The narrator serves as the lens through which readers experience the world of a story, influencing not just what the audience sees, but how they feel about it. Whether it’s an omniscient voice unveiling every character’s secrets or a first-person perspective sharing deeply personal insights, the narrator shapes the narrative’s tone, pace, and emotional impact. They guide readers through the plot, subtly influencing how events and characters are interpreted.
The narrator plays a crucial role in shaping how a story is told and experienced. Without this guide, the narrative risks losing focus, emotional impact, or coherence.
A narrator as a “voice of reason or wisdom” plays a guiding, reflective, or moral role in the story. Their purpose is to offer clarity, insight, or balance, often elevating the narrative to a deeper, more universal level. A “voice of reason or wisdom” narrator can ground a story, making it feel timeless and insightful.
A narrator can be either a character actively participating in the story or a disembodied voice that exists solely to guide and explain
Positioning your narrator effectively depends on the story you want to tell and the perspective you wish to emphasize.
Here’s why their role is so important
- Shaping the story’s tone: The narrator’s voice sets the mood—whether it’s lighthearted, mysterious, dramatic, or reflective—and this profoundly impacts the reader’s experience.
- Framing the events: A narrator determines what aspects of the story are emphasized, what is left ambiguous, and how events are interpreted.
- Building trust (or mistrust): A reliable narrator helps readers fully invest in the narrative, while an unreliable one adds complexity, mystery, or tension by forcing the audience to question the truth.
- Connecting with the audience: A well-crafted narrator creates a bond with the reader or viewer, offering perspective and insights that make the story feel personal or compelling.
- Adding depth: Through a narrator’s observations, inner thoughts, or reflections, stories can explore themes, emotions, and character motivations in rich, layered ways. Narrators offer commentary, insights, or biases that add depth and complexity to the narrative.
- Guiding the reader: The narrator helps readers navigate the events, characters, and settings of the story, providing structure and clarity.
- Providing perspective: Through their voice, the narrator establishes the point of view—be it first-person, third-person, or omniscient—that influences how readers perceive the story’s events.
- Controlling the flow of information: Narrators decide what details to reveal, when to reveal them, and what to withhold, creating suspense, surprise, or dramatic impact.
In both novels and screenplays, narrators serve as the storytellers, but their functions adapt to the medium.
Narrators in Novels
A novel’s narrator can delve deeply into the characters’ thoughts, emotions, and backgrounds. They often guide readers through complex narratives, adding layers of meaning and perspective. Whether first-person, third-person limited, or omniscient, the narrator’s chosen perspective shapes the readers’ engagement with the story. The narrator’s style and attitude influence the mood of the book and its impact on readers. Narrators manage the flow of events, building tension, resolution, or philosophical reflection.
- Nick Carraway (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald): As a peripheral narrator, Nick observes the glamorous yet tragic life of Jay Gatsby, offering reflections on wealth, love, and the American Dream.
- Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee): Told from Scout’s perspective as a child, her narration brings innocence and honesty to complex themes of racial injustice and morality.
- Death (The Book Thief by Markus Zusak): A highly unusual narrator, Death offers a poignant and introspective view on human lives during World War II.
- Humbert Humbert (Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov): An unreliable narrator whose disturbing perspective forces readers to question his motives and truthfulness.
Narrators in Screenplays
Screenplays rarely feature a traditional narrator, as storytelling relies heavily on visuals, dialogue, and actions. However, voiceover narration is used occasionally. In films with narrators, their role is often to frame the story, provide exposition, or reflect on events from a character’s perspective. A narrator’s voiceover can evoke specific feelings or reveal information that complements on-screen action.
- Red (The Shawshank Redemption): Red’s voiceover narration provides profound insights into hope, friendship, and the human spirit within the confines of prison life.
- Travis Bickle (Taxi Driver): An unreliable narrator whose internal monologue reveals his descent into alienation and obsession.
- Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump): Forrest’s straightforward and heartfelt narration brings humor and poignancy to his extraordinary life story.
- Tyler Durden (Fight Club): The narrator’s perspective plays with reality and perception, leading to one of cinema’s most memorable twists.
Here are some tips for placing your narrator
Positioning your narrator effectively depends on the story you want to tell and the perspective you wish to emphasize.
Choose the Narrator’s Perspective
- First-person: The narrator is a character within the story, offering a personal and subjective account. This perspective creates intimacy but limits the scope to their experiences.
- Third-person limited: The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, giving readers focused insight while maintaining some narrative distance.
- Third-person omniscient: The narrator has an all-knowing perspective, providing a broad view of characters and events. This allows for more complex storytelling.
- Unreliable narrator: A narrator whose perspective is biased or distorted can add intrigue and depth, encouraging readers to question their account.
Decide on Narrator Placement in the Story
- Central narrator: The narrator is directly involved in the main events of the story, shaping the plot as it unfolds.
- Peripheral narrator: The narrator observes the story from the sidelines, offering a unique perspective without being the focus of the action.
- Detached narrator: A distant observer, often used in third-person narratives, providing an unbiased account of events.
Establish the Narrator’s Role
- Expository: Use the narrator to explain or clarify events and context.
- Reflective: A narrator who looks back on events, offering insight and wisdom gained over time.
- Interactive: In some cases, the narrator can directly address readers or engage with them, breaking the fourth wall for a more dynamic storytelling experience.
Adapt to the Medium
- In novels, narrators can explore inner thoughts, build a unique voice, and control the pace of the narrative.
- In screenplays, if using voiceovers, ensure the narrator complements visual storytelling without overwhelming it.
Think about the emotional and thematic impact you want your narrator to have.
When the Narrator is a Character
- Active participant: The narrator might play a key role in the plot, sharing their perspective as events unfold (e.g., Nick Carraway in The Great Gatsby).
- Peripheral observer: They could be on the sidelines, witnessing the story but not driving the action (e.g., Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes).
- Reflective: A character-narrator might tell the story from a later point in time, reflecting on past events with the benefit of hindsight.
When the Narrator is a Disembodied Voice
- Neutral guide: The narrator functions as an impartial voice presenting the facts, often in third-person omniscient or objective viewpoints.
- Voice of reason or wisdom: The narrator might offer philosophical or moral insights, framing the story’s events in a way that encourages deeper reflection.
- Stylized device: In some stories, the narrator is an abstract presence, like Death in The Book Thief, or even a playful voice breaking the fourth wall.
