Types of narrators

types of storytellers

Do you want to write a story, a short story, a novel? The truth is that you don't need training to unleash your imagination and put it on paper. But one of the most important aspects of a work, which gives it meaning and makes the reader understand what is happening, is the figure of the narrator. And, did you know that there are different types of storytellers? And that each one of them has some characteristics? These are often not known, and it is the reason why mistakes are made when writing.

If you have never thought before that there are different storytellers (beyond what you may be thinking, that there is writing in third or first class), and you want to know if there is one that fits better with the work you have thought, here is we talk about the types of storytellers, features and when is best to use them. This will serve as a guide when writing.

What is a storyteller

What is a storyteller

But before I tell you the types that exist, do you really know what a storyteller is? Do you know what its function is in a play?

We can define the narrator as that "character" whose function is to give meaning to the story, explain those events or parts of the work that, without them, the reader would be lost. In other words, we are talking about a figure who acts as a "writer" since what he does is direct the story so that the reader knows everything he needs to know at all times.

Without that figure, can you imagine a book? The only thing you would have would be nonsensical dialogues, which would not give a good view of the story. Instead, the narrator is in charge of putting the situation, of explaining everything that is around the different scenes, of what is happening, was happening or will happen as the story progresses.

Types of narrators

Considering the above, there is no doubt that the narrator in a story, a novel, or a story is a very important figure, and the truth is that, in himself, he carries the "singing voice" of everything that happens. But, this narrator can be of many types.

At first, you may You only distinguish two types of narrators, in the third person, or in the first person. In fact, almost all writers start writing in the first person, since they get into the main role and their book, story ... is based on capturing what that character lives. But, there are those who are not enough to just show what a person thinks; they need to cover more, which is what the third person does.

And yet there are more types of storytellers. We tell you all.

Types of narrators: first person

Types of narrators: first person

Let's start with the first-person narrator. We could define it as that character who tells the story, his point of view. Normally, this is the protagonist, about whom the entire narrative is concerned, hence he empathizes with that figure because you see, feel, live everything that affects him.

Now, it has a disadvantage, and that is With this narrator, you cannot "touch" what you feel, long live ... another character. For example, imagine that you have chosen a main character, but he has a best friend, and there is an important situation that you have to tell; the problem is that you have to tell it from the point of view of the protagonist, not the best friend, and also, whenever he is present.

What then does it cause? Well, there are many things that should be ignored, even when they are important, because they would not fit into that character.

Within the first-person narrator, two types of narrators can be distinguished as well:

Main narrator

It is the one that we have defined you before, the main figure is the one in charge of telling the story, with a personal point of view and, always, subjective. It is his way of thinking, of being, of analyzing ... Clear examples can be the Twilight saga, the books, where the character of Bella Swan is the one who leads the story.

Witness narrator

In this case, and although this type of narrator is little used, the character who narrates the story is not exactly the protagonist, but someone who is very close to him, usually a secondary character who, at the same time, influences what happens. . Again, is subjective and has a personal point of view, but not towards the protagonist (what you feel, what you think, etc.) but in a way it is more a witness of what happens, hence that subjectivity is also based on an objectivity, because it lends itself to inform what happens to a person, but without going any further.

Even within this narrator, you can find three different ones: the impersonal, because it limits itself to narrating, without its subjectivity influencing what happens; and the face-to-face, because it was there and it was part of history.

An example? Well, it could be Sancho Panza, from Don Quixote. It tells the story of its "Lord" but he is not the protagonist. Or in the novels of Sherlock Holmes, where it is not the protagonist who narrates, but a character very close to him.

Types of narrators: third person

Types of narrators: third person

The third person narrator is one of the most chosen by many authors. And, with it, you can encompass more characters, since this figure is just a mere spectator, someone who does not exist, but is limited to making the story known and what happens throughout it.

Now, within this there are three ways to do it:

Omniscient narrator

It is so called because He is considered a God, someone who knows everything, and that it can express both the feelings that one character feels and the thoughts of another.

It will give brushstrokes of the story taking the reader towards the end, but creating in itself a solid base to get to know these characters, especially the main ones.

Selective or equiscient narrator

This figure can almost be interpret as a first-person narrator. And it is that it will tell you the story but only from the point of view of one character, it will not enter the others. And what differentiates it from the first? On the one hand, the way of writing and expressing oneself; and on the other the knowledge of some details that are difficult to know in the first person.

Quasi-omniscient narrator

In this case, this figure is similar to the first one, but cannot delve into the feelings of the characters you are talking about. Thus, it is only a mere spectator who tells what he sees but not the thoughts or what those characters can feel or decide in the plot.


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