. Stretched out, the puppy was almost as big as she was. Nuzzling her face in the puppy’s neck, Sonia whispered gently, “It’s okay.” The puppy shook in the presence of the newcomers, but it softened now in Sonia’s arms.

Sonia lifted the puppy to her chest and stroked his soft fur. Stretched out, the puppy was almost as big as she was. Nuzzling her face in the puppy’s neck, Sonia whispered gently, “It’s okay.” The puppy shook in the presence of the newcomers, but he softened now in Sonia’s arms.

How would you describe the tone?

A writer’s voice is his or her unique use of language and overall style.

Tone and Voice: Voice

Just as you can identify your friend’s voice on the phone, you can often identify a writer from a work’s voice.

Narrators are sometimes described as having a voice created by their

• tone.

Tone and Voice: Voice

A narrator’s voice can affect our view of characters and events, and shape the story’s tone.

• manner of speaking,

• word choice, and

Tone and Voice: Voice

Quick Check“What do you think you’re doing?” I shouted. “Put it down—or else!”

“You’re not wearing it,” Kayla muttered. “You never wear it. Why can’t I?”

“Because it’s mine!”

“You’re so selfish,” Kayla muttered, jamming the shirt back onto a hanger. She slammed the closet door.

“Get out of my room,” I told her. I’d just about had it with my younger sister. She was always stealing my very favorite clothes.

How does the narrator sound as she argues with her sister?

Which words contribute to your impression?

Tone and Voice: Voice

Quick CheckHow does the narrator sound as she argues with her sister?

Which words contribute to your impression?

She sounds angry and immature.

The words in red contribute to her voice and tone.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I shouted. “Put it down—or else!”

“You’re not wearing it,” Kayla muttered. “You never wear it. Why can’t I?”

“Because it’s mine!”

“You’re so selfish,” Kayla muttered, jamming the shirt back onto a hanger. She slammed the closet door.

“Get out of my room,” I told her. I’d just about had it with my younger sister. She was always stealing my very favorite clothes.

Your Turn

With each retelling, discuss how the change in point of view affects your experience of the story.

Pair up with a classmate and choose a favorite fairytale, such as “Cinderella.” Then, take turns telling parts of the story

Analyze Point of View

• as a first-person narrator

• as an unreliable narrator

• as a third-person-limited narrator

• as an omniscient narrator