Describe Narrator/Speaker: Fiction/Drama - AP English Literature and Composition
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What is “narrative distance” in describing a narrator or speaker?
What is “narrative distance” in describing a narrator or speaker?
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How emotionally or intellectually close the voice is to events. Measures involvement versus detachment.
How emotionally or intellectually close the voice is to events. Measures involvement versus detachment.
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Which narrator type uses “I” to tell the story from within the action as a character?
Which narrator type uses “I” to tell the story from within the action as a character?
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First-person narrator. Participates in events while narrating them.
First-person narrator. Participates in events while narrating them.
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What is a third-person narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters called?
What is a third-person narrator who knows the thoughts and feelings of all characters called?
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Third-person omniscient. Has godlike access to everyone's minds.
Third-person omniscient. Has godlike access to everyone's minds.
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In drama, what is the equivalent of a narrator, delivering the text directly to the audience?
In drama, what is the equivalent of a narrator, delivering the text directly to the audience?
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A character’s dialogue or monologue (no narrator). Characters speak directly without narration.
A character’s dialogue or monologue (no narrator). Characters speak directly without narration.
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What is a dramatic monologue?
What is a dramatic monologue?
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A single speaker addresses a silent listener in a scene. One-sided conversation revealing character.
A single speaker addresses a silent listener in a scene. One-sided conversation revealing character.
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What is the key distinction between the speaker in a poem and the author?
What is the key distinction between the speaker in a poem and the author?
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The speaker is a persona, not necessarily the author. Authors create fictional voices to speak.
The speaker is a persona, not necessarily the author. Authors create fictional voices to speak.
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Which term names the beliefs, values, and attitudes revealed by a narrator or speaker?
Which term names the beliefs, values, and attitudes revealed by a narrator or speaker?
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Point of view (perspective). The lens through which story is filtered.
Point of view (perspective). The lens through which story is filtered.
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What is a third-person narrator limited to one character’s inner life called?
What is a third-person narrator limited to one character’s inner life called?
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Third-person limited. Follows only one character's perspective.
Third-person limited. Follows only one character's perspective.
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What is the term for a narrator who addresses “you,” making the reader a character?
What is the term for a narrator who addresses “you,” making the reader a character?
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Second-person narrator. Rare technique that directly involves readers.
Second-person narrator. Rare technique that directly involves readers.
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What is the term for a narrator who is not a character but knows all characters’ thoughts?
What is the term for a narrator who is not a character but knows all characters’ thoughts?
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Third-person omniscient narrator. Has godlike access to every character's inner thoughts.
Third-person omniscient narrator. Has godlike access to every character's inner thoughts.
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What is the term for a narrator who is a character and uses “I” to tell the story?
What is the term for a narrator who is a character and uses “I” to tell the story?
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First-person narrator. Participates in the story as a character while narrating.
First-person narrator. Participates in the story as a character while narrating.
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What is the term for the voice telling a story from outside the action using “he” or “she”?
What is the term for the voice telling a story from outside the action using “he” or “she”?
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Third-person narrator. Remains outside the story world, observing characters externally.
Third-person narrator. Remains outside the story world, observing characters externally.
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What is a first-person narrator who is also the story’s central character called?
What is a first-person narrator who is also the story’s central character called?
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First-person protagonist narrator. The main character tells their own story.
First-person protagonist narrator. The main character tells their own story.
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Identify the point of view: “He opened the door. The room was empty. The clock ticked.”
Identify the point of view: “He opened the door. The room was empty. The clock ticked.”
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Third-person objective narration. No thoughts revealed, only observable actions described.
Third-person objective narration. No thoughts revealed, only observable actions described.
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Identify the point of view: “I hid the letter before anyone could see it.”
Identify the point of view: “I hid the letter before anyone could see it.”
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First-person narration. The "I" pronoun signals the narrator is a character.
First-person narration. The "I" pronoun signals the narrator is a character.
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What is a first-person narrator who mainly observes another character’s story called?
What is a first-person narrator who mainly observes another character’s story called?
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First-person observer (witness) narrator. Narrates events but isn't the main focus.
