Revision Narrative perspective

The effect a story has on the reader or listener is strongly influenced by the point of view, or perspective, from which it is told. Basically there are three types of narrator that an author can employ to tell a story, but the types can be mixed and the point of view can change in the course or the story. Make sure you don't confuse the author, the narrator and the characters when you talk about a text.

Point of view

1. Third-person omniscient narrator

This type of narrator tells the story from the outside but knows about the characters' thoughts and feelings as well as the background of the story.

Sometimes this type of narrator even comments on the characters' behaviour, the story or the writing itself.

2. Third-person limited narrator

This type of narrator seems to tell the story from the outside, but knows only about the feelings and opinions of a particular character in a story. The narrator is not identical with this character, however.

3. First-person narrator

This type of narrator brings you close to the feelings and opinions of a particular character in the story because the narrator is identical with this character. You get to know only what this character knows. Ths first-person narrator is often, but not necessarily, identical with the protagonist. 

[Source: Green Line Oberstufe NRW, p. 242]