Narrator
Middle School
Definition
The voice that tells a story. The narrator may be a character within the story or an outside voice, and may be reliable or unreliable. Who narrates a story shapes the information and perspective the reader receives.
Worked examples
"I never knew that summer would change everything." — Scout, the main character, tells her own story.
A first-person narrator is a character inside the story using 'I' and 'we.'
"Sarah walked into the room, unaware of the surprise waiting for her." — An outside voice tells what Sarah cannot know.
A third-person narrator stands outside the story and can reveal information characters don't have.
Common mistakes
- The narrator is always the author. → The narrator is a created voice; the author is the real person who wrote the story. The narrator is a literary device the author invents — they are not the same person.
- First-person narrators always tell the truth. → First-person narrators can be unreliable — they may lie, misunderstand, or have limited knowledge. Narrators are characters with flaws and biases; always evaluate what they say critically.
- Third-person narrators know everything about every character. → Third-person limited narrators only access one character's thoughts; omniscient narrators know all. Not all third-person narrators are omniscient — check whose mind the narrator enters.
Where you'll use it next
Understanding narrator helps you analyze point of view in novels and short stories, compare how perspective shapes meaning, and choose effective narrative voices in your own creative writing.
See also
Reviewed by Pat Cheng, M.Ed. — StudyPug Curriculum Lead · Last updated June 6, 2026