Characterisation and Narrative Voice

Characterisation is how a writer develops a character’s personality and attributes in a story.
This can be direct, where the writer openly describes the character’s traits, or indirect, where traits are revealed through the character’s actions, dialogue, thoughts, appearance, and interactions with other characters.
A character’s development throughout the story can provide insight into their personality and motivations, highlighting core themes and plot progression.

The narrative voice is the method by which a story is told, this can significantly influence the reader’s understanding of the plot and characters.
First person narration involves the character narrating the story from their perspective using ‘I’ or ‘we’. This provides immediate access to the narrator’s thoughts, emotions, and viewpoints.
Third person narration can be limited, where only one character’s thoughts and experiences are revealed, or omniscient, where the narrator has unlimited knowledge of all characters’ thoughts and experiences.
Second person narration speaks directly to the reader using ‘you’, providing a deeply engaging and often unconventional experience.

Analyse the language used to describe a character. Does it evoke a certain mood or judgment?
Consider how the character changes throughout the text. What triggers these changes, and what effects do they have?
Notice how a character’s motivations or desires might contribute to the conflict within the plot, impacting the outcome of the story.

Identify the narrative voice used in the text. How does it affect your understanding, perception, or sympathy towards the characters?
Note how the chosen narration technique enhances or contrasts the themes presented in the text.
In first-person narratives, remember to question the reliability of the narrator. Could their personal biases or emotions distort the truth?

When comparing multiple texts, take note of similarities or differences in the ways characters are presented and developed.
Look for contrasts or parallels in the narrative voice. How does each voice bring a unique perspective or impact to the story?
Observe how characterisation and narrative voice contribute to the overall theme, tone, or message of each text.

Reflect on how a character’s development or the narrative voice shapes your response to the story.
Contemplate the author’s intention behind characterisation and choice of narrative. What ideas are they aiming to communicate?
When presenting an analysis, remember to provide examples and justification for your interpretations of characterisation and narrative voice.