First-person observer (witness) narrator. Narrates events but isn't the main focus.
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Which narrator type uses “he/she/they” and is not a character in the story?
Which narrator type uses “he/she/they” and is not a character in the story?
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Third-person narrator. Exists outside the story world entirely.
Third-person narrator. Exists outside the story world entirely.
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What is a narrator who reports only observable actions and speech, not inner thoughts?
What is a narrator who reports only observable actions and speech, not inner thoughts?
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Third-person objective (dramatic) narrator. Acts like a camera, recording only externals.
Third-person objective (dramatic) narrator. Acts like a camera, recording only externals.
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Identify the narrative stance: “I watched him leave, but I never knew why he did it.”
Identify the narrative stance: “I watched him leave, but I never knew why he did it.”
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First-person observer narrator. "I" observes but lacks access to "his" thoughts.
First-person observer narrator. "I" observes but lacks access to "his" thoughts.
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Identify the narrative stance: “She smiled, unaware that he had already decided to betray her.”
Identify the narrative stance: “She smiled, unaware that he had already decided to betray her.”
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Third-person omniscient. Reveals both characters' inner thoughts.
Third-person omniscient. Reveals both characters' inner thoughts.
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Identify the narrative stance: “He tightened his grip; he could not stop thinking about the letter.”
Identify the narrative stance: “He tightened his grip; he could not stop thinking about the letter.”
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Third-person limited. Shows only "his" thoughts, not others'.
Third-person limited. Shows only "his" thoughts, not others'.
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Identify the narrative stance: “He entered. She stood. The clock ticked. No one spoke.”
Identify the narrative stance: “He entered. She stood. The clock ticked. No one spoke.”
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Third-person objective (dramatic). Reports only actions without inner access.
Third-person objective (dramatic). Reports only actions without inner access.
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In lyric poetry, what is the term for the voice that speaks in the poem?
In lyric poetry, what is the term for the voice that speaks in the poem?
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The speaker. The "I" of a poem, distinct from the poet.
The speaker. The "I" of a poem, distinct from the poet.
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Which feature most directly signals possible unreliability: contradictions, bias, or omniscience?
Which feature most directly signals possible unreliability: contradictions, bias, or omniscience?
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Contradictions. Direct evidence of factual inconsistency.
Contradictions. Direct evidence of factual inconsistency.
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Identify the point of view: “She wondered whether he knew the truth.”
Identify the point of view: “She wondered whether he knew the truth.”
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Third-person limited narration. Shows one character's thoughts using third-person pronouns.
Third-person limited narration. Shows one character's thoughts using third-person pronouns.
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Identify the narrator’s reliability: “I never lie,” says a narrator caught contradicting facts.
Identify the narrator’s reliability: “I never lie,” says a narrator caught contradicting facts.
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Unreliable narrator. Self-contradiction reveals the narrator cannot be trusted.
Unreliable narrator. Self-contradiction reveals the narrator cannot be trusted.
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What is the term for a narrator who directly addresses the audience to comment on the story?
What is the term for a narrator who directly addresses the audience to comment on the story?
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Intrusive narrator. Breaks the fourth wall to offer commentary or opinions.
Intrusive narrator. Breaks the fourth wall to offer commentary or opinions.
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What is the term for a narrator speaking after events have occurred, with hindsight?
What is the term for a narrator speaking after events have occurred, with hindsight?
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Retrospective narrator. Looks back on past events with knowledge of outcomes.
Retrospective narrator. Looks back on past events with knowledge of outcomes.
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What is the term for a speaker persona that is clearly not the author’s literal identity?
What is the term for a speaker persona that is clearly not the author’s literal identity?
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Dramatic speaker (persona). A created voice distinct from the poet's actual self.
Dramatic speaker (persona). A created voice distinct from the poet's actual self.
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Which narrator type is most restricted to what a single focal character knows and perceives?
Which narrator type is most restricted to what a single focal character knows and perceives?
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Third-person limited narrator. Bound to one character's knowledge and perceptions only.
Third-person limited narrator. Bound to one character's knowledge and perceptions only.
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