Describe Narrator/Speaker: Short Fiction - AP English Literature and Composition

Retrospective narrator. Looks back on past events with hindsight.

Third-person narrator. Stands outside the story world as an observer.

Third-person omniscient narration. Simultaneous knowledge of separated characters' states.

Third-person objective narration. Only external actions/dialogue, no thoughts revealed.

First-person narrator (character-narrator). Participates in and recounts their own story.

A narrator who speaks as "I" and participates in the story. Uses personal pronouns and experiences events directly.

A narrator who uses "he/she" and accesses one character’s mind. Follows one character's perspective without entering others' minds.

A narrator who knows and may reveal multiple characters’ thoughts. Has godlike knowledge of all characters' inner worlds.

A narrator who reports actions and dialogue without inner thoughts. Functions like a camera, recording only external events.

A narrator who addresses the reader as "you" as the protagonist. Rare technique that places the reader in the protagonist role.

The voice or persona presenting the poem, not the author. Distinct from the poet; may be fictional or adopt different perspectives.

The narrator or speaker is a constructed voice; the author is real. Authors create narrators/speakers as literary devices.

A narrator who comments directly and offers judgments or guidance. Breaks the fourth wall with opinions and interpretations.

A narrator who introduces and contains another character’s story. Creates a story-within-a-story structure.

Narration that mimics a character’s continuous, associative thought. Captures unfiltered mental processes and random connections.

First-person narration. The narrator participates in and tells their own story.

Second-person narration. Makes the reader the protagonist through direct address.

Third-person limited narration. Restricted to one character's consciousness in third person.

Third-person omniscient narration. All-knowing perspective with access to multiple minds.

A narrator whose account is generally credible and consistent. Readers can trust their version of events.

Third-person limited narration. "She" with internal thoughts shows limited access.

A single speaker reveals character while addressing an implied listener. One-sided conversation reveals speaker's personality.

A narrator who reports only observable actions and dialogue. Camera-like view without internal access.

The narrator or speaker is a constructed voice, not the real author. Authors create fictional voices to tell stories.

The guiding artistic presence inferred from the text’s choices. The author's values/style shown through textual decisions.

A voice presenting thought flow with minimal logical ordering. Mimics unfiltered mental processes.

First-person narration. "I" pronoun indicates narrator as participant.

First-person peripheral (observer) narrator. Uses "I" but focuses on another character's story.

A narration that addresses “you” as the focal participant. Rare technique making reader the protagonist.