Glossary
Author
The person who creates the literary work.
Example:
J.K. Rowling is the author of the Harry Potter series, but she is not the narrator of the books.
First-Person
A point of view where the story is told by a character within the narrative, using "I" and "me."
Example:
In The Catcher in the Rye, Holden Caulfield's first-person narration gives us direct access to his cynical and angsty thoughts.
Narrator
The voice telling the story in a narrative, which can be a character within the story or an external voice.
Example:
In The Great Gatsby, Nick Carraway serves as the narrator, recounting the events of the summer he spent in West Egg.
Omniscient
A type of third-person narration where the narrator knows everything about all characters, including their thoughts, feelings, and hidden motives.
Example:
In Middlemarch, the omniscient narrator provides deep insights into the inner lives of multiple characters, revealing their complex motivations.
Perspective & Bias
The particular viewpoint and inherent leanings or prejudices of a narrator, which can shape how events and characters are presented.
Example:
A character's personal history might introduce perspective and bias into their narration, causing them to portray certain events more favorably than others.
Point of View (POV)
The angle or perspective from which a story is told, determining how much access the reader has to characters' thoughts and feelings.
Example:
The choice of point of view significantly impacts how readers perceive the events in a novel, revealing either limited or extensive information.
Relationship with the Reader
The connection or dynamic established between the narrator and the audience, influencing reader investment and trust.
Example:
A chatty, confiding narrator can build a strong relationship with the reader, making them feel like a close confidant.
Reliable Narrator
A narrator whose account of events can be trusted by the reader as truthful and objective.
Example:
A historian writing a factual account aims to be a reliable narrator, presenting information without personal distortion.
Second-Person
A rare point of view that uses "you" and "your," making the reader a character in the story.
Example:
A choose-your-own-adventure book often employs second-person narration, instructing you to make decisions that affect the plot.
Speaker
The voice in a poem or song that expresses thoughts, feelings, and emotions.
Example:
In Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken," the speaker reflects on a choice made between two diverging paths.
Third-Person
A point of view where the story is told by an external narrator, using "he," "she," "it," and "they."
Example:
Most epic fantasies, like The Lord of the Rings, use a third-person perspective to provide a broad overview of the world and its many characters.
Tone
The narrator's or speaker's attitude toward the subject matter, characters, or audience, conveyed through word choice and style.
Example:
The somber tone of a eulogy reflects the speaker's grief and respect for the deceased.
Unreliable Narrator
A narrator whose credibility has been compromised, often due to mental instability, bias, immaturity, or a deliberate attempt to deceive.
Example:
The narrator of "The Tell-Tale Heart" is a classic unreliable narrator, whose claims of sanity are contradicted by his increasingly deranged actions.