Narrative Viewpoint

Introduction to Narrative Viewpoint

  • The narrative viewpoint is an integral part of understanding any literary or creative text.
  • It refers to the perspective from which a story is told, and can greatly affect how the reader understands and reacts to the story.
  • Recognising and understanding the narrative viewpoint can provide deeper insights into the story and its characters.

Key Types of Narrative Viewpoint

  • The first-person narrative involves the narrator being a character within the story, often using pronouns like ‘I’ and ‘we’.
  • The second-person narrative puts the reader into the story, with instructions or suggestions using the pronoun ‘you’.
  • The third-person narrative refers to characters as ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘they’. It may be objective, omniscient, or limited, each with varying levels of insight into characters’ thoughts and feelings.

Identifying the Narrative Viewpoint

  • Look for the use of personal pronouns. ‘I’ or ‘we’ indicate first-person, ‘you’ is second-person, and ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘it’, and ‘they’ are third-person.
  • Note whether the narrator has unlimited knowledge of all characters (omniscient) or limited knowledge to one character’s perspective.
  • Detect the viewpoint from ((the narrator’s participation**, whether they are part of the story (first-person) or not (third-person).

Understanding the Importance of Narrative Viewpoint

  • The narrative viewpoint helps shape the reader’s understanding of the story, the characters, their thoughts, actions, and motivations.
  • It impacts the level of intimacy and connection readers might feel with characters.
  • The viewpoint can also enhance or limit the amount of information shared with the reader, influencing their engagement and interpretation of the plot.

Adapting Writing to Different Narrative Viewpoints

  • Consider the purpose and style of your writing when selecting a narrative viewpoint. Different narratives work better for different contexts.
  • Ensure consistency in using the chosen narrative throughout your text, inconsistency can confuse readers.
  • The chosen viewpoint should effectively convey your intentions and should facilitate the development of characters and the plot in your writing